Grand opening, indeed

Upon arriving at the opening of Tangled Up In Hue, Eau Claire’s new art co-op, the proper word to sum up the experience would be overwhelming. The sign hanging outside 416 South Barstow St. was as brightly lit as the inside at nightfall, February 7, 2009. One step inside and it became very clear that this wasn’t just a small celebratory get-together; an enormous amount of supporters came to catch their first glimpse of a promising new business.

People could be found outside in the chilly February air catching a breath and cooling off from the serious amount of heat inside. The former home of Sammy’s Pizza was filled wall-to-wall.

Up front, the Evergreen Grass Band provided musical atmosphere, while the in-store glassblower DJ Stewart showed off his skills and wares behind tinted glass. The walls, tables, and racks arranged throughout were covered with paintings, photography, and various hand-crafted gifts and goods. And everywhere in between were local artists, art enthusiasts, and curious onlookers getting their first look at a promising new store.

“We knew there was going to be a good turnout, but we never knew it was going to be that big,” said Stewart. Like Stewart, the store’s owners, Jamie Kyser and Erin Roesler, never expected the opening of the store to be so packed.

While setting up earlier in the evening for the opening, Kyser and Roesler said they almost didn’t have time to go home and change for their own grand opening, since people began to show up hours earlier than planned.

Despite – or maybe thanks to – the jam-packed opening, most of the artists were able to sell something that night, said Roesler.

UW-Eau Claire student Samantha Fiscus, who attended the opening in support of several featured artists, called it “over-the-top impressive.” 

“They had very little time to pull it together,” said Fiscus, “but with their hard work, they managed to make it really beautiful.”

pARTners

Kyser and Roesler, the masterminds behind the store, have known each other for about seven years and have been working together for the majority of that time. Both Kyser and Roesler said they never took formal art classes but “just grew up super crafty.” Kyser has tried her hand at glassblowing, sewing, and like Roesler, makes jewelry.

Jamie Kyser, from Spooner, attended UW-Stout. Milwaukee native Erin Roesler graduated from UW-Eau Claire, majoring in English and Women’s Studies. When Kyser first moved to Eau Claire, she worked at the kiosk in the mall with the owners. She was eventually hired as the manager, later reopening the store with more products after she made enough to do so. 

Within the first year of opening the kiosk, dubbed Beadopadubop, Kyser hired Roesler. The kiosk initially consisted of handmade jewelry and some glass pieces by Kyser. Roesler took over the kiosk after Kyser moved on, but left after a year. After briefly living in Tucson, Roesler came back to Eau Claire, wanting to open a business.

“Do you want to do this with me?”

Around November, Roesler began the first steps to take the co-op from an idea to a reality. Roesler said the beginning stage of the store was fairly spontaneous: “One day I just turned and asked Jamie [Kyser], ‘do you want to do this with me?’”

Immediately, she said, the store became a reality for the two. Kyser said the co-op format began with the kiosk, since it featured merchandise from Kyser as well as other artists.

With their friend Stewart on board, the trio already knew plenty of artists in the area and supporters who cared and wanted to be a part of the store, said Roesler. When gathering pieces for the opening, they started with friends and family who made art. Among them were Kyser’s husband, who is a painter, and Stewart’s brother Mike, who has some of his photography available in the store. 

Both Kyser and Roesler laugh about meeting one of their artists while in line at Office Depot, Jacey Perrigan. As they were picking up items for the store and discussing it, Perrigan overheard and was immediately interested and willing to get on board with some of his pieces.

The building wasn’t their first pick, but they ended up lucking out anyway, Kyser said. The property already had almost everything needed for studio space, including sinks and tile floors.
“It’s all fallen into place perfectly,” said Roesler.

Aftermath

After the success of the opening, artists who came by to check it out realized they, too, could offer some of their work to the store to help it grow even more. “So far everyone that’s been involved with this has just been great,” said Stewart. 

In February, there were about 20 to 30 artists contributing their diverse work to Tangled Up In Hue. Along with pieces of fine art are numerous hand-made gifts: lip balms, candles, jewelry, bags, buttons, greeting cards, and clothing. For each artist, having their work shown in the store is like checking out a small portfolio of what the artist does just by being in the store, said Stewart.

The February sales at Tangled Up In Hue trump the sales they had at the mall, Kyser and Roesler said, making almost double what they would in that month.

Supporting downtown

Both Kyser and Roesler say they try as much as they can to buy locally to support the community, and wanted to be as proactive with the development of downtown Eau Claire as possible, beyond their checkbooks.

Kyser said the development of downtown Eau Claire had “come a long way, but [it] still has more room to grow.” Having Tangled Up In Hue downtown just seemed like a better fit with the people who live and do business there.

“[The new store] should help with the city's goal to liven up the downtown area,” said Fiscus. “The diversity and creativity should draw more people down here.”

Other businesses downtown, like Dessert First, Infinitea, Wildwood Gifts, The Stone’s Throw, and The Mousetrap have owners who were involved in helping the downtown flourish, Kyser and Roesler said.

Roesler said Andrew Pernsteiner from The Stone’s Throw has been very encouraging, offering great advice to her and Kyser as they develop the store. “He’s made some really great changes to [The Stone’s Throw] … he cares a lot not only about it, but about all of downtown,” said Roesler. 

Looking forward

Tangled Up In Hue may soon be offering art classes, more studio space which includes a creation station for kids, and a theater downstairs.

The first artist featured for the month of February was Steve Bateman, visual artist and sculptor. Displayed in April is the art of Ruth Lundblad, a Chippewa Falls artist. Coming up sometime after that, Kyser and Roesler are planning to feature pieces from some of the tattoo artists from Skin Prints.

Stewart says he believes the current economic slump won’t be a problem for the new shop. Because it offers a wide variety of fine art and gifts and isn’t specifically a bead or glass shop, “I think we can beat it,” said Stewart. “Typically people who buy artwork are going to buy it whether the economy is bad or not.”

Eau Claire resident Carole Johnson was at the store a week after the opening, checking out the new store that opened up across the street from where she works. Johnson said she’s a fan of all art, and although she isn’t an artist herself, she’s an appreciator. 

The store is great because art includes not only painting and sculpture, but jewelry, too – “art is anything creative,” said Johnson. She had heard they may be offering competition to Trucker’s Union, but Stewart said he didn’t think they would directly compete. “They’re great, too … but we’ve both got different stuff to offer.”

Fiscus said she hopes the success of the store and the contributing artists will help inspire even more artists to create. Each artists’ style, Fiscus said, “was distinct, yet they fit together.” An artist herself, Fiscus was able to take some inspiration from their work. “It helps fuel the fire for me to pick up my brush again.”

The little co-op that could just may make it – with a little help from their friends.