Your local shopping guide for creative gift-giving

The leftover turkey in the fridge will barely be cool in the Tupperware before our thoughts will start to turn to holiday gift giving. Before you line up in front of gigantic big box store, consider these local options (and Arts Partnership Partners) for your holiday shopping. You’ll find items you can’t find anywhere else for anyone on your list. Plus, your dollars not only support worthwhile organizations and small businesses. They support your friends and neighbors.

Art

Chances are, you know someone with a spot on the wall that needs a certain something. Why not try Boerth’s, Gallery 4, or ecce gallery on Broadway to find work by local and regional artists?

The MSUM Holiday Art Sale, November 28 and 29, 8:30 – 4 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Building on the MSUM campus, is a great place to find student work, meaning you’ll be helping out emerging artists. ::warm fuzzy::

Visit the PEARS open house and holiday sale on Saturday, December 8, 10a.m. – 4 p.m. to browse work from local printmakers, including Eric A. Johnson. NDSU Renaissance Hall, room 314.

Books

Visit the website of New Rivers Press to order books from MSUM’s very own publishing house. You can also find a number of NRP books at the wonderful Zandbroz Variety store downtown. (Supporting NRP also gives students the opportunity to learn publishing through MSUM’s Certificate in Publishing program.) You’ll also find some really great stuff at Rust Belt Bindery, including Hey, It’s America, the book box pictured above.

Unique gifts

Don’t forget to exit through the gift shop at Plains Art Museum, the HCSCC (Hjemkomst), the Red River Zoo, or the Rourke. You’ll find well-curated selections of books, toys, local crafts, and plenty more for the hard-to-buy-for on your Christmas list.

Speaking of handcrafted gifts, don’t forget to browse Susanne Williams’ exquisite leather handbags at Willi Nilli. You can stop by her store on Broadway or take a look over at willinilli.com.

And finally, if shopping really doesn’t appeal to you, visit the Red Raven for their Black Friday Free Market on, well, Black Friday. Bring something to give away, and browse other items that others want to give away. No selling, no bartering … just the spirit of giving and the thrill of the unexpected.

Image: Hey, It’s America, a book box by Ryan Ridge, created by Rust Belt Bindery. Via Rust Belt Bindery.