Canna Provisions brings together art, cannabisDate: 4/12/2022 HOLYOKE – In a call to all artists across the Pioneer Valley, Canna Provisions Holyoke is looking for artists to submit work for the chance to be chosen to exhibit in the dispensaries monthly Artists-in-Residence gallery program.
Each month a different local artist is selected and given ample space on the Canna Provisions cannabis dispensary walls at their 380 Dwight St. location to showcase their work and be a part of the one-of-a-kind Holyoke gallery-meets-dispensary experience.
Marketing Director Crystal Childs said the idea stemmed from COO Eric Williams who shares an affection for art that Childs said she connects to.
“Art and cannabis go hand in hand,” Childs said. “He saw the opportunity to have a gallery in our Canna Provisions Holyoke location before it was even opened. The structure itself is absolutely beautiful inside and our neighborhood and community is just rich with local artists and he just saw that opportunity and wanted to connect the two.”
Childs said one artist is chosen each month for the gallery showcase and the reason behind the decision is to give each chosen applicant enough time to get their work up in the gallery and stay there for people to come in and see. She added it also gives the dispensary a fresh look each month that assists in the atmosphere of the space.
Childs said the gallery will give a unique opportunity for local artists to showcase their talents and reach audiences they may have not normally reached with their work.
“It’s just another way for us to kind of help out the community in small ways,” Childs said.
Childs said the call to artists is a general one and that any style of artist is welcomed to submit for the chance to showcase their work within the dispensary. Childs added she and Williams both are dialed into the arts and have history in different areas of it as it continues to be a hobby and interest of both.
“Between the two of us, we just want to showcase things that really catch our eye and we really see the potential that if this person got some exposure, they’re going to do big things,” Childs said.
Childs said that in past months they have seen comic book style art, large abstract pieces, cartoony displays, mixed media pieces and a wide range of art in different mediums. She also said a goal of the call to artists was also to showcase the Hispanic communities within Holyoke.
“We do love to showcase artists right within the Hispanic and Latinx communities. We’re really trying to cling on that and bring more art to that local area,” Childs said.
Overall, this call to artists provides a unique showcasing opportunity for artists, as well as gives the Canna Provisions Holyoke team a very cool feature that will stay fresh each month.
“We love when people walk in and their eyes light up. They might’ve been here in our location in Holyoke last month, but then they walked in this month and they’re like ‘oh my god’ and everything is completely different because that artist has made a splash and changed our whole display and feel in the store,” Childs said.
Childs said the Canna Provisions Holyoke team loves this aspect of their location and that she and Williams love being able to help give exposure to artists in such a unique way. She added that there is no deadline to apply as they are constantly taking applications and map out months ahead of what artists will be showcasing their work in each month.
“Eric and I, our heart is with the art community and we always say, what goes better together than cannabis and art?” Childs said.
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