“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

Upon entering the door the first thing you will probably notice is the scent of coffee beans filling the air. The second thing you will probably notice is the sapphire blue furniture right inside the doorway, a sunny space by day and a cool lounge by night. Beyond the lounge there are a few tables, at which you can play a game of chess or sip on a frappucino. A variety of coffee blends and smoothies are available at the bar. You can browse through shelf after shelf of books. You can spend hours studying the myriad examples of art that grace the walls. It sounds like a little shop located somewhere in New York City, right? Well guess again, because this unique little place is located right here in Independence!

“The Artist’s Alley” is the first shop in Independence of its kind. It is a bookstore, an art gallery, a coffee shop, and in general a place for lover’s of art to gather. If you can imagine it than you can probably find it there, the lists of things you can find and do in this one shop are almost endless. Formerly the Little House Bookstore, the bookstore is still there, but the building’s horizon has broadened. It is owned by famous Independence native, Bill Kurtis, who has sought to enliven the arts in southeastern Kansas for quite some time. He and his team of devoted assistants have many great plans for the future of art in Independence; but more on that later.

The shop opened in mid August and it has enjoyed great success. It is not any wonder why, being the only place like it here in Independence. It is, among other things, a venue for local artists to exhibit and sell their work. This is perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of the “Alley.” The myriad of work exhibited by local talent is truly captivating. You will find everything from gorgeous Jackson Pollack type paintings to beautiful black and white photography.

Some of the shops within The Artist’s Alley, include “Jaqueline’s Custom Frames,” “Jacob’s Ladder,” “Imagine That,” and of course “Little House Books.” In Jacob’s Ladder you will find little things such as custom wedding cake toppers. Imagine That is a specialty shop of toys.

Speaking of toys, The Artist’s Alley is a great place for the kids too. In the center of the building sits The Tree house. Imagine the hut that the Lost Boys build for Wendy in Peter Pan…it is a magical place in which no grownup is allowed. Built by a Sedan artist from trees taken off of Bill Kurtis’s ranch, it is a tangle of woven branches, bigger than some rooms and two floors high; it is decorated with colorful flowers and glass butterflies. To simply say that it is magical is almost an understatement.

In addition to custom framing there is a Graphic Design Team that offers a variety of services, from custom art design to printing services. The Artist’s Alley carries a variety of products, including Burt’s Bees, which is a line of all natural make-up and personal care products. They also carry Tucker Bees Honey, Avon products, Coffee and Espresso by the pound, and very unique Duct Tape Purses. You will find all of this and more.

The Artist Alley also host many events, including poetry and literary readings. A big attraction is the live music. A stage is set up out back, literally in the alley, and the weekends out there rock. While most of the bands schedules have tended to play harder music, they are looking for a variety of styles to be played in the future. Keep an ear open for future events!

Speaking of the future, as stated before, there are a great many plans for the Artist’s Alley. Manager Cherilyn Fienen stated that they are always brainstorming, coming up with new ideas. It is their wish to support the local arts in a variety of ways. One of their bigger plans is to create a type of courtyard in the alley, into which all of the surrounding buildings will open, each of them a unique little shop, hopefully even a restaurant.

It could take a while for all of their plans, all of their dreams, to fall into place. According to Fienen that is more than okay, “We’re not going anywhere, so it can take a while.” Another one of their plans is to create studios above The Artist’s Alley, for potential artists in residency. It is truly the goal of everyone at The Artist’s Alley to support local art. “We’re not out to make a profit, we’re here to better the community,” says Fienen.

It is an amazing place, packed beyond comprehension. If you have not been there yet than you should go check it out. There is something for everyone to love. Take the time to discover your local artists, take the time appreciate art in general. You will not regret it!