Local artists find a home at Ellie's Cottage
When Sharon Klinect decided to open her own store, she also wanted to help local artists.
“After the Art Market closed in downtown Cambridge, I wanted to find a way to support the artists. They needed a home even if all I could give them was a small one,” she said.
Sharon's husband, Chuck, has made candles and wax melts for 17 years. They first sold them at flea markets, then had a booth at Country Bits. Finally, nine years ago Sharon decided it was time for them to have a store of their own. So Ellie's Cottage, named after her mother, was formed.
While Sharon considers herself a home décor boutique selling a variety of items from baby clothes and jewelry to books and garden flags, her main passion is helping artists. She takes great pleasure in her shop. “I like all the people I meet and like to interact with the artists.”
Right now seven artists have displays in her store. Two of those have been there for a long time and often demonstrate outside her store when events are happening downtown. “Bob Jennings and Chuck and Shana Fair are very popular with locals and visitors,” Sharon said.
Jennings can often be found downtown in his paint-smeared shirt painting some of those buildings that have been around for a long time. Over the years, Jennings has painted many buildings as he was an architect by trade and knows the correct lines. He also drew the original plans and painting of Salt Fork Festival's 50th Anniversary Gateway at Cambridge City Park.
Quite often, he paints scenes that flash through his mind from memories of special people or places. His Patriot painting is one of his most popular. This portrait of a man sitting on his porch with the American flag draped over his leg has received many interpretations.
Now, he'd like to try something new. “I'd like to do something different – perhaps horses, as each of them has a different personality. Or maybe some landscapes.” In recent years, he finds himself painting memories of vacations. “Recently on a trip to Gatlinburg, I stood on the balcony and couldn't resist painting the beautiful scene before my eyes. Better than a photograph for me.”
Chuck and Shana Fair make pottery and Chuck often spins his potter's wheel in front of Ellie's Cottage for special events. Some of his most popular items are mugs and bowls. “Throwing pots is a fun hobby. People enjoy watching the process and I enjoy demonstrating.” He receives a look of contentment when he is at the potter's wheel whether it be at home, downtown, or at the Salt Fork Festival Heritage Arts Tent.
Shana does the decorating for many of these items and has a line of Dickens Christmas ornaments that she has created featuring Bob Ley's original sketches for the Victorian scenes. “I like to experiment with new things. Just recently, I have decided to paint floral patterns on the bowls and plates that Chuck creates. It's something no one else has been doing.”
The Fairs also are members of the Dickens Creative Team. Chuck works on platforms, frameworks for the characters, and any place he is needed. Shana's artistic ability has led her to create the heads for the figures as well as refurbish their costumes each year.
Shana expressed her thanks to Klinect for opening her store for their displays by saying, ”Sharon works hard to promote local artists. She wants to reach out with fine handmade art for the local community as well as visitors.”
Ellie's Cottage is located on the corner at 653 Wheeling Ave. in downtown Cambridge. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and closed on Sunday. The store is also closed on Mondays during the month of February.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Local artists find a home at Ellie's Cottage
