EASTHAMPTON — On Saturday, Wedge Works Art and Home will host a “big opening gallery party” to celebrate joining the Easthampton community with a unique take on artisan home goods, according to Boni Johnson, who is opening the shop with her husband, local sculptor Matt Johnson.
“He’s the artist,” Johnson said. “I’m more about finding lovely pieces and putting them together.”
Johnson said she and her husband first started collecting and curating home art pieces 12 years ago in Hoboken, New Jersey. In February, Nash Gallery closed after 23 years on Cottage Street and the Johnsons decided to open Wedge Works at 26 Cottage St. to fill the void left by the staple gallery, which she said the pair frequented often.
“Matt and I first started our business together doing custom furniture, local shows; we worked with a lot of designers, partnered with a local glass blower and opened a gallery in New Jersey,” Johnson said. “Wedge Works is sort of an evolution from that.”
From 5-8:30 p.m. on Saturday, the new gallery will welcome community members to check out the selection of craft home goods and custom furniture, silks and candles, pottery and jewelry.
Johnson said there will be offerings from American artisans from across the country as well as a wide array of creations from local artists like her husband, who will showcase his artistic take on railings, chairs, cabinets and other custom work.
The gallery will also feature work by Easthampton artist David Poppie, Tiny Anvil jewelry and Kaleidoscope Pottery. Down the line, Johnson said there are plans to sell artist-made clothing.
Opened at the beginning of June, Wedge Works is now ready for perusal from Wednesday through Sunday with varying store hours.
“Being an artist-owned business and having that perspective is really great because you know what it’s like on both ends of making and selling the art,” Johnson said.
M.J. Tidwell can be reached at mjtidwell@gazettenet.com.