Submitted Photo Ted Sharon, bottom left, invites the public to celebrate the grand opening of The Art Studio, part of Main Street Studios at 50 W. Main St. on Saturday.

If it feels like creativity is surging in downtown Fredonia, that’s because it is. In the words of Ted Sharon, owner of Main Street Studios, “This is such a great time to be alive and a great time to celebrate artists both locally, nationally and eventually internationally.”

This is the mission behind The Art Market, which is the first of the Main Street Studios to open to the public. The celebration begins with The Art Market’s grand opening on Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m.

Three years ago, Sharon, SUNY Fredonia professor and head of the department of theatre and dance, purchased the former Card Seed Company building at 50 W. Main St. with the goal of creating studio spaces for artists of all kinds. With the assistance of a state development grant, Sharon and his wife, Janie, have successfully remodeled the vacant building to include loft apartments and studio spaces to host theater, film, dance, music and art activities for the community.

“The Art Market is a visual art studio,” Sharon told the OBSERVER. “…The idea is that we’re providing artists a space to come in out of the rain, so to speak, to have rent and utilities taken care of. The public can come and enjoy the gallery and also have the opportunity to purchase pieces for their homes or offices, hence ‘the art market.'”

The Art Market’s first featured artist is Joe Sorci, a Fredonia native, who has exhibited his paintings, sculptures and furniture all over the United States, and has spent the past several years living and working in Nashville, Tennessee.

“Joe’s work can be described as expressionism and his exhibit will feature sculptures, paintings–abstract art,” said Sharon. “He will have the space for about six weeks. After three weeks, he’ll switch out his work and have all new pieces.”

Sharon is excited to invite the public to the grand opening to enjoy Sorci’s work, music, food and drinks. He said that The Art Studio’s regular hours will include afternoons and evenings and will vary from day to day. Hours will be posted on the storefront and on social media.

Sharon has been on sabbatical this semester in order to complete Main Street Studios. While he may not be teaching this spring, he has been heavily involved with several departments who have helped bring The Art Studio to fruition.

“This has been a wonderful collaboration with Sue McNamara and the business department, Peter Tucker and the visual arts and new media department and my students in the department of theatre and dance,” said Sharon. “It’s been a lot of work and as smooth as you could possibly imagine, with everyone firing on all cylinders.”

Sharon said students have been working on painting and preparing the space, as well as assisting with marketing. Cody Britton, owner of Southpaw Signs and Stripes, has helped with logo design. “I’ve been working with Joe on which pieces are going to come in,” said Sharon of his busy week. “We’re redesigning the space completely with a new color scheme, as well as a museum gallery hanging system that we’ll install this week and a new small stage area for presentations.” He plans to open the rest of the studio spaces on July 1.

Sharon noted the opening is timely, given the community’s renewed zeal for local businesses and community pride. He believes that recent excitement created by the Small Business Revolution is actually indicative of “a real revolution happening within.”

“We appreciate the local business owners and local artists because they’re the heart of our community,” Sharon explained. “They’re the brave ones who have stepped out and said, ‘I’m going to stay in the community and make something beautiful happen,’ whether it’s art, food, furniture, flooring, or what have you. We hope to contribute to that through Main Street Studios.”