Page 27 - BusinessWest May 29, 2023

“We’ve been
here for 12 years, and we’ve been successful and growing. Now we’re in a position where we are
a full-fledged business, and we have to treat it as such.”
called attention to a rack of printed T-shirts.
“The patterns are from hand-carved wooden blocks that are printed on to the T-shirts,” she explained. “We
haven’t had something like this before. This type of art speaks to a younger crowd, and we’re excited to have this artist join us.”
Thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the gallery will look to upgrade its logo and branding. Staiger described it as a bit of a facelift to reintroduce the gallery to the community.
“We’ve been here for 12 years, and we’ve been suc- cessful and growing,” she said. “Now we’re in a posi- tion where we are a full-fledged business, and we have to treat it as such.”
The group is working with the Homegrown Studio, a local marketing agency known for its work with local farms and small businesses. Homegrown will create a new logo and a new look for the gallery. “Our vision is to create a modern local art gallery,” Staiger said.
Hoffer added that part of the branding effort will involve reaching out to locals as well as out-of-towners to make it easier to find Sawmill River Arts.
“From the universities to the prep schools, it’s not
unusual to see students and parents who are not from
the area,” she said. “We have an extraordinary destination, and we love it when they visit.”
The art gallery is one of several businesses located in the Mon- tague Bookmill complex. In addition to the art gallery and the book- store, there are two restaurants — the Watershed (sit-down dining) and the Lady Killigrew Café (pub atmosphere) — as well as a music shop, Turn it Up! The entire complex faces the Sawmill River, which can be heard rushing by in the background.
“We have art, music, books, and the river,” Hoffer said. “With lots of outdoor seating, it’s a real draw for people who want to get out of the house and see other people who also care about all these things.”
Roy Mansur was drawn to the collective by the opportunity to display his photographic works in whatever way he chooses.
Picture This
Staiger said the mill complex is an iconic New England location makes people feel like they’ve stumbled upon it.
“Many people who come here for the first time feel like they’ve discovered this oasis in the middle of Western Mass.,” she said.
If all goes to plan, many more people will be discovering Saw- mill River Arts, and the entire mill complex, for themselves ... and maybe bringing home a unique piece of local art, too. BW
7th Annual Golf Tournament
Friday, June 2, 2023
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