Business expansions are great for downtown development. Recently, Artistic Touch Beads moved from a small cottage in the Village on High to 317 N. High Street. Neighbors include artist Tania Pomales, owner of Calvaria Gallery and Pomales Art Studio, and Rowan College of South Jersey – Arts & Innovation Center.

The popular bead shop will now be able to host more workshops in the art of jewelry design and display a wider variety and quantity of beads. Owner Kim Conner has a great passion for beads and has worked tirelessly to grow her business over the last four years.The new location has more parking available on the street and in parking lots in this block.

The Mid-Atlantic Bead Hop will be taking place September 21 to October 13 throughoutout parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. Southern New Jersey shops include Millville’s Artistic Touch Beads and Potomac Bead in Ocean City. This three-week event will bring many interested shoppers into the Arts District for the first time. If you’re interested in beads and want to participate in multiple shops included in this event, purchase your “Bead Hop Passport” at Artistic Touch Beads or any of the other 17 locations. ******

The Arts & Innovation Center (Rowan College SJ) and the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts (RRCA) are sponsoring the First Annual Fine Arts and Crafts Fair on Saturday, September 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the college, 321 N. High Street.

Artists and artisans participating will be displaying work that will be for sale on the second floor of the college facility. Visitors can get a jump on the holiday giving season by choosing unique and often exclusive pieces that extol a high level of artistry. You’ll recognize several of the participants who have become featured artists at the Arts & Innovation Center and the Riverfront Center. Fine art and fine craft include glass, ceramics, beadwork, sculpture, and paintings.

While you’re there, visit the first-floor gallery, gift shop and the clay studio with artists working on pottery wheels and on sculpting the clay. You may find yourself intrigued by this art and take away information on non-credit classes and studio time.

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Are you curious to know about the artists who flock to the Glasstown Arts District? There are over 200 artists represented by galleries in the district. They are mostly from nearby counties. Occasionally there are artists from the greater Philadelphia area who also participate in exhibits.

Currently, there are 12 artists with working studios in the RRCA. The studios are located on the second floor and the artists come and go as they please. Most of them live in Atlantic and Cape May counties and a few here in Cumberland. The studios are open to the public on Third Fridays and during some special events.

At the Arts & Innovation Center (Clay College), you will often find artists at work in the main studio creating sculptures, pots and jewelry. The clay studio is one of the largest in South Jersey. It is open six days a week with a wide variety of hours.

Private artist studios can be found on Second Street at Green Boots Studio with artist Ellen Gavin in residence. Maryann Cannon has a gallery and works in Copper Plate Studio on High Street. Tania Pomales creates her unique art at her studio on High Street, located next to her gallery.

The opportunities to bring more art into your life are boundless. Explore and discover the possibilities! n