Art lovers become bargain hunters - buying by the pound

Art collectors apparently are bargain hunters as well, as evidenced by the popularity of the annual Pots by the Pound sale at Commonwheel Artists Co-Op in Manitou Springs.

The sale, which continues through Jan. 23, is an open secret among Manitoids who line up outside the store on the sale’s first day to race to their favorite pieces as soon as the door opens. The sale is just like it sounds. Each of the pieces for sale — from pottery to jewelry to paintings — has a colored sticker that indicates its price per pound. On checkout, the pieces are weighed to determine their cost.

“It’s crazy in here those first few days,” said Caron O’Neil, a member of the co-op who helps out at the store. She is a fan of the sale. Perhaps too much of a fan, she admitted.

“It’s bad working here,” she said. “I have to sell art just to buy more of this stuff.”

On Sunday afternoon, the store at 102 Cañon Ave. had a steady stream of shoppers who were excited to find pottery by their favorite artists. Since the stock for the sale is constantly replenished, many shoppers return again and again to see what’s new for sale.

Megan Kulenburg learned about the annual sale when she lived in Manitou. She’s since moved to Colorado Springs, but made a special trip back on Sunday just for the sale.

“I never miss it,” she said. She trumpets the sale wherever she goes and brings every newcomer she befriends to the sale. Next week she plans on bringing a friend who’s never been before.

“Besides,” she said. “It’s a chance for me to come back.”

Belinda Chambers, a co-op member, said the art is so cheap because artists have the same post-Christmas inventory problems as retail stores. They commonly stock up for the holiday rush and then find themselves with extra pieces on hand after the holidays. Since the artists want to make room for new work, and since January is typically a slow sales month, Pots by the Pound is the perfect solution for them to liquidate their stock.

Chambers said she finds herself buying things every time she’s in the store.

“I can’t help it,” she said. “It’s pennies on the dollar.”

Last year she bought a huge platter for $32 and had seen a similar piece retail for about $200.

Still, O’Neil said, the sale gets even better. On the last two days, everything is half price.

“Shh,” she said. “You can’t tell anyone.”

—

Contact Maria St. Louis-Sanchez: 636-0274

Twitter @mariastlouis

Facebook Gazette Maria St. Louis-Sanchez