Visit New Glarus: A New Shoppe & Studio Has Arrived

Never has there been more of a reason to visit New Glarus than this: the opening of my Shoppe. Finally. After years of being asked if I actually have one, I can wave a new business card in the face of art patrons and proudly proclaim, "YES. YES I DO."

So eat it Phyllis.

Let's talk about how this came to be:

429 2nd St. before renting.

I have been looking for a space, organically, and was hoping I'd find one in town. If you've been here... it's slim pickings. Our downtown is adorable because it's small. It's also already occupied by tenants. It's difficult to get your foot in the door into a building that's ready to rent because most need a little TLC.

Most are massive and requiring commercial leases. Or ownership. There's just a lot working against the small business (or artist).

Now this one ended up being a little different. It's a garden unit.. an unloved, definitely sad and pretty dirty garden unit.

Finally I called the number on the sign and asked to see the interior.

I went in, slapped on my rose colored glasses and dreamed with my eyes shut because the inside was going to need a lot of love too and I'd decided to be the one to put in the work.

Empty shoppe space before work had begun.

I imagined a bright, colorful space filled with my art and other artists. Lots of unique finds because they're handmade and sourced locally. A place brimming with functional work and fun, happy things.

I knew that this space right here would be the perfect place to dream the dream and let it grow so I said, "I want it."

And then I began leasing the space in the middle of my summer art fair season. 💀

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45 Days Later, Rachel's Shoppe Opened in New Glarus!

Shoppe Art Table featuring local artists and finds.

While the studio and shoppe might be tucked below Ohana's main door, (slightly downhill but next to Albion Swords) the creativity and color is within sight if you look within the windows. I love that this shoppe is down two stairs. I love that you can walk right up into the windows and take it all in. I like that when entering, it feels like a transportation into a world the feels more fun.

This space is so, so happy.

New Glarus is already a town I love living in, now I get to share my work on a personal level. It's no lie to say that I'm currently living out a romanticized shoppe keeper fantasy. I sweep my front stoop and water my plants. I turn on my Benny Boone music and make new paintings. It is a wonderful thing to have and it's made even better because I can share it.

Now when you come for beer and festivals and small-town charm, you get to explore the delight of collecting something handmade. Nothing feels better than finding art (in big or small forms) and realizing it's an everyday treasure.

If you come now, you'll find ceramics, embroidered textiles and bags, painted patches, original paintings, playful prints, colorful jewelry, an excellent card selection (if I do say so myself) and it's always changing because my priority is small batch and handmade.

Your finds should feel special... because they are.

Sticker Sheet by Rachel Christopoulos featuring things you can eat.

It's not just a shoppe, it's a shome.

At my opening, I told a visitor that I wanted to have more inside the space, but not too much. The beauty of art is noticed when you can take your time with it. When you have space to admire, examine, and, if you can, touch.

I've had this conversation often this year, but I love to show the examples of Millenials changing the game for artists (and collectors). It's not about the status or perceived market value of the art. It's about the collection. It's about your personal taste and interests. It's about microdosing art via stickers and silly jewelry, and little trinkets.

It's about connecting with art that makes it feel personal rather than stiff and unattainable.

The shoppe has a goal to highlight not only the skill of working artists, but the ways in which we define art itself as consumers and how we view those who make it.

We, as a society, are stuffed to the brim with machine made items... but what about something a human dreamed up and skillfully created, start to finish?

Someone made that.

In a world full of machine-driven items, handmade... human-made is a little luxury we should continue to seek out and support.

Brandy Old Fashioned Cutout Painting by Rachel Christopoulos

Shoppe The Shoppe

The shoppe hours are currently by chance or appointment. I have hired help (YAY!) but it's primarily on the weekends. Any chance encounters during weekdays will be because I'm there, actively making new work OR because you requested an appointment.

This means you need to double check my socials or try your luck before knocking on the door. Each time you come, there will probably be new art. There will probably be new ideas in the works.

There will definitely be conversations on making art and being art.

This chance opportunity has turned into the icing on the cake for me this year. Sharing it with you and inviting you in continues to sweeten it.

Let it be the icing on the cake when it comes to your trip to New Glarus.