in Beautiful Historic Downtown Chatham
The Art and Heirloom Shoppe is host to 53 local and regional artists, who display and sell their work. There are also a variety of interesting pieces of vintage glass and china to be found. The shoppe is located at 137 King St W and open from Wednesday to Saturday, 11-4. The types of art media include acrylics, watercolour, collage, jewellery, fabric art, pottery, felting, wood-working, candles, soap, fused glass, and silk screening.
The shoppe was opened in 2018 by Chris Ford and Sue Rumball, a couple of disabled ladies who were not going to kept down! They are fellow artists who met 16 years ago while helping to establish and manage an artists’ co-op in Windsor. They both created pieces of jewellery and became fast friends. Over the years, they continued to help run two co-ops in Windsor before they decided to retire from their positions as President and Treasurer.
Not being women who sat around, they soon discovered that there was a huge void in Chatham for artists to display their work and to get known in the community. Thus, the first version of the Art and Heirloom Shoppe was born at 159 King St W in a tiny shoppe that was soon filled to capacity. Two years later, they moved the shoppe down the street to a much bigger and brighter location at 137 King St W. This new gallery was now able to house over 50 artists! Again, it filled quickly. Then, COVID hit. In their efforts to keep the shoppe viable, Chris and Sue created on-line auctions and bingos which enabled them to continue selling art, even when the doors were closed. With the great success of the auctions, they continue on Facebook bi-weekly. To date, there have been 40 auctions, which can be found on Facebook on the Art and Heirloom Shoppe Auction Group page. To view artists’ work, read their profiles, sign up for our monthly newsletter and find out what other little goodies they have in store, check out their web page at: artandheirloomshoppe.ca
Chris and Sue chose to create a beautiful space for the public to view and purchase local Canadian art and antiques.
With the help of fellow artist and dear friend, Ken Friesen, they have made the shoppe an on-going success and must-see stop in Chatham-Kent. The shoppe is always manned by an artist. Gift certificates are available in any denomination. Art classes will be taught in their classroom. Contests will be posted. Keep checking back to stay in the know!
Article & images submitted by:
Sue Rumball, Owner Art and Heirloom Shoppe 137 King St. W. Chatham ON Wed. – Sat. 11 – 4
www.artandheirloomshoppe.ca
