By Anne Archer, Vermont Country correspondent.
It has been said, the best holiday gift is one you make yourself.
However, if your artistry is on par with a 4-year-old, the second-best option is buying a handmade gift from a local museum gift shop.
Southern Vermont Art Center
Stepping inside Southern Vermont Arts Center’s thoughtfully curated gift shop is like walking into a mini museum — the only difference, you can buy the art. Eye-catching objects — textiles, jewelry, paintings and ceramics — are displayed against the shop’s white walls and shelving, creating a bright and cheerful space lit up like a Christmas tree by the natural light flowing through the windows (even on a gray December day).
Many local artists can be found, including Elinor Katz of Jamaica who has taught a class at SVAC called pique assiette — the art of creating mosaics with pieces of broken China and other trinkets — and Brattleboro artist Marcie Becker whose unique ceramics will start a conversation.
Shelves in almost every corner of the gift shop abound with jewelry options ranging from large and colorful to metallic sleek (there may even be an elf or two).
Glass artist Ann Conlin of Massachusetts makes individually crafted, one-of-a-kind glass focal bead necklaces that are reminiscent of holiday baubles.
If sterling silver, brass or copper is on someone’s holiday gift list this year, Aron Lifschultz of Designs by Aron makes metal bracelets, cuffs, pendants, rings and earrings.
“Jewelry should be of original design, well crafted, uniquely suited to each individual, and perhaps most importantly, beautiful in its creation,” Lifschultz said, describing his approach to his art.
For kids of all ages, there is a variety of books ranging from “How To” draw, sketch, watercolor and calligraphy to Lyman Orton’s book “For the Love of Vermont: The Lyman Orton Collection,” which is filled with Orton’s storytelling as well as 107 works of art depicting pre-1970s Vermont landscapes, traditions, and people.
At 860 Southern Vermont Arts Center Drive, Manchester, Southern Vermont Arts Center’s gift shop is in Manchester in the Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, svac.org/museum-shop.
Monument Arts and Cultural Center
Over in Bennington, Monument Arts and Cultural Center‘s gift shop is heavily inspired by local culture, including covered bridge-themed gifts. On a recent day during the fall, ornaments in the shape of miniature covered bridges adorned a small evergreen.
Oher wares included: well-made adult- and child-sized aprons covered in whimsical prints such as flowers, music, roosters and owls; jewelry made with large, distinctive charms; pottery; prints that ranged from local artists’ prints to New Yorker cartoons; books on local history; and a whole table of Vermont maple syrup.
“The Monument Arts and Cultural Center gift shop in Bennington, Vermont, offers a delightful array of merchandise that captures the essence of local culture,” said Shelli DuBoff, a member of the center’s executive board.
The center’s galleries and gift shop, 44 Gypsy Lane, Bennington, are open to the public Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Bennington Museum
At Bennington Museum, the bright, inviting gift shop greeted visitors on a recent day with: glass art by Michael Egan; mini paintings of animals, hearts and more by Amy Cloud, pressed flowers by Ellie Roden, goat milk soap, prints that resembled Vermont’s green license plates, and more. A central display of jewelry included necklaces with large, striking pendants, and earrings shaped like gummy bears.
For those who love sugar, there were maple leaf-shaped cookies, maple flavored cotton candy, and plenty of shapes and sizes of maple syrup.
Bennington Museum is at 75 Main St., Bennington, and is currently open every day except Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It closes from January to March.
Gen Louise Mangiaratti contributed reporting to this article.
Anne Archer lives in Manchester, Vt. She is a regular contributor to the Manchester Journal.
Gen Louise Mangiaratti, is editor of Vermont Country magazine and is arts & entertainment editor for Vermont News & Media. She lives in Brattleboro with her cat, Theodora, and welcomes your post-idyllic holiday music recommendations at gmangiaratti@reformer.com.
