Email from Red Step owner Kelli Redmond:
Red Step Artworks will be closing it's doors. The final day will be 12/10/11.
The gallery opened in February of 2008, just about six months before the the current financial crisis began. It had it's humble beginning on Third Avenue West in the historic Jump Off Rock building, now home to Nana's Antiques. The endeavor began as a working studio gallery with owner, Jewelry designer, Kelli Redmond and then partner, potter, Andrew Stephenson making their one of a kind art pieces and selling them along with a dozen or so of the regions best artists and craftsmens works. Redmond and Stephenson also worked together at the Back Room, a music venue/ bar/ restaurant in Flat Rock.
In late 2009, Stephenson left the gallery to pursue other opportunities and Redmond became the sole proprietor. Feeling the crunch of the recession, Redmond had considered shutting the doors at the end of 2009 as her business was struggling to make it on the side street. But, just as decisions were needing to be made, a phone call from a building owner on Main St changed the mind of the worried business owner. She had just three days to decide and her strong belief in the art and music community won out and Red Step would live at 240 N Main St between Gypsy Heart and Tempo Music. The new location would be a tall order for Redmond, but she called on her friends and they came, they brought tools, beer and pizza, Redmond brought paint, brushes and a big list, but everyone pitched in and all the work paid off.
Red Step on third closed after Christmas, moving ensued during the snowy, icy month of January and just 28 days after the lease was signed, Redmond and her friends and family ripped the paper off the windows and opened the doors to the new Red Step Artworks on Main.
The much larger space grew from the hand full of artists into a venue for music and 50 local arts and crafts people. The gallery had some success but with the Main St infrastructure construction and the declining economy, Redmond realized that she would need to react and subleased to Joy of Books who took on the 242 side of the split space in January of 2011. Unfortunately, that smart business move was still not enough to match the economy's blow to the art world and with the winter and the next phase of construction quickly approaching, Redmond feels now is the time to go.
Redmond and her boyfriend, James Harrell are founding members in the band Letters To Abigail and host the well attended Round Robin style Open Mic every Thursday night at Red Step. The last one will be this Thursday night when Redmond will have to say goodbye to her beloved Music on the Step. Redmond will be continuing this musical tradition in another location to be disclosed at a later date.
In a statement from Kelli Redmond [said] she would like to thank those who supported Red Step Artworks and believed in her. She will be pursuing a career in music with her band Letters To Abigail and as a jewelry designer to be found on the popular, etsy, art site,www.etsy.com/shop/MyCatLilStudio and on facebook. Red Step will be closing at the end of this month with a final sale in progress through Saturday, December 10th. Please come out, buy local and handmade for the holidays and one last time at Red Step Artworks.
Kelli Redmond
Red Step Artworks
240 N Main St Hendersonville NC
828-697-1447
https://www.facebook.com/people/Red-Step-Artworks/100000517204221
Red Step Artworks will be closing it's doors. The final day will be 12/10/11.
The gallery opened in February of 2008, just about six months before the the current financial crisis began. It had it's humble beginning on Third Avenue West in the historic Jump Off Rock building, now home to Nana's Antiques. The endeavor began as a working studio gallery with owner, Jewelry designer, Kelli Redmond and then partner, potter, Andrew Stephenson making their one of a kind art pieces and selling them along with a dozen or so of the regions best artists and craftsmens works. Redmond and Stephenson also worked together at the Back Room, a music venue/ bar/ restaurant in Flat Rock.
In late 2009, Stephenson left the gallery to pursue other opportunities and Redmond became the sole proprietor. Feeling the crunch of the recession, Redmond had considered shutting the doors at the end of 2009 as her business was struggling to make it on the side street. But, just as decisions were needing to be made, a phone call from a building owner on Main St changed the mind of the worried business owner. She had just three days to decide and her strong belief in the art and music community won out and Red Step would live at 240 N Main St between Gypsy Heart and Tempo Music. The new location would be a tall order for Redmond, but she called on her friends and they came, they brought tools, beer and pizza, Redmond brought paint, brushes and a big list, but everyone pitched in and all the work paid off.
Red Step on third closed after Christmas, moving ensued during the snowy, icy month of January and just 28 days after the lease was signed, Redmond and her friends and family ripped the paper off the windows and opened the doors to the new Red Step Artworks on Main.
The much larger space grew from the hand full of artists into a venue for music and 50 local arts and crafts people. The gallery had some success but with the Main St infrastructure construction and the declining economy, Redmond realized that she would need to react and subleased to Joy of Books who took on the 242 side of the split space in January of 2011. Unfortunately, that smart business move was still not enough to match the economy's blow to the art world and with the winter and the next phase of construction quickly approaching, Redmond feels now is the time to go.
Redmond and her boyfriend, James Harrell are founding members in the band Letters To Abigail and host the well attended Round Robin style Open Mic every Thursday night at Red Step. The last one will be this Thursday night when Redmond will have to say goodbye to her beloved Music on the Step. Redmond will be continuing this musical tradition in another location to be disclosed at a later date.
In a statement from Kelli Redmond [said] she would like to thank those who supported Red Step Artworks and believed in her. She will be pursuing a career in music with her band Letters To Abigail and as a jewelry designer to be found on the popular, etsy, art site,www.etsy.com/shop/MyCatLilStudio
Kelli Redmond
Red Step Artworks
240 N Main St Hendersonville NC
828-697-1447
https://www.facebook.com/people/Red-Step-Artworks/100000517204221
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