BAYarts Holiday Trunk Show a great way to meet the artists

The BAYarts Holiday Shop is a festive and stress-free alternative to crowded shopping centers.

BAYarts provides regional artists with a venue to sell their handmade work year-round, as an alternative to the do-it-yourself option of seasonal craft shows and fairs. Recent renovations that included refinishing the floors, installing all new lighting and brand-new fixtures raised the bar a little more. As a bonus, from Thanksgiving through December, the shop is transformed into an inviting, warm and relaxed alternative to harried Christmas shopping.

"I know when I bring my work to BAYarts it is in good hands," says Mary Breiner, a photographer. "I deliver it and BAYarts does the rest: inventory, marketing and awesome displays. This gives me the freedom to work more, and not worry about all the details that are often mind-boggling to artists."

Throughout the year, BAYarts hosts several "Trunk Shows," a chance for the artist and buyer to meet, which not only provides feedback for the artist but also more meaningful purchases for the buyer. The Annual Holiday Trunk Show gets bigger each year as demand for this type of event grows.

On Dec. 12, artists including Lori Pamimadis (stamped jewelry), Jen Murray (Freckle Face), Judy Takacs (artist and author) and others will be on hand with their full lines in the Fuller House Sullivan Family Gallery. The event is from 7 to 9 p.m. and free. The Holiday Shop in the Huntington House will also be open for a campus-wide evening of friends and holiday cheer.