On Friday, May 20th, The I.D.E.A. Store publicly opened its new space with a gala of food, drinks, music, and some rather interesting artwork. Located at 28 E. Springfield Avenue in Champaign, the main store (located on the second floor) has been supplying the community with reusable art materials since October of 2010. The new space, located on the first floor and directly accessible from the parking lot, provides The I.D.E.A. Store with additional space to hold workshops, art shows, and whatever else the staff and community can come up with.
Below, “Squiggy” by Barry Land.
Consisting of a sizable main room with wonderfully large front windows, a tiny side room to serve as a permanent gallery space, and a larger dining/meeting area, the addition gives the impression that it will be able to easily host a variety of activities without feeling too cramped. The main room also contains a series of cabinets containing various supplies, which came in quite handy as pieces of art from the show sold throughout the night.
One of the most interesting things about the expansion? Everything was donated. “Whether it was materials or just the time of volunteers, everything right down to the light fixtures was donated,” said Education, Event, and Volunteer Manager Lyndsie Marsh. And it all came together in less than two months’ time, too, which seems like a fairly good turn-around for a total space remodel.
Below, Marsh greets a pair of guests.
Below, “Conundrum” by David Spears.
The art show itself was a special draw, as all of the works on display were created from reused materials. Tiny (and large!) robot figurines made from discarded metal and old tools, jewelry made from aluminum and industrial materials, even a giant face made from countless puzzle pieces; everything was incredibly unique and almost all of it was for sale. Over 100 people had been in attendance in the first two hours of the opening, and more continued to visit as the night wound down.
Below, guests examine jewelry made by John MacMullen.
Below, artist Tess Bennet has her photo taken next to her artwork on display.
Below, Carol Jo Morgan (right), co-founder of The I.D.E.A. Store, greets a guest.
“We’re very excited about our new space,” said Carol Jo Morgan, co-founder of The I.D.E.A. Store. And it seems like the rest of the community is too! For more information about the store and its upcoming events, be sure to check out their website or find them on Facebook.
Stephen is an IT manager for the University of Illinois and has been a photographer for Smile Politely since 2015. Find his photography on Facebook or contact him directly via email.
Stephen is an IT manager for the University of Illinois and has been a photographer for Smile Politely since 2015. Find his photography on Facebook or contact him directly via email.