Creative Capital at Artist Mercantile

Artist Mercantile plays host to some of the state’s most prolific artists.
The Artist Mercantile on Seventh Place features the work of several Minnesota artisans.

There’s an ebb and flow within the Artist Mercantile store on Seventh Place in Saint Paul. Creative energy moves into the shop, as artists bring in their wares, and it permeates the space, leaving other artists and visitors inspired to depart with a renewed appreciation for the artistic talent that glimmers and glows throughout the North Star state.

With a mission to promote Minnesota artists, the Artist Mercantile features the works of between 50 and 60 artists, with merchandise including ceramics, handbags, glass, jewelry, paintings, photography, woodworking and much more. Perfectly parked near a host of downtown dining and entertainment venues, a visit to the Artist Mercantile is the ideal appetizer for a day on the town.

The venue opened in 2002 under the able direction of Anthony Andler, owner of Heimie’s Haberdashery. Four years later, Andler decided to make a career change and focus on Heimie’s. Around the same time, Jennifer Bisch was laid off from an office job, and she was in the market for a career with an artistic flavor. “This opportunity came up, and I decided I needed to try it out,” she says. A bachelor’s degree in fine arts and experience working in logistics were a perfect pairing for Bisch’s entrée into the world of art and commerce; she has been owner/proprietor of Artist Mercantile since 2006. “Either you have to figure it out or find someone who can,” she says about handling the unexpected.

Bisch chooses the store’s inventory while considering a few parameters—marketability, price point, quality and space availability. With prices starting at $50, Bisch says metal work is a hot commodity. Tourists also find Artist Mercantile a go-to spot, which might explain the popularity of candles adorned with Paul Bunyan and Babe the Big Blue Ox.

Barbara Lager, who sells her metalscapes and jewelry at the store, is appreciative of Bisch’s ability to support artists. Lager’s work is presented in galleries around the state, but she finds the Artist Mercantile offers a singular experience. “I find that it’s very charming,” she says. “Jennifer is very true to selling handmade art.”

Lager, along with artist husband Daniel Lager, appreciates the ability to connect with art enthusiasts through Bisch’s efforts. “She always likes to keep open communication with the people she sells to,” she says, explaining that Bisch fosters dialogue between artists and buyers through special events, including Thursdays at the Mercantile, which feature three-hour meet-and-greet sessions with artists. Programming also includes book signings and trunk shows.

Throughout her six-year relationship with Artist Mercantile, Lager has been inspired by the work of her fellow artists at the shop. “I love creativity,” she says. “I like to look around to see what other people are doing.” Lager’s main source of inspiration is organic in nature—“from within,” she says. “I’m always looking for ways to make people smile, to show the lighter side of life. It feels good inside.” She expresses levity through metals, including anodized niobium, aluminum and sterling silver. Lager creates color by “painting” with an electric current. Metal pieces are cut, chased, engraved, layered, drilled and riveted to create a unified form.

Lager began working with metals to create jewelry, including earrings, pins and small-faced watches, which each told a story through words formed when materials meet color. “I wanted to elaborate a little more,” Lager says. “I wanted a chance to embellish and tell a bigger story.” The outgrowth is her line of metalscapes, which tell their own tale. Her art, she says, is for the young and old, who all deserve bit of whimsy. “You’re never too old to feel good,” she says.