Local Artists Come Together to Share Wisdom, Knowledge and Love for the Arts

Photos courtesy of The New Local | Marie-Juliette Bird with beaded works by Color & Quill in the gallery shop.

In 2019, jewelry designer Marie-Juliette Bird invited a group of creative friends to open The New Local, a short-term, creative collaborative in Boulder. The idea was simple: The group of female-identifying creatives would form a collective and share expenses, and each would keep 100 percent of their respective profits. They supported one another, leveraging individual social media platforms to create a competitive marketplace model, together.

Bright and cheery items are featured in the “color room” section of the gallery shop.

Following the success of the pop-up, Bird’s vision for The New Local expanded into a nonprofit, with a desire to empower female creatives across Colorado and to build a thriving community of artists through exhibition, workshops, public art and events.

LEFT: Summer of 2023 artist-in-residence Darcie Shively weaves at The New Local Annex.

In early 2023, The New Local settled into a historic Queen Anne Victorian with stained-glass windows and hardwood floors. The building has since been transformed into a creative hub for the community, and its meticulously curated retail space is filled with an array of works by creators who have been chosen through a juried process. More than 68 local artists currently sell their work at The New Local, including:

• Hadley Girl, featuring delightful bows and clothes for little girls
• Colorful paintings by Mattie Made
• Ethereal fine jewelry by Blackbird and the Snow
• Craf-forward footwear by Underhill Leather
• Wearable beaded works by Salihah Moore
• Home and body products by Bee + Rose
• Nature-inspired Amio Ceramics
• Limited-edition paper products from L.A. Papers
  

A few artists work in rented studio spaces throughout the building, and there is a designated area for workshops taught by local artists that are offered to the public on a regular basis.

The New Local recently expanded its space with the addition of The New Local Annex, located in a former grocery store built in the late 1800s, just a short walk from the main building. The annex is used for fine-arts exhibitions and was also an artist-in-residency space for Boulder-based fiber artist Darcie Shively, who set up her loom to demonstrate how she created the incredible weavings featured in her New Local show “Reply Hazy, Try Again.”

Beautiful wood vases made by Hollow and Form.

In addition to purchasing one-of-a-kind finds, you can make a contribution to the community in honor of your favorite famous female creative, such as Frida Kahlo, Joni Mitchell, Georgia O’Keefe, Maria Tallchief, Martha Grahm, Yayoi Kusama, Maya Angelou or Nina Simone, on the website. The New Local is open to the public Monday through Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., with special events throughout the year.

Summer campers show off their Cyanotype tote bag creations.

THE NEW LOCAL
741 Pearl St., Boulder

THE NEW LOCAL ANNEX
713 Pearl St., Boulder

Jani Duncan Smith is a professional creative who enjoys deliciousness, entertaining, needlepoint, culture, art, music, film, literature, travel, family and her standard poodle, Ms. Miriam Maisel.