Photo courtesy of Croton River Artisans Gallery.
Croton River Artisans Gallery provides local artisans with a space to showcase their work in Croton-on-Hudson.
Croton-on-Hudson has a long history of creatives, from Alexander Calder to opera singer Jessye Norman. Yet while the village hasn’t had a lack of artists within the community, it has felt an absence of visibility and spaces that showcase art.
“Croton is such a well-known place for artists, but there was nowhere to show the art,” says gallery artisan Tsui Yuen-Pappas. In early 2022, Yuen-Pappas and other local artisans decided to do something about it. The result is the Croton River Artisans Gallery, a cooperative gallery featuring the work of 10 local artisans. They each wholeheartedly believe in the importance of showcasing the work of local artists.
“Croton has a historical connection with the arts, and it’s exciting to be a part of bringing back that connection with our gallery,” says gallery painter Jeff Thornton.
The gallery held its grand opening in April, and since then has seen a consistent flow of customers come through its doors. Yuen-Pappas recalls a local artist who was thrilled to see the gallery up and running. “I never thought there would be a gallery here. I would love to show my work here,” Yuen-Pappas remembers her saying.
It is important to all of the artists in the collaborative that the art is accessible to the community. “We have pieces that are $3,000 but we also have pieces that are $50. We want people to be able to own a piece of art,” Yuen-Pappas notes.
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The pandemic brought numerous activities and businesses to a halt, leaving empty storefronts scattered across Westchester. Croton was no different as the locals looked for ways to fill the empty retail spaces. “We felt it would be ideal to be situated in the upper village and be an anchor for revitalization for the heart of the town to be anchored in the arts,” says Yuen-Pappas.
Not only did this opening allow for people living in Westchester to witness all that Croton has to offer within the artistic department, but also those visiting from out of the county. “I’ve met so many other artists in the community that we normally don’t get a chance to see and especially during the pandemic we didn’t get a chance to socially meet with each other,” says Yuen-Pappas.
In the beginning, artisans found out about the gallery via social media and word of mouth. This led to informal get-togethers at the coffee house where the gallery seemed to organically bind itself together. Each artisan brings something to the table, and that goes beyond their impeccable creations.
“Each of us has a different skill set which made the cooperative a great successful partnership,” says Yuen-Pappas. From former lawyers and event planners to current construction company owners, all the artisans have special skills that help to run the gallery.
“The gallery has meant so much to me. We’ve gotten a warm embrace from the local community, which has energized me to create more work. Working with the nine other artisans to build this art space has been incredibly rewarding,” says Sharon Kullberg, gallery painter and jeweler.
Each month the gallery will showcase a guest artist from the community. In October it will be showcasing work from Flora Meyer. In November, work from Eleanor Kwei will be shown. The program is all about helping the artisans be featured within the community.
Not only is the gallery displaying visual artwork, but it hopes to hold poetry readings, intimate concerts, and display other art forms.
“My family and I have been blessed and love living in this secret place for over 30 years. I’m truly grateful to be partnering with such talented and giving artists and neighbors,” says Gwenveria Sargeant, gallery artisan.
Croton River Artisans Gallery
9 Old Post Rd S, Croton-on-Hudson
