Art retail climate heats up after a pandemic-induced cold spell
Artists from a variety of backgrounds get back into selling their work after a year without any art crawls or markets.
By Anna Pearson, reporter
The air buzzes with conversation as shoppers browse through paintings, pottery, ornaments, candles, and jewelry displayed in museum-like fashion- except price tags can be found stuck to the corner of most pieces of art. On so-called “Shop Small Saturday,” more than 30 artisans with a variety of creative prowess set up displays of their work from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Schmidt’s Holiday Market Nov. 27 at the Schmidt Artist Lofts in St. Paul.
One of three annual art markets hosted at Schmidt’s, this year the Holiday Market was held again for the first time since 2019. As craft and hobby stores averaged a 9.2% increase in sales at the height of the stay-at-home era according to IBIS World, many artists struggled to let their creative juices flow. Seeing that all tenants in the lofts are artists, they say that a unique bond of support has formed as they work to keep their business afloat in unpredictable times.
“COVID changed a lot. Being able to lean on Schmidt and have this community here has really helped keep me in business,” resident and art teacher Cassandra Udovich said.
Udovich is the owner of Heart Matters Studio, a multi-medium art company that teaches a variety of art classes for anyone willing to learn. Since 2016, she’s been teaching and collaborating with neighbors in the loft. For Udovich, COVID-19 became a skill-building opportunity, to spend time in the studio and figure out what she wanted to do.
“I’m looking to hopefully inspire people’s gatherings or their own traditions, because so much of [my art] comes from my family.” — Sarah Nogle, owner of Nogle Family Creations
Sarah Nogle, owner of Nogle Family Creations and an original tenant of the Artist Lofts, also felt inspiration strike during COVID-19 shutdowns. The “what-ifs” of getting back to art fairs someday was what kept her motivated to dedicate more time and space to creativity.
Nogle’s display table showcases a jumble of art media, but each item has a story behind it. The cross-stitching, taught to her by her mom. The candles, first made for her sister’s bridal shower. The funny business cards, based on some of her favorite rude humor, including “Cheer up, loser,” and “Stop talking.”
“I’m looking to hopefully inspire people’s gatherings or their own traditions, because so much of (my art) comes from my family,” Nogle said.
Family has always been a fountain of support for artist Anna Stark, a self-taught painter and stay-at-home mom who first picked up a paintbrush as a new hobby three years ago. As her kids watched her skills improve at home, Stark found the Schmidt markets through Instagram, where she has since made connections to sell her oil paintings.
“The best part of the whole thing is showing my kids that you can put your mind to it, and you can do whatever you want,” Stark said.
COVID-19 lockdown originally put a pause on her art, but eventually turned into painting for several hours a day.
As winter approaches, Stark says indoor art fairs seem empty compared to the packed venues they used to be. At the lofts, artists patiently await the day when their markets will get back to that point, and for now enjoy sharing what they can with others inside and outside of their artist community.
