Art Treasures Shop Turns a Mishap Into an Opportunity

MARSHFIELD - What began as an unfortunate mishap has turned into a creative opportunity at Art Treasures, a shop inside the Chestnut Center for the Arts that gives local artists a place to showcase and sell their work.

The story began with a leak in the boiler system of the Chestnut Center, a building that is approximately 122 years old. One day, the system began leaking above what was then a storage room. The water eventually seeped through the floor, causing significant damage. Fortunately, the insurance company covered the repairs.

After the damage was repaired, the storage room received newly renovated hardwood floors, making it one of the nicest rooms in the building. Rather than return it to storage, where the floors could become scuffed and scratched, the center decided to turn the space into a shop.

Today, Art Treasures provides local artists with an opportunity to sell their handmade creations while supporting the Chestnut Center for the Arts.

Artists receive 70% of the profits from their sales, while the remaining 30% goes back to the Chestnut Center to help cover operating expenses. Approximately 35 artists currently have their work featured in the shop.

Visitors can find a wide variety of handmade items, including fabric bags, paintings, drawings, felt creations, handmade cards, three-dimensional printed objects, magnets, cutting boards, jewelry, soap, bookmarks, pottery, brooches made from zippers and handmade pens. The shop also features photographs taken by an international wildlife photographer from Stratford.

Anything handmade is welcome in the shop, offering artists a place to share their creativity with the community. According to Donna Hansen, the shop coordinator, Art Treasures is “the best little card shop in town,” thanks to its wide selection of cards.

In addition to locally made artwork, the shop sells T-shirts, canvas bags and mugs featuring the Art Treasures name and logo.

The shop is operated entirely by volunteers, with approximately 16 people helping keep it running.

Another unique offering is the shop's “once-loved jewelry” program. Jewelry and artwork are donated to the shop, with some pieces used to decorate the building for a time before being resold. Proceeds from the jewelry sales help support educational programming and general expenses at the Chestnut Center.

Art Treasures is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The shop may also remain open later when events are taking place at the center.

Each year, the Chestnut Center hosts its Holiday Showcase, and Art Treasures stays open during the event. The shop also plans to offer extended holiday hours from early November through the period just before Christmas. In addition, organizers hope to begin opening on Saturdays to accommodate people who work later during the week.

Shoppers can also visit Art Treasures on Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the shop's “Sip N Shop” event. Visitors can enjoy refreshments, treats and a hot coffee bar while browsing the selection of gifts and handmade items.

Local artists interested in selling their work at Art Treasures can contact the shop at contact@chestnutarts.org or call 715-389-8999. The shop also welcomes additional volunteers.

Those interested in keeping up with events at the Chestnut Center can sign up for the email list by visiting the center's office and adding their name to the signup sheet at the front desk.