Artists Get Representation, Doylestown Gets A New Art Gallery

DOYLESTOWN, PA—With the Covid-19 pandemic, essential and critical workers have been illuminated and rightly so. Finally, nurses, grocery clerks, paramedics, teachers, and professional caregivers are getting the attention they deserve. There exists another segment of our community facing serious issues because of the nature of their industry. Artists, musicians, actors, performers and even writers contribute greatly to our local and national culture and their livelihoods have been significantly affected since commerce shut down in March.

Luckily for Bucks County residents and artists, there is a newly formed business called Makers Off Main ready to help local fine and craft artists sell their wares and get their artwork exposure to a wider audience. Caitlin Hernandez and Wendy Stone are both the co-owners, and also make a living as working artists. They dreamed of a place where the makers in our community would be offered an affordable retail space in a lively and easily accessible area. Beginning this July, Makers Off Main will house their storefront at 224 N. Main Street, in downtown Doylestown, across from Coldwell Banker.

Until their store opens, Caitlin and Wendy have been listing and selling items online and stowing the wares in Caitlin’s basement which is serving as their mini fulfillment center. They are even offering free delivery to homes within a 10 mile radius of the gallery. Caitlin describes their business model as “a hybrid, somewhere between a co-op and a typical gallery,” Their business plan focuses on an affordable way for artists to be professionally represented with low-risk entrée, fees are based on a percentage of sales and each artist contributes a small amount to the monthly rent.

The new space at 224 N. Main is approximately 1000 square feet and over 40 artists will be featured on opening day, currently set for July 1, 2020. From handmade candles, to clothing, wall art, and craft kits, the entire family is covered! It’s fun to take a peek at the vast inventory online.

Caitlin will be selling her washable coloring dolls from her company entitled Doodle Jawnz. Some of the dolls were gifted to families dealing with the corona virus and to the children of frontline workers. Wendy Stone, an artist and co-owner at Makers on Main creates beautiful pieces of furniture. Local Artist Mike Ruhl of The Napping Gnome makes gorgeous functional work from locally sourced wood such as a bowl made from Spalted Maple and a dish created from a Black Locust tree farmed from New Hope.

“Though 2020 has been unpredictable, connecting with other artists has been what drives us.” When asked what success looks like, Caitlin replied, “Art is everything! It is a way of tracking history and cultural changes. We can’t be successful without artists being successful.”

This story is part of the Help One Artist Campaign to give exposure to the artists and creatives in our communities who contribute to the cultural beauty of our society.