The Art Town

Cliff Williams / TPI The Art Town Makers Gallery on Bridge Street in downtown Wetumpka has opened. It features art and hand made items by artists know to owners Jeff and Vanessa Royal. Some the current art available is made my Wetumpka residents Shellie Phelps and Natasha Godwin.

A vision has come to life for Vanessa Royal in The Art Town Makers Gallery.

Royal has always liked art. She is an artist herself and was on the founding board of the Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts. But she wanted to do more for the arts scene in Wetumpka. 

“I used to live in Asheville, North Carolina, and art was big there,” Royal said. “They had a lot of big makers galleries in their downtown. I also love lots of different art.”

Royal feels like The Kelly has helped jumpstart the art scene in Wetumpka. It helps highlight many of the local artists with shows that are up for a few weeks. But Royal felt more could be done to support local artists. Once shows at The Kelly are finished, another show goes up and most often the art goes back to the artist. 

Royal shared her vision of creating a makers gallery with the late Don Sawyer.

“He really encouraged me to do this,” Royal said. “I have been collecting his art for a while.”

Vanessa and her husband Jeff purchased a home from Nicky and Natasha Godwin. The Godwins own Nick of Thyme on Bridge Street and purchased the building a few years ago. The space adjacent to the oil and vinegar store became available recently and conversation between the Royals and Godwins led to the completion of Vanessa’s vision of an art makers gallery.

“Our model is different from The Kelly,” Royal said. “We believe there are a lot of people shopping for art. We have paintings and pottery of course but we also have handmade jewelry and baskets. It’s not all just fine art like The Kelly. It’s a retail market but we won’t be selling anything that has been mass produced.”

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The Art Town Makers Gallery features handmade art by artists known by the Royals; some are local artists but others are from across the country and world.

“We are trying to provide a space for artists to sell their art,” Royal said. 

They plan on hosting receptions and events such as wine and paint but want to stay away from offering art lessons.

“We have several of those in Wetumpka already,” Royal said. “They are doing a great job.”

The new gallery opened for the first time to the public last week and currently has limited hours. The Royals are planning a grand opening next month after they complete their move in and set up the gallery.

“A lot of our local artists have already delivered art, but we're waiting on the out-of-state people,” Royal said. “We also realize we need more wall space and will need to construct that.”

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