I was chosen to tour and design for the Glenbow Museum Gift Shop!

This article was published in the Metro by Aaron Chatha on August 11, 2016. (click photo for link)

Local Etsy business owners will soon be offered the chance to move their virtual shelf space into the real world – specifically, into the Glenbow Museum.
The virtual market place has struck a deal with Calgary’s Glenbow to allow Etsy members to create new and unique products for the museum.
The Etsy marketplace allows users to sell their homemade goods through the website.
“We have so many talented artists and makers here in Calgary and Alberta,” said Jenny Fisher, Glenbow marketing manager. “It’s always fun to find ways to activate the collection – we have so much really cool stuff at Glenbow and only a small portion of it can be on display at one time.”
They’ll be taking in applications from anyone in the province, and select a small portion of them to go behind the scenes at the Glenbow. There’s a ton there for them to see.
The Glenbow houses more than 30,000 pieces of artwork, plus objects like tea cups, dresses and massive gambling tables from Western Canadian history, military history, Japanese samurai armour and even medieval weaponry. And that’s only the tip of the iceburg.
The museum will try to match selected applicants with items or eras that interest them, in the hopes they’ll be inspired to make something cool for the store.
“We have sort of crossed that line between art museum and cultural history museum. For us it’s all about the art of making and things that have been created, used and have importance in peoples lives,” explained Fisher.
The final products will be looked at by a jury, and the best items will be selected for the storefront.
“By partnering with Glenbow's supportive community Etsy can help local artists expand on their creativity, create new work and grow their businesses,” said Erin Green, managing director of Etsy Canada.