“We represent over 100 artists,” said Tova Lesko, a manager at By Hand. “And most of those are from Bloomington.”
One is Marilyn Greenwood, who designs jewelry incorporating precious gems and stones, according to the By Hand Gallery website. She combines diamonds, opals, lapis and amethyst with handmade gold and silver balls. Sometimes she uses wire or sheet metal to create eccentric shapes on the wearer.
Another artist is Joe Henderson, who creates sculptural clocks from wood mostly found in Brown County.
According to By Hand’s website, Henderson brings in dead trees that are sawed down to a size that can fit in his studio. There, he sands and varnishes his artwork to create a smooth finish.
The first Friday of each month the gallery, located at 101 W Kirkwood Ave. in the Fountain Square Mall, is host to a show featuring a local artist who sells a piece or collection to the gallery.
Last Friday, the gallery coordinated a show for Jim Sprague, a founding member of By Hand, who designed a wooden dining table now on sale in the store.
“January is a time of regrouping and transition for the gallery,” Lesko said. “A lot of artists take January off to regroup in their studios and get ready for art fairs in the spring.”
However, February is a time to look forward to.
Albert Nelson, a stone sculptor, will visit the gallery next month to introduce a love-themed collection of various sculptures.
His pieces are made of limestone, a culturally significant mineral to Southern Indiana.
The gallery has featured only a few pieces from Nelson in the past, so it looks forward to introducing more of the artist’s works to the downtown space, Lesko said.
The gallery also features ceramic, fiber and mixed media pieces.
By Hand’s shoppers are often first-time visitors of Bloomington or families coming in on game day, Lesko said.
“We get a lot of people from the University traveling and visiting,” Lesko said. “They want to get something to give to their hosts, or they’ll bring visitors here. We do represent Bloomington.”
Unlike the scene at the Grunwald Gallery at the IU Art Museum, By Hand attracts a smaller crowd in a more secluded environment.
Light refreshments and drinks are offered at these showings. The displays usually draw a crowd of other local artists and the artisans featured in the gallery, Lesko said.
