SPOTLIGHT | THE PAINT POST
The Paint Post has been thriving in downtown Sheridan for eight years and was recently purchased by Alexandra and Benjamin Johnson in April of this year. Alex’s energy and kindness is infectious and she shows the patrons of the store true welcoming hospitality. Whether you are attending a class or stopping in to pick up a gift, you are always greeted with a smile from Alex and the staff. At The Paint Post there are a lot of creative opportunities tailored to individuals of all ages and artistic levels. The dedicated and talented artists are there to guide you through the artistic process step by step. If canvas painting doesn't pique your interest, fear not; they offer a diverse range of classes, from glass etching to wood sign crafting, rug making, and hat decorating. In addition to the already packed class schedule, there are new class offerings regularly. The classes at The Paint Post are designed to cater to a variety of occasions, making them perfect for birthday parties, office gatherings, bachelorette parties, date nights, and family get-togethers. For people seeking unique, locally-made products, the shop proudly showcases items from vendors such as wyHOMEing Apparel, Meadowlark Macrame, Wyolacreek, Cards by Donna Harnish, and their very own LemonMoon Bath and Body Products. Make sure you stop in and check out the vibrant world of creativity – there's something here for everyone! With the holiday season upon us (yes, already!) The Paint Post has a fantastic lineup of fall and Christmas classes [...]
SPOTLIGHT | SAGE COMMUNITY ARTS
SAGE Community Arts is becoming a household name in the Sheridan area and beyond. The organization is a non-profit led by executive director, Jill Benson and guided by the board of directors. There are two galleries at SAGE consisting of one member gallery that rotates in new art every 3-4 months and one exhibition gallery that changes out every six weeks to feature a new artist or collection. If you haven’t been into the beautiful, bright, and charming galleries to peruse what SAGE Community Arts has to offer the community, you are missing out on a wonderful artistic experience right here in downtown Sheridan. Not only is Rachel Mathews, the Gallery Manager at SAGE a true delight, you are missing the opportunity to take advantage of what SAGE has to offer if you don’t stop in. In addition to hosting two galleries, Rachel wants people to know that 85% of the artists represented at the gallery are local to the Sheridan area. SAGE Community Arts also offers memberships to artists, including a Student Membership option for junior artists and college students for just $25/year. “If you’re looking for art, come here and support local artists,” Rachel said of SAGE. “We have all kinds of art from fine art to hang, earrings to wear, postcards to send, and mixed media and 3D”, she continued. If you stop into the galleries, make sure you chat with Rachel or Jill! They have loads of knowledge about local artists and how SAGE helps represent [...]
SPOTLIGHT | SHERIDAN ANTIQUES
Sheridan Antiques is a great escape in downtown Sheridan. Tom and Becky Stedtnitz started out as vendors at Best Out West and moved into their current location eight years ago. Tom mentioned that Sheridan Antiques is not a consignment store, they curate all the items sold at the store. The business storefront is unique to downtown with a garage door that stays open through summer business hours where you can find a rack of vintage jackets or larger pieces welcoming you in to see what treasures await you! A fun fact about Sheridan Antiques is, as Tom puts it, “I have a picture of Sam Mavarakis on the wall and I’m pretty sure it was in his shop. I believe it’s the photo that was used to model the statue after that sits in front of the Downtown Sheridan Association”. Tom said that Sheridan Antiques has a variety of things and he listens to what customer are asking for, “We try to offer what’s in demand and do our best to stick to the used market,” he said of the inventory. One of Tom’s favorite items to have at the store is the animal mounts, “I like to display them so people can look at them. People ask the difference between deer and elk and other animals; I like to have examples to show them.” Tom said of the animals. He also likes to curate unusual items and in the spirit of unusual and mounts, one of the most requested [...]
SPOTLIGHT | BOUGHT BEAUTIFULLY
Bought Beautifully is a local non-profit with a global impact. When you walk into the store you are greeted by racks of pretty garments, fresh scents, patterns, and designs from all over the world. The items offered at Bought Beautifully have much more of a story to them than meets the eye and the purchase provides support and hope to various organizations. Bought Beautifully has a deep-rooted passion for community and holds true to their mission: “To inspire interactions that enrich lives, restore hope, empower people, and shine God’s love.” They do this by providing a market that transforms lives. The store is a fair trade hub for Wyoming and the organization partners with 47 countries to help people develop products or work with existing products to bring them to a bigger market. By joining forces with various countries, the Bought Beautifully team is able to help create meaningful jobs in disadvantaged communities. Bought Beautifully was founded by Emily and Colin Betzler in 2014 and has become a wonderful part of the downtown Sheridan community. “We have helped create 63,000 days of employment globally, averaged across the 47 partner countries.” That’s between purchases made online, in-store, and pop-ups. “Your purchase does make a difference, even a small town can support amazing things,” Emily said of Sheridan and wanted to thank the community for their constant support. Emily said that people who come into Bought Beautifully are in awe of all the causes the organization supports. Renzy Reno, Director of Operations [...]