YPSILANTI, MI — Art is expanding in Ypsilanti as one business moves to a new, bigger location.
Ypsi Art Supply & Atelier opened at Riverside Arts Center, 64 N. Huron St., in April as an art supply shop selling things like pencils, charcoal, ink, markers, colored pencils, acrylic paints and watercolors.
Read more: New art supply store aims to be more than just a retail shop in Ypsilanti
Now, less than a year later, the business will expand its operations in a new storefront at 42 N. Huron St. in February. Owner Megan Foldenauer is planning to open on Groundhog Day, Friday, Feb. 2.
“It feels like this great next step,” she said.
Everything seemed to fall into place at the former space of Silver Spoon Antiques, Foldenauer said, adding the new spot is more than 600 square feet, while her older location was just under 200 square feet.
This additional space will let Foldenauer offer not only more inventory, but also classes. She said she has ideas to hopefully offer figure drawing classes and workshops with local artists.
“It’s not just a place you want to shop, but I have a certain level of expertise and I can talk to people about these things, and they can learn from me, and I can learn from them,” she said.
Foldenauer plans to gradually increase the store’s inventory by stocking more products and expanding what she offers with the Ypsilanti art community’s thoughts in mind.
Ypsi Art Supply & Atelier will also sell some reuse art supplies like sketch books, paper, watercolor paints and crayon letters made by Foldenauer.
Beyond inventory and classes, Foldenauer said she’s excited to have her own storefront to be creative in and share her own artwork with the city.
“It’s everybody’s space but presenting all of this to everyone is almost an art installation itself,” she said.
As she reflects on at her time at Riverside Arts Center, Foldenauer said she can’t help but be appreciative of what the space has done for her and for Ypsi Art Supply & Atelier.
“(Riverside Arts Center) is amazing and I’m going to miss them so much,” she said. “Honestly, they gave me a chance to have this space and start in a way that’s non-traditional … I don’t know where this project would be if they hadn’t done that.”
Foldenauer may have some big plans for Ypsi Art Supply & Atelier’s future, but she said none of this could have been done without Ypsilanti’s help.
“The enthusiasm that I get every weekend is infectious,” she said. “It just feels like Ypsi is really behind me and really supportive and really excited about what I am doing.”
Ypsi Art Supply & Atelier hours at the new location will continue to be 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
There will be a brief period of time, starting Monday, Jan. 15, where the art supply shop will only sell items online as Foldenauer moves locations. Learn more about the business online or on social media.
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