Lindenwood artists gained experience selling their artwork to the public at the Grand Art Bazaar, which opened Thursday evening at the Foundry Art Centre on Main Street.

The Art Bazaar was open to all artists, but most participants were studio art and graphic design majors, said professor James Hutson.

Hutson is the founder and faculty sponsor of the Art History Association, which sponsored the event.  

Hutson said that participants learn important knowledge for selling art, including in terms of promotions and the most vendible genres and media.  

“They do learn what is going to be marketable and monetized more easily,” Hutson said. “So if students are going to sell things that are incredibly large and so impractical to put anywhere, they realize that doesn’t really sell very well.”  

The Grand Art Bazaar has previously been held at the Opera House and on Cherokee Street in St. Louis but was moved to the Foundry Centre to attract more Lindenwood students because of its closer location.  

Violinist and rugby player Tommy Stachowiak has been participating in the Grand Art Bazaar for three years, and prefers selling at the Foundry Centre because the space at the Opera House was “too small and a little cramped.”

Stachowiak sold charcoal nude figures he drew for class and believes the event is a good opportunity to showcase work, which is difficult for many artists.  

“If you’re sitting in your room all day drawing, and you just put your stuff in a binder, and nobody ever sees it, it could be good work, but nobody’s going to be able to appreciate it,” he said.  

Science major Franck Somarriba also participated to showcase his work. He sold origami sculptures.

“When I was like 15 years old … I had a lot of paper and I wanted to recycle it, so I did research and I found origami,” Somarriba said.

Vietnamese Lindenwood Student Government Association Senator Nam Nguyen was one of the several artists selling paintings.  Although not an art major, Nguyen said an art history class from professor Daniel McGrath “sparked a passion” for art in him.  

“I have never attended an art bazaar or art show before, so I’m a bit excited and nervous,” he said.  

Refreshments were served at the event, and the most art being sold were paintings, drawings and ceramics. Digital media, jewelry and other forms of art also were presented.

Art education and studio art major Taylor Kudalis ran the Grand Art Bazaar this semester.

She said the event is important to promote Lindenwood’s art program and give non-art majors a chance to display their art, and also prepares students to book venues to display their art

“It’s honestly one of the best things that art students can do because when they graduate, that’s how they’re going to make a lot of their money before they find a stable job,” Kudalis said.

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Nam Ngugen

Nam Ngugen is an international business major from Saigon, Vietnam. The only art class he’s taken at lindenwood is art history and it was enough to inspire him to create art.

“It was very inspirational, you know, how artists leave their mark on Earth even after they pass away,” Ngugen said.

He said nature and its green colors are prominent in his painting because he really cares about the environment. After he graduates, he wants to do business involving ecosystems, but he still wants to continue with art at an amateur level.

“I want it [my art] to represent beauty and deformity, and to raise some awareness,” he said. “It should be more useful  than decorative.”

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Ashley Holland

Senior Ashley Holland is majoring in art education. She’s currently in a fibers and printmaking class so she used time outside of class to print similar art.

She draws places like the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum because they are places she wants to go. She said she want’s her art to give people a sense of escape, whether they’ve been to the place or not.

She wants to be an elementary art teacher after she graduates.

“I love little kids,” Holland said. “I grew up teaching at a dance studio, that’s why I want to teach the little ones. have a heart for the little guys.”

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Danielle Pudiwitr

Sophomore Danielle Pudiwitr is majoring in graphic design and a first-year college student.

She originally wanted to be a chemical engineer but felt moved by graphic design.

“I really hope to inspire people and bring people to a more peaceful place,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of friends with mental illness so I think that the more calm people can be by looking at something the better it is.”

After she graduates she said she wants to be a freelance graphic designer.

She wants to retire early so she can go back to making art on canvas.

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