{"id":125,"date":"2011-01-27T01:05:02","date_gmt":"2011-01-27T09:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sierramadrenews.net\/?p=125"},"modified":"2011-01-28T00:45:05","modified_gmt":"2011-01-28T08:45:05","slug":"local-arts-business-collaborative-launched","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.sierramadrenews.net\/?p=125","title":{"rendered":"Local Arts + Business Collaborative Launched"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Artist Star Higgins with Heather Sheets of La Bella Rouge<\/p><\/div>\n

On Thursday, January 20, 2011, Elizabeth Converse and Star Higgins<\/strong>, individual artists and collaborators of A+B (Arts plus Business Collaborative, a new service which offers businesses the opportunity to display local, original art)\u00a0 interviewed Sierra Madre business owners where A+B has installed art in recent months. The owners include:<\/p>\n

Heather Sheets<\/strong> of La Bella Rouge, A Women\u2019s clothing, jewelry and gift shop,\u00a0<\/p>\n

Larry Romero<\/strong>, owner of Salon Zelo, a full service Hair Salon with Esthetician services and massage, and Annie Thomsen<\/strong>, salon \u00a0manager; and\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chef Scott May<\/strong>, owner of French Bistro, La Charcuterie.<\/p>\n

Star and Elizabeth asked\u00a0 questions to help them in the development of\u00a0 their new collaborative enterprise. \u00a0A+B currently exhibits in these three locations in Sierra Madre as well as LoveBirds Cafe in Pasadena. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Do you think it is important to support local artists by offering them sales opportunities and displaying their work in your business?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

All agree, \u00a0helping each other is what the business community is about in a vibrant community.<\/p>\n

Heather<\/strong>: \u00a0 Yes, \u00a0I like to help the community and want to see everyone succeed.\u00a0 Honestly in this economy people don\u2019t have the money and it is not a priority to purchase art. \u00a0The prices of A+B paintings are very reasonable and I encourage patrons to look at the art and buy it. \u00a0I think it needs more time to develop as a salable commodity in La Bella Rouge. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Scott<\/strong>: It is important to support local businesses and talent. \u00a0We all need to encourage and support each other. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Larry<\/strong>: Helping out the community and supporting new businesses is important and something I enjoy. \u00a0It\u2019s important to support anyone who is starting a new venture.<\/p>\n

Do you think A + B is raising awareness in the community about local talent?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

To some extent, however, most owners agree that customers generally are not aware that the art displayed represents local talent. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Heather<\/strong>: Clients don\u2019t generally ask who makes the art, but if attention is drawn to it, they are interested. \u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Larry Romero and Annie Thomsen of Salon Zelo<\/p><\/div>\n

Annie<\/p>\n

: I think A+B needs to draw more attention to the art through more visible signage, street displays and clear labeling of prices. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scott<\/strong>: Some clients are interested in the art and ask to see the book about the A+B project and the biographies of the artists.<\/p>\n

What has been your experience having art in your business. \u00a0Has it impacted your business in anyway? (from enhancing your environment to creating new sales). \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

All owners think artwork enhances their business environments.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Heather<\/strong>: Having local art is always a plus for the store, and today, there are so many more newcomers in town, recently a lot of young families have moved here and they don\u2019t know about the history of the arts in this town. \u00a0Sierra Madre has always been known as an arts community and there are a lot of day trippers. \u00a0We would like to see Sierra Madre as more of a destination, \u00a0restaurants, galleries, events, etc.\u00a0 Local art is an added attraction.<\/p>\n

Larry<\/strong>: \u00a0People notice the art and like the art. They may be drawn into the salon because of the art. \u00a0It is good to keep the art exhibits rotating, after about two months most of the clients have seen what is on the walls.<\/p>\n

Annie<\/strong>: \u00a0The art definitely enhances our business environment. \u00a0I see clients walking around during their appointments looking at the art. \u00a0It makes the environment more interesting and is definitely good for business.<\/p>\n

Scott<\/strong>: \u00a0 People like to comment on the art, walk around the restaurant to look at it and read about the artists.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Do you want to continue to display local artists in your business? Do you have ideas\/advice to A + B and its artists about promoting their art you can share with us?<\/strong><\/p>\n

All business owners responded with a definite “Yes” to continuing to have art displayed.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Scott May of Charcuterie<\/p><\/div>\n

Scott<\/p>\n

: \u00a0Yes, \u00a0 I like to see more variety of art. We are having a Chamber of Commerce mixer this week and I\u2019d like to see Art around the restaurant on easels with you here promoting your service. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Larry<\/strong>: Yes, we can create an event here where all of the businesses displaying A+B art can collaborate, combine arts opening, with a sampling of salon services, 10 minute massage, discounts, consultations, wine tasting, clothing and jewelry displays.<\/p>\n

Annie<\/strong>:\u00a0 Yes, and an evening of art, clothing, food, wine, salon consultations might be a good\u00a0 promotional event. \u00a0A celebration of all of our services.<\/p>\n

Heather<\/strong>: Yes, and you could create a display for the Wisteria Festival. \u00a0We could have a Bella Rouge table outside and some easels to raise awareness of the artists showing in the store. \u00a0I\u2019d \u00a0like you to make customers aware of the other venues where A+B is displaying so people get a sense of the depth of the project.\u00a0 Keep growing, expanding, getting the word out there that A+B are purveyors of quality fine art.<\/p>\n

Star and Elizabeth<\/strong> see clearly that A+B is experiencing a wonderful start with happy business owners and enhanced business environments. \u00a0Since beginning the project, all three venues have had art sales at their locations.<\/p>\n

The A + B collaboration is currently seeking new artists and expanding its\u2019 business relations. \u00a0A+ B plans to install quarterly exhibits accompanied by a newsletter and PR campaign to bring awareness and sales to local talent.\u00a0 They encourage artists and businesses to contact A+B for more information:<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Converse\u00a0\u00a0 econverse08@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Star Higgins\u00a0 starhiggins@verizon.net<\/a><\/p>\n

Current participating artists include: Elizabeth Converse, Myra Epstein, Lynne Fearman, and Star Higgins<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On Thursday, January 20, 2011, Elizabeth Converse and Star Higgins, individual artists and collaborators of A+B (Arts plus Business Collaborative, a new service which offers businesses the opportunity to display local, original art)\u00a0 interviewed Sierra…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sierramadrenews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sierramadrenews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sierramadrenews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sierramadrenews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sierramadrenews.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=125"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.sierramadrenews.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sierramadrenews.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sierramadrenews.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sierramadrenews.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}