Alabaster Collective, located at 112 N. Main, is a unique shop in downtown El Dorado, co-founded by Jillian Marsh and Jennifer Callaway. This small business is gaining attention in the local art scene and showcases the talent and creativity of artists from the region.
The journey of Alabaster Collective began with the realization that locally created goods deserved a more prominent place in El Dorado. Marsh, a jewelry artist, and Callaway, a printmaker, shared a common struggle familiar to artisans—setting up and tearing down at pop-up markets. It was from this shared experience that the idea of a permanent space for handmade goods came about.
“We feel that we have a truly amazing group of artisans and customers,” Marsh said. “The support they have for one another is really something we have been blown away by. As we move into different seasons we occasionally see gaps in our inventory and we regularly communicate with our artisans to give them the opportunity to help fill those gaps should they desire to do so.”
Marsh suggested the idea to Coutts Art Museum after thinking it through. Asking if they could use the space next door at 112 N Main. Coutts Museum liked the idea, and that’s how the partnership started. Alabaster Collective now has a home next to the museum, helping the local art community grow.
“I can not say enough good things about El Dorado,” Marsh said. “Jennifer and I had both been absolutely astounded by the support Alabaster Collective has received from the moment it opened. El Dorado is such a great place and the people here are excited to support local artisans and businesses. We have loved the opportunity to collaborate with the other downtown businesses and hopefully create some fun experiences for our customer base. We are always looking forward to more opportunities to serve the community and create community with our artisans and customers.”
Alabaster Collective has the work of 15-20 local artists, each adding their special touch. They create a variety of things, like handmade candles, crochet items, resin art, leather goodsand realistic sketches.
Alabaster Collective makes sure artists get paid fairly by letting them decide how much to charge for their creations. Artists can choose different membership plans, each with its own commission rate. This gives them the power to pick what works best for them—whether it’s contributing hours or paying a monthly fee. And in exchange Alabaster Creation lowers the commission rate for that artisan if they are willing to contribute in other ways. It creates a fair and supportive space for everyone.
“We feel that we have a truly amazing group of artisans and customers,” Marsh said. “The support they have for one another is really something we have been blown away by. As we move into different seasons we occasionally see gaps in our inventory and we regularly communicate with our artisans to give them the opportunity to help fill those gaps should they desire to do so.”
In the future, Alabaster Collective wants to host more events with the community. They have regular meetings with artists, and they’re planning events for everyone, like meeting artists, showing how they create, and other fun stuff. Alabaster Collective has big dreams, making ways for people to come together and enjoy the art that connects the community.
“Because the workers at the shop are all artisans of goods in the shop, our shoppers and our artisans get to have regular interactions to talk about the process and creation of their pieces,” Marsh said. “The hands and faces behind the works are not just seen once and forgotten, but rather through these interactions we are able to build relationships between one another. We have plans to host events that will push this idea further and allow for more interaction between makers and seekers to watch our socials or get on our email list to follow along!”
For more information use the link: https://www.alabastercollectiveks.com/