It’s heartwarming to see local businesses flourish and outgrow the confines of their current buildings and Driftwood and Clay Art Market and Studio, now located at 111 Main St., is no exception.
Previously found at 428 S. Ninth St., the shop opened for business in April 2022 and contained a huge variety of locally and Colorado-made items, such as cutting boards from Colorado Board Guys, earrings and keychains from Sawdust and Limes, pottery by Stori Thompson, Alise products, stained glass works by Amy Potts, woodwork picture frames made by students at CCMS, and much more.
Owned and operated by fourth-generation Cañon City resident, Beki Javernick, the shop officially celebrated its grand reopening on March 1 and was a hive of activity for over three hours.
The Main Street location was once a thriving flower shop that has sadly sat vacant for 20 years, but Javernick immediately set to work righting that wrong.
“There’s more space here and there are actual greenhouses so I can have plants,” Javernick said. “I like that I can kind of bring back the floral shop part of it.”
Javernick has spent the better part of her life both in the art and organic farming world and, after attaining an art degree from Fort Lewis University, went on to teach art classes and opened Blue Heron Clay Center in the 2010s.
The shop’s move to Main Street has fulfilled many parts of Javernick’s dream moving forward, including her desire to partake in First Friday events that happen monthly on Main Street.
“Having wall space and being downtown, we get to participate in First Fridays,” she said. “Jim and Beth Redhawk are our featured artists this month…and next month we’ll have Dennis and Nancy Welker.”
More than 40 local and Colorado-based artists have their work featured at the shop, and now includes Maverick Potter from Salida, Wickersham Woodworks by Danny and Rachel Wickersham, Pueblo Seed and Food Company products, and more.
“There is something for everybody here, for sure,” Javernick said.
With the new and improved space comes more room for expanding the list of classes offered at the shop. A dedicated potter, Javernick hosted classes at the previous location but now has space for a stained glass workshop and also looks forward to setting up classroom space in the massive greenhouses on the North side of the property. By May, she anticipates having a variety of plants available for purchase.
She has special plans for a smaller greenhouse that sits off the main site, however. After completing appropriate renovations, she plans to officially open The Rendezvous Room — a space that can be rented by the hour or day for meetings, meals, classes, etc.
After opening The Rendezvous Room, she also hopes to have special times where live music is available in the greenhouse and perhaps even a food truck — but that’s relegated to the future for now.
“There’s lots of room for expansion here and it’s just been super fun to be in a new space,” Javernick said. “It’s not a job — it’s something that I love.”
She hopes to continue to follow in her mother, Carolyn Javernick’s, footsteps by running a successful local business. Carolyn ran Aspen Tack and Gifts on the 400 block of Main Street for many years and, although she passed away in 2020, she’s still a treasured part of both Javernick and her business.
“She inspired me for sure,” Javernick said. “I just know that she would love being in here.”
For more information about Javernick, the products at her shop, or the classes she will soon provide, visit https://www.driftwoodclay.com/ or call 719-371-3241. Driftwood and Clay Art Market and Studio can also be found on social media at https://www.facebook.com/driftwoodclaystudio, https://www.instagram.com/driftwoodandclayart/, and https://www.tiktok.com/@driftwoodandclaystudio.
