From the sublime Avondale Sky Winery in June, to the breath-taking Luckett Vineyards in July, and a Pop Up Shop hosted with Swaine Street Woodworking in early August, Cape Breton native Arsenault has been spending her summer hosting trunk shows in collaboration with Nova Scotian boutiques and taking part in group shows with a select group of extraordinary Nova Scotian artists.
“A trunk show is a retail event that takes place in partnership with a shop,” Arsenault explains, noting that they take place in non-traditional spaces for retail, like a home or a hotel room. “It came to be popular after WW II for couturiers (like Christian Dior) to create an event to show and take orders for their new clothing lines. It lost popularity over the years, but became in vogue again during the most recent recession because it’s an inexpensive way for a business to promote itself and host an event and it is a great way for a designer to introduce a new line/show their work. Usually it’s a pretty laid back, festive, social event with drinks, canapés, etc. where clients can meet and chat with the artist while viewing, and hopefully purchasing, the items on display.”
Friday, August 9 will find Arsenault amid the finery of J&R Grimsmo (4pm to 8pm, 1533 Barrington Street, Halifax) where she’ll be hosting her very first solo Trunk Show, unveiling two new lines of jewelry and releasing some images from her brand new look book. Put on your party clothes for a glass of French bubbly, a sneak peak at the new work and a chance to win a pair of Thorn earrings from the new Angela Grace collection.
The following week (Thursday August 15th 4pm to 8pm), Arsenault will be home on Cape Breton Island with her jewelry, in the Highlands at Ingonish. She will join Caitlyn Purcell at her charmingly rustic boutique, Salty Rose’s, for a Cape Breton showing of her new collections and a trunk show. Arsenault and Purcell will serve cocktails and light fare and they encourage all interested parties to lounge on the fine sand of Ingonish beach before heading to Salty Rose’s to feast their senses.
From the creators of the Halifax Crafters Markets and the proprietors of Two If By Sea Cafe in Dartmouth, comes a Pop Up Shop of epic proportions featuring a select 40 talented Crafters. Arsenault will join this group in Halifax’s Brooklyn to display her wares and promote her two new elegantly inspired lines of jewelry. Don’t miss out on this early Autumn display of craft and the potential unveiling of Halifax Crafters Society’s new logo on September 7th at 66 Octerlony Street, Dartmouth.
All of these events are leading up to Angela’s two Big October Trunk Shows back under the California Stars. The first trunk show will take place the week of October 8 in LA at the foot of the Hollywood Hills where Angela Grace Jewelry will set up base in the vibrant and artistic community of Los Feliz/Silver Lake. October 14th will see Arsenault heading back up the coast to the City by the Bay, San Francisco for a trunk show and a Society of North American Goldsmiths Symposium. She will partner with up-and-coming Californian jewelers and two marvelous Californian boutiques for these exciting West Coast shows. Come out to take part in the Trunk Show Tour and wish Angela luck on her big California adventure.
