New Artist-Run Gift Shop Opening On Union Street In Uptown Saint John
SAINT JOHN– Two Saint John artists hope their new store opening in the city’s uptown will not only be a place where people will buy local art but become a community space a well.
Emily Saab and KC Wilcox are the founders of Visitors, a new multichannel retail space and online store that will represent contemporary artists and designers, and carry a broad selection of vintage and quality second-hand apparel for all genders and bodies. Both the storefront, located at 145 Union Street, and online shop are expected to be open before Christmas.
Both Saab and Wilcox had previously worked as directors of artists-run centres in the area. Saab worked for Third Space and Wilcox Connexion Artist-Run Centre. The idea to open a retail store stemmed from a conversation about what they wanted to do next.
“It’s stemmed from KC and I having a conversation about our futures in the city basically. Wanting to be practicing artists here and support other artists. I think we both dreamed about having a shop of some kind,” says Saab. “Having both worked in the not-for-profit sector before, we’re really curious about the possibilities for retail and how we could basically run an artist-run centre in a different kind of model.”
Traditionally, artist-run centres are supported through things like grants and are not typically places where commercial art is sold.
“We wanted to see if could find a place between a commercial gallery where everything is designated to sell to the public and an artist-run centre and bring those two practices together to find a place that can support artistic careers,” says Wilcox.
Visitors will carry an assortment of books, magazines, ceramics, small artworks, jewelry, and homewares from local Saint John artists, as well as others across Canada. They will be acquiring work through traditional wholesale, consignment opportunities for local artists as well as working with distributors who represent artists. They currently have a roster of 25 artists lined up for their opening.
They will also be selling clothing on consignment both from designers and people looking to sell their own interesting pieces.
“The idea around supporting artists and sustainability really extend to our idea of clothing which is more in the range of slow fashion,” says Wilcox. “So things that are second hand, vintage, ethically made, hand-made and contributing to people’s careers versus larger industry.”
Saab and Wilcox see Visitors attracting customers both locally and from away.
“We’re imagining it will be a place for locals as well as tourists,” says Saab. “A place where people who are from here and living here feel proud of and want to be a part of. As well as being a destination place for people who are coming to the city. Bands who are playing here, visiting artists, families.”
Visitors also plans to open up its space for live music and events. It’s this, along with the art it decides to carry, that will set the business apart from other commercial galleries in uptown Saint John.
“I think our curatorial style is very unique from other things going on in the city and it will be a nice addition to the broader landscape of what’s offered in Saint John. You’ll probably see things that are made by a variety of artists of all different ages, but we have a lot of young, contemporary artists who are working globally through Instagram and online,” says Wilcox.
“You’ll see some things that you might see in other metropolitan cities, or you might see on Instagram, in our store. It’s linking the rest of the world to New Brunswick.”
Visitors is in the throes of renovation at its Union Street location, but after it’s open in time for the holiday season, Wilcox and Saab hope it will become a valuable addition to the city centre.
“It’s another place to buy local. It’s another place to get things for your closet, for your apartment, for your friends. It’s a place to gather,” says Wilcox. “And I think it’s filling in a few gaps of things are currently unavailable in Saint John.”