With the chaos of Black Friday and Cyber Monday come and gone, it’s high time to turn to less hectic and more creative expressions of the holiday shopping season.
Artists markets, galleries and museum shops offer stylish and unique gifts in kinder, gentler settings that can soothe your inner Scrooge and spark the true spirit of giving.
Situated in a quaint 19th century farmhouse, and known for presenting cutting edge contemporary art in this distinctly homey setting, Spruill Gallery in Dunwoody is decorated to become a festive destination for its Holiday Artists Market.
“It’s grown into this charming and very inviting event,” gallery director Hope Cohn said. “The house is transformed into this lovely experience for the holidays. Because of the charm of the house, it’s just something very special. Instead of going to the mall, you walk into a place that takes you back in time.”
For Cohn, what’s most important about the annual event is that everything the gallery sells during the invitational show is one of a kind and handmade by artists, many of whom are instructors at the nearby Spruill Center for the Arts.
“We have ceramics, jewelry, wood and glass artists,” Cohn said. “So it’s a wonderful time for them to showcase their work, and it’s also our big fundraiser. Because we’re a nonprofit community organization, we really depend on the holidays to help support our programs.”
In keeping with the season, the gallery also has a big selection of ornaments and other decorations, and shoppers can enjoy snacks, coffee and hot chocolate, plus special events.
On Thursday, Shop ‘Til You Drop extends the market hours until 9 p.m. and offers dinner on-the-go, sponsored by Jersey Mike’s Subs. From 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Dec. 17, the Jewelry Trunk Show features selected jewelry artists and jewelry-making demonstrations.
Cohn dedicated this year’s Holiday Artists Market to Barbara O’Connell, a beloved Spruill artist who recently died but left behind boxes full of work for the show.
“She was like all the elfs rolled into one,” Cohn said. “What she made was probably the biggest percentage of what we sold in the market. She made ornaments and jewelry and all kinds of sweet and playful art objects. For me, she was the spirit of the market.”
Spruill Gallery Holiday Artists Market. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; noon-5 p.m. Sundays. 5339 4681 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, 770-394-4019 spruillarts.org
A few more arty ideas for holiday shopping and good cheer include:
Christmas at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
The Gothic-Tudor mansion, built in 1920 as the home of Coca-Cola heir Charles Howard Candler, is decorated for the season by top Atlanta interior and floral designers. Christmas trees, period furniture and other decorative touches reflect a historic Atlanta Christmas reminiscent of when Callanwolde was the Candler family home.
The Callanwolde Artists Studio sale, “Charming ARTifacts,” located in the conservatory greenhouse, showcases fine art and crafts created by Callanwolde instructors and students. Handmade one-of–a-kind gifts include paintings, drawings, pottery, jewelry and ornaments.
Callanwolde Artists Studio sale. Through Dec.18. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. $20 adults, $15 seniors, $12 children age 4-12, includes Christmas at Callanwolde and "Charming ARTifacts" sale. 980 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta. 404-872-5338, www.ChristmasatCallanwolde.org.
Swan Coach House Gallery and Gift Shop
Now in its second decade, the Swan Coach House annual “Little Things Mean a Lot” show and sale of small-scale works have become a holiday favorite. This year, there are more than 300 pieces by contemporary artists from all over Georgia and the South, in mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, printmaking, collage, fiber and ceramics.
The Swan Coach House gift shop is also a great holiday shopping destination. Among the gift items are ladies jackets, scarves and handbags, jewelry and watches, pottery, lamps and decorative accessories. Complimentary gift wrapping is offered for all regularly priced items and shipping is available.
Swan Coach House "Little Things Mean a Lot." Through Jan. 7. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; gift shop 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. 3130 Slaton Drive N.W., Atlanta, 404-266-2636, www.swancoachhouse.com
The High Museum Shop
Although Museum admission is not required to visit the Museum Shop, mixing a few hours strolling the galleries with a little shopping is a relaxing way to escape the holiday hustle and bustle. As part of the current “Picasso to Warhol” exhibition, there’s a 24-foot Christmas tree decorated with 500 ornaments featuring Andy Warhol’s famous Marilyn Monroe image and the show logo.
The Museum Shop’s holiday gift-worthy wares include art books and exhibition catalogs, gift cards, posters, prints and frames, jewelry, creative learning gifts for kids, and even an Andy Warhol Christmas mug.
High Museum Shop. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays, Fridays-Saturdays; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays; noon-5 p.m. Sundays. 1280 Peachtree St., N.E., Atlanta, 404-733-4814. www.high.org.
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