News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Charity Alva has launched a new arts emporium in Sisters.
Crafters in Sisters have a new place to congregate, learn, share ideas and access materials and equipment.
Alpenhimmel Creative Arts Emporium is the creation of Charity Alva, a mixed-media artist. Since mid-May, she's been at work transforming Suite #3 at 392 W. Main Ave. into a bright, cheery arts and crafts environment. Alpenhimmel opened on the weekend of the Sisters Folk Festival.
Alpenhimmel means "alpine heaven" in German, and that's what Alva and her husband John have found in Sisters. She comes by the use of the German honestly. She lived there for 25 years while John worked for the U.S. Department of Defense.
"One thing that we had in Germany at all the military bases was what we called a multi-craft center," Alva told The Nugget.
There, artists and crafters could meet like-minded folks, share ideas and work through problems. Charity managed one of those multi-craft centers, and the model became the inspiration for Alpenhimmel Creative Arts Emporium.
"I kept thinking, that's what we need here," she said.
Alva had no particular ambition to start a business when she and her husband moved to Sisters two years ago. They were retiring. They initially looked into Bend, but "Bend didn't really interest us, because it was too big for what we wanted." Alva made a trip to Sisters - and bought a house.
"That was the kind of small town we were looking for - small town but very active," she said.
As she delved into her artistic work, other artists and crafters encouraged the idea of an arts emporium.
"It's what people were expressing to me that they wanted," Alva said.
The first class at Alpenhimmel will be on the creation of a souvenier photo accordion of Sisters. Alva notes that Jean Stark will hold a class on beginning pine needle baskets in mid-October.
In addition to classes, Alpenhimmel will offer access to materials and equipment for a nominal fee, making the facility also an open studio. Artists will be encouraged to experiment and discover what they like.
And there will be retail space.
"We're trying to reach as many interests as we can without duplicating what's already in the area," Alva said.
The artist and entrepreneur noted that she's received a great deal of help from local contractors, neighbors and friends in turning Alpenhimmel Creative Arts Emporium into a reality.
"This was so meant-to-be," she said.
For more information on the offerings of Alpenhimmel call 541-588-0931 or email [email protected]
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
Reader Comments(0)