A ribbon cutting ceremony was held in Maplewood Village Thursday evening to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Arts Unbound, a non-profit organization for artists with disabilities and its new Pop Up Holiday Gift Store in Maplewood Village.

The unique shop displays and sells the work of more than 20 talented artists with disabilities. The pop-up store will be open through February. Jewelry, handcrafted journals, greeting cards and gift products will be featured along with the talented artists who will be on hand to provide demonstrations of their art.

Arts Unbound is the recipient of a federal SEED grant through the NJ Department of Labor, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. It provides funds for store rental as well as instruction and coaching to artists who create craft and gift items. Many organizations applied for this grant but Arts Unbound was chosen as one of the top ten worthy causes. Arts Unbound will receive funds for one year. 

But let's step back a moment: Arts Unbound is a nonprofit organization that began in 2000. It provides arts education, vocational training and income-generating opportunities to people of all ages with mental, developmental and physical disabilities. The program is also made possible in part by funds from the NJ State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner of the National Endowment for the Arts.

With the help of Gail Levinson, Executive Director and Russell Klein, Director of Merchandising, I was given a grand tour and introduced to many of the people who made this venture possible.

Notable visitors to tonight's event included: Matt McDermott, Chief of Staff of NJ Department of Labor; Assembleywoman Mila Jasey; Brian Fitzgibbons, Deptartment of Labor and Work Force Development; Alice Hunnicutt, State Director of The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services that funded Arts Unbound; Pat Morrissy, Landlord of the Orange Arts Unbound location and Director of HANDS Inc in the Valley Arts District; and Mayor Vic DeLuca as well as members of the Maplewood Village Alliance and the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce.  Assemblywoman Jasey sponsored the Neighborhood Reviatlization Tax Credits which allowed Arts Unbound to flourish in The Valley Arts District. 

Robert Ramos, Gallery Director and Curator for the Orange, NJ location, designed this store with a bigger emphasis on product. Many of the artists' images have been licensed for mass production and are being reproduced on mugs, coasters, bags and more.

Shopping locally just got even easier with this excitng and unique gift shop.  It is an awe-inspiring, special shop with unusual and one of a kind gifts. Make sure to put it on your list this holiday season. The store will be open from Wednesdays through Sundays, now through February 2011.