|
|
Nita Anderson painted the picture of the Lake Superior ore freighter that’s behind her when she was suffering from loss of vison in one eye. Staff photo’s Brian Larsen
When Nita Anderson sold her Grand Marais Art Store 8 Broadway last year, she realized she was too young to quit painting, so she looked around for some options.
Turns out, she didn’t have to look too far. She bought the lot next to 8 Broadway and has added four small buildings, three picnic tables, and more.
“I’m hoping to help the town and area artists,” said Nita, adding she’s located close to where her mother grew up. “My mother was raised in a house right next to 8 Broadway, so I feel like I’m almost on family property.”
When asked why she wanted to start a new business, Nita replied, “I am only 80, and I like what I do. I was given a gift, and it seems like I should continue to use it. My mom lived to be 101 and built her last house when she was 88, so I figure I have at least several more years left.”
Anderson’s acrylic paintings depict nature, and she has an excellent eye for color and detail. And speaking of eyes, she got a scare this past January.
Dan Helmerson stopped by to chat and check out Nita’s new stores.
She was losing vision in her right eye. “I thought I would only have one eye. I wore a patch over my eye for months. Finally, my doctor told me sometimes vision will return, and he was right; my eye got better.”
However, her stint as a one-eyed painter turned out great. She showed a stunning painting of an ore boat on Lake Superior she painted while squinting.
“People say maybe I should continue to paint with one eye,” Anderson said as she laughed.
When this story was written Nita had only been working on the new “village” for a little more than a week. “There is lot of detail work, a lot of fine tuning to do,” she said.
So far, the community response has been great. “People I don’t even know have been bringing me stuff. Grand Marais is an awesome and amazing place to be.”
Although the name for her new enterprise is a work in progress, on the list of ideas is “Broadway Art Park or “Broadway Art Village.” More names might be coming. “I am open to ideas for the name or for the business,” she said.
The courtyard is still in transition right now, with four buildings and some picnic tables and chairs for guests and customers to sit at.
A potter is renting one of the spaces and a rock artist the other. So she’s keeping two buildings for herself, one for sales and one for her art studio.
“I will put a doorway and walkway between the two buildings so I can work and still keep track of what is going on in the store,” She said.
The stores will be open seasonally. Nita has been happy that folks have been dropping by to look and eat at the picnic tables, and she is open to suggestions on how to make the grounds more amenable to the public.
“I think that maybe I can offer space for a day or a weekend for a vendor. That would be a way for them to make some money. I am also talking to folks about doing pottery demonstrations here.
Three of the buildings are 12 x 14, and one is 10×16. There is no electricity or water, but Nita said she is thinking of hooking up a large cistern to catch water. Stop by to visit and say hi.
Leave a Reply