“We’re a rather large group of artists, and we all have an individual style, and yet, none of us were selling our work on a consistent basis in Bloomington,” she said. “In fact, there was just no shop here in Bloomington that we felt would fit our work anyway.”
Without the proper shop to sell their art, Halliday was convinced by her friends to open her own indie craft shop, Gathering.
She has since renamed her shop, Gather: Handmade Shoppe & Co. The permanent indie craft and fine art edition of Gathering, will open its doors to the public for its grand opening from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Aug. 30.
Halliday, the shop’s owner, graduated from IU with a B.A. in English in 2002 and recently finished her masters in secondary education.
She said that last year Gathering was host to events that featured both local and regional artists in a shop atmosphere with music, food and a do-it-yourself craft project, as well as a month-long holiday pop-up.
“I remember being very impressed with the pop up market, and I loved the idea of a shop where local artists could showcase their work,” said Jenna Allen, a customer who also manages a grant for the Indiana Arts Commission. “I knew Talia was planning to introduce a new shop that would be open year round sometime this year, and I couldn’t be more excited.”
“With the permanent shop, I wanted to showcase that indie craft can be side by side with fine art, that we can blend the two worlds and not be so separate all the time,” Halliday said.
Gather is also a gallery, providing artists the opportunity to display and sell their work, while also encouraging shoppers to buy handmade and local art.
“I wanted to be able to showcase specific artists in the space with new lines of work in a gallery setting,” Halliday said. “I’m very excited about the addition of our gallery wall. It livens the space up a bit and offers some ‘grown up’ experience to an otherwise hip and young atmosphere.”
Chelsea Jones, a metalsmith, jewelry artist and owner of Tactile Melodies, said she met Halliday during the Gathering holiday pop-up shop, and her products will be featured in the new store.
Jones said that as a working artist, she really appreciates all of the support of handmade, local goods in Bloomington.
“Talia is supporting us artists by providing an outlet to sell our work and also by building a supportive community,” she said. “I feel very connected to the shop this time around.”
Additionally, Halliday said Gather has a space to hold workshops and classes, which will create a community around creating.
“The workshops and classes will largely be up to what the public wants to see and what the artists and teachers want to offer,” Halliday said. “This year I hope to have some business workshops for artists in the space about marketing, taxes, insurance, product photography, etc. I hope to be able to help teach makers how to make it.”
In addition, Halliday said she will offer craftier classes, such as soap making, jewelry design and kids’ pottery.
Halliday said this winter, she hopes to be able to offer an alternative for kids’ birthday parties where kids could come to the shop and take an art class.
“Gather will fit perfectly into the ever-evolving population of a college town, destined to be the premier eclectic place to find the perfect representation of the Bloomington experience,” Allen said.
Halliday said Bloomington is a town with a variety of cultures represented, making it the perfect place to open her indie craft shop.
“Bloomington is an amazing town, from the variety of cultures represented to the vast events that are hosted here,” Halliday said. “There’s not a day that goes by that something new isn’t happening.”
Miah Michaelsen, the assistant economic development director for the arts in Bloomington’s Department of Economic and Sustainable Development, said Bloomington is home to many artists who have made their careers here.
She is excited to see what the next generation of artists will bring.
“I knew Talia when she was working as an individual artist in her studio, Conduit Press, and I’m delighted to see that she is opening her own store and gallery,” Michaelsen said. “She has a great perspective, and Gather will compliment what is already here.”
Michaelsen said she is attracted to work that is unpredictable, whimsical and has a sense of humor, but also a real point of view.
She said these qualities, as well as Halliday’s strong attention to detail, are what initially drew her to the artist.
“All of the art is beautiful and functional, and with an affordable price point, you can be a collector without feeling like you’re losing out on daily necessities,” she said.
Gather will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Fountain Square Mall.
