CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS
- Cindy Perman
- 1 hour ago
- 5 min read
Everything at the SOMA Affordable Art Sale is under $200
By Cindy Perman
SOMA Affordable Art Sale is the brainchild of three local artists who met while selling their art at events. They got to know each other by comparing notes on the good and bad of each event.
After one whose sales were particularly disappointing, they had an idea: Why not create our own art sale but make the art affordable? “We felt like an affordable concept would work really well in SOMA, where folks are very interested in art,” says co-founder Natalie Crandall.
Crandall, along with cofounders Ken Stanek and Sumana Ghosh-Witherspoon, noticed that sometimes price was a barrier to purchase. Someone might fall in love with a piece but wouldn’t buy it because it was out of their price range. So they set a price limit of $200 for all art at the sale.
It’s mostly fine art, including drawings, paintings, photographs, digital illustrations and more. They come in a variety of forms, including small canvases or prints, cards, stickers and other stationery type products. There are also ceramics, candles and other items.
Besides making the art affordable, the group is mindful of making the events good for the artist vendors. They provide clear information and enough lead time for artists to plan their sales strategy, including the types of pieces they want to create to fit the price limit.
They also want the events to have a fun, inclusive vibe. The artists have had two SOMA Affordable Art Sale events this year: one indoors at Artie’s in Maplewood in the spring and the other outdoors at the Springfield Avenue Gazebo (in conjunction with the Springfield Avenue Partnership) in the fall.
The under $200 sales strategy appears to be working. Crandall and Stanek say they’ve had some of their best days at these markets. Crandall spent 17 years in education as a teacher and coach before returning to her love of painting during the pandemic. She says it’s amazing that “when you have an idea, you can come together really powerfully with other people who are good at other things besides what you’re good at and make something really cool.” What started as a side hustle of selling her art at local fairs is now a full-time job.
Each of them brings a different art style to the sale. Crandall (@imperfectstudioart) thrifts frames and creates whimsical paintings that spill onto the frame. Stanek (@studionumbernine) paints watercolor illustrations of people, pets, homes and local restaurants. GhoshWitherspoon (@shoemona) is a surface pattern designer, artist and graphic designer, who draws inspiration from her dual upbringing in Philadelphia and India.
What started out as a group of three became four when Maplewood tattoo artist Magie (Serpica) McGowan (@magieserpica.tattoo) joined them to help organize the events. McGowan and her husband, Brian, sell art together at the sale, including paintings on wood, framed tattoo-style art, original ink drawings and some surreal/psychedelic-inspired mixed media canvases.
“We play well together and work together wonderfully. Each of us have skills that complement everyone else’s skills,” Stanek says, joking that each of them had a special “superpower.” Stanek’s superpower is being a connector of people (he pretty much knows everyone). Crandall says hers is taking notes and keeping people on task. She is a former teacher, after all. Ghosh-Witherspoon’s superpower, as Crandall describes it, is bringing a thoughtful perspective and making sure they have a diverse range of artists.
For McGowan, everyone agrees that she excels at organizing events from top to bottom. The events take on a party vibe, with good food, good music and a kids’ area, where kids can create while their parents shop. And anyone can work on a collective “community art” piece. The two that were created at the September sale are being donated to the Maplewood Memorial Library. “We want the day-of to feel streamlined and energetic, with fun swag bag giveaways, great music, food and drinks, and a party whether you buy art or not!” Crandall says.
More than 700 people attended the Artie’s sale in April. The line went out the door and around the building. That’s so SOMA to support local businesses and artists! “People definitely appreciate shopping local,” Stanek says. “Supporting the community is a big part of what we do.”
The next SOMA Affordable Art Sale will be at Artie’s (upstairs) on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 11 a.m. - 3p.m. It’s free to attend, but if you want to get in an hour early, you can buy a VIP ticket for $15. The sale will feature 20 artists, including the event organizers, as well as some other local artists. Courtney Inge, who designed all of the logos, menus, T-shirts and other art for Corner Slice (she’s married to owner Mike Bergemann) will be there. So will Jess Cabato, an art director, designer and muralist, who painted the murals at SOMA Sweets and Pop Blossom Studio.
The artists get together for dinner before each sale to foster a sense of community. But on the day of the sale, they’ll all be behind their own booths or tables. “It can be really lonely being an artist,” says Crandall, who was used to being around people all day when she worked in education. “This community that we’ve created … feels very abundant and supportive.”
If you can’t make it to the Nov. 29 sale, the group has several events planned for 2026. Visit somaaffordableart.com and sign up for their More than 700 shoppers attended the first SOMA Affordable Art Sale at Artie’s. The line wrapped around the side of the building. Photo by Jay Pingree. mailing list and follow them on Instagram @somaaffordableart.
You can also visit artists’ websites to buy their pieces. Some artists, such as Crandall and Stanek, teach classes. Artists who want to get in on the next sale can sign up for the newsletter to learn how to become a vendor. “It’s so special to me to be a part of creating something that celebrates local artists because these are our community members and they’re working so hard to do something that they love,” Crandall says.
Cindy Perman is a freelance writer and editor in Maplewood, who loves to create – and get lost in – art.