JESSICA MEDITZ
Life & Arts Editor
In the midst of the hype surrounding Fredonia’s victory in the Small Business Revolution, another local business is on the rise.
Fredonia Enactus and professor of the theatre and dance department, Ted Sharon, have collaborated to develop the up-and-coming business, The Art Market.
The Art Market is conveniently located in downtown Fredonia at 50 West Main St., directly across from BJ’s. It will be a part of Main Street Studios, a complex under Venture Productions, owned by Ted Sharon.
Although talk about the potential formation of more maker’s spaces in Fredonia have been circulating for years, Sharon only recently came up with the idea for The Art Market while sitting in on a community meeting.
“I felt that unless a business owner stepped up and provided a space for artists to come in out of the rain, it wasn’t gonna happen,” said Sharon.
This realization then motivated him to reach out to Peter Tucker, an associate professor of the art department, and eventually Dr. Susan McNamara, an associate professor of business and the chapter adviser for Fredonia Enactus.
Sharon describes the efforts of McNamara and Enactus as the “horsepower” that made the opening of this business possible and successful.
“The horsepower that Enactus brings to the equation is not only the excitement of the students and their creativity, but also just their presence,” said Sharon. “It makes me, as a business owner, accountable to act on the creative ideas that come from them. Without students, it runs the risk of becoming just another good idea that somebody had one day, that just never got off the ground.”
The students of Enactus have worked alongside Sharon, contributing to The Art Market in different ways, such as marketing, designing, surveying, sharing ideas of their own and actively working in the market’s space.
Sharon said, “It’s [action is] what their name is all about. Enactus means to move and get things done.”
With the original idea of having more creative outlets in the community in mind, part of The Art Market’s main mission is to showcase local artists.
Connor Weimer, a senior business finance major and the vice president of Enactus, said, “We are focused on showcasing our local artists. In April, we will have groups, including Artists At Heart, to showcase the art that wouldn’t normally make it to a gallery.”
The grand opening will feature visiting artist Joe Sorci, a Fredonia-born sculptor and painter.
He’s a successful artist who grew up in Fredonia and eventually moved to Nashville, T.N., to accelerate his career.
Sharon said that he as well as the students of Enactus are “thrilled” to be partnering with Sorci.
“The quality of his work is reflective of the kind that is representative of the best of Fredonia,” he said.
In addition to the presentation of artwork, Weimer said there will be live music, snacks and drinks at the grand opening event.
There will also be photography services provided by Erin Ruffino, so that the artists who display their work in the market can use her digital prints for personal use.
Sharon said that Ruffino, as well as Peter Tucker, Susan McNamara, Cormac Harper (his student intern at Venture Productions) and the staff at the Fredonia Technology Incubator have been “instrumental in the genesis of all of the ideas involving the space.”
The Art Market is just one of the assets that encompasses Main Street Studios, however.
Through a grant from New York State, Main Street Studios will branch out further to include services and facilities for dance, vocal performance, theatre, film, music and even a cafe.
[RELATED (from observertoday.com): Fredonia to apply for production hub grant]
This development is in the works and is expected to be completed by the end of June 2020.
In the meantime, Sharon shares his excitement and appreciation for the grand opening of The Art Market, saying, “We’re very blessed to live in a time where we are able to enjoy art. Whether it is visual or performance based works … we get out on the street, visit local businesses and appreciate local artisans and their work and welcome it into our homes.”
“The idea of a small business revolution needs to be taken to heart by the community, and let the revolution within occur. That’s where the real revolution is. That’s what will make the difference in our community. And that’s why we’re all putting our hearts and souls and midnights into this.”
The grand opening of The Art Market will be on Saturday, March 7 from 4 to 7 p.m.
“We encourage the community to come out and join us in this revolution,” said Sharon, so anyone and everyone is cordially invited to attend.