Fair Trade Blog

We’ve decided to move, but not far!

If I look to the left from our desk and register, I can see the great new space we are moving into in early January.  Retail stores don’t usually take such short hop when they move, but we couldn’t pass up the opportunity.  When the lobby space of the historic Hotel Fortney opened up, we jumped at the chance to move into the grand old rooms facing Main Street.

In the meantime, we’ve relocated some of our beautifully distinctive Tropical Salvage furniture and we’re dressing the place up with local arts and crafts until our official change of address in a few weeks.  We have jewelry, painted ornaments, paintings, woodcarving, and more clever work to offer through Christmas Eve.

Spreading into the new space before moving out of the old has been a challenge, but thanks to some volunteer efforts, we are displaying in the old and new just in time for our annual Friends and Family Sale Saturday, Dec. 6.  

Check out the photo of one of our new windows painted by local artist Sandra Berger.  You can see all her window paintings through the holidays. 

Peace Dove art in window of Hotel Fortney.

Our location is changing, but our mission is not.  We will continue to offer fairly traded goods that you can feel good about purchasing for yourself, or giving to others. Come and visit us while we make the transition.  

Keep shopping your good values!

You could say Sandi Funk is a little twisted when it comes to everyday household items.  Take silverware, for example.  Most are content to simply eat with it, but Sandi sees all kinds of characters and scenes in your typical table knife, spoon, or serving utensil. Her handcrafted Funkyware is whimsical, surprising, and, yes, a little off the wall. Each “personality” is a true work of art.  

Sandi’s work is on display in our shop this week as our featured artist for March.

Sandi is a local girl who milked cows and ran a grocery store right here in the Driftless region before she moved with her husband to central Florida.

It is rumored that the artistic bug bit Sandi while she was in college in DeKalb, Ill., at Northern Illinois University.  That was where she owned and ran a coffee house, Juicy John Pink’s, with her husband Mike.  They often had guest artists play or display their work in their java joint. 

Her work extends beyond Funkyware to her love of stain-glass work. Check out her beautiful sun catchers featured in our windows.  

Come in and check out Sandi’s work.

Keep shopping your good values!

Kile

When I lived in Kansas City, First Friday was a huge event every month during the warm months for people to gather in the old warehouse district and stroll from gallery to gallery to see new art and artists. 

As in other cities, we are trying to bring a more modest version to Viroqua.  Viva Gallery, an artist’s cooperative here in town began First Thursday’s to draw people to the gallery to see the work of their members.  Driftless Fair Traders has joined in the First Thurday event by inviting local artists to display their work on our large wall space. 

All month this February we are featuring Winged Woman Art by Stacie Anthony.  You can see her work at stacieanthony.com.  Stacie describes her work as “meditative expression of empowerment, equality, creation, and life strongly connected to nature.”  With simple charcoal sketches, in much of her work, Stacie uses a broad interpretation of the female form to evoke the spirit of eternal motherhood.  She will be on hand Thursday, February 7th, to visit with patrons as part of First Thursday.

Our aim in supporting the First Thursday event each month is to promote local artistic effort, a sense of community, and greater awareness of the mission of Driftless Fair Traders.  We hope you will come out on the First Thursday evening of each month to see new art at our store, Viva Gallery, Art Vision, and other locations in downtown Viroqua. 

Keep shopping your good values!

Kile