By adding a gift shop / gallery of smaller art works, the growing arts center gives visitors and shoppers more options – both in person and online.
- story by Lisa Monti and Ellis Anderson 
Click here to check out works on Studio Waveland's the ART SHOP.
“That was the start of it,” Erica said. The ART SHOP, adjacent to the larger main gallery, was designed to be more gift shop than gallery, Erica says. “We thought about creating an additional space somewhat similar to a museum shop, full of handmade unique art that would be welcoming for collectors and art lovers.” Until The ART SHOP reopens its storefront, shoppers and collectors can view and purchase original paintings, jewelry, art glass, sculptures, silk scarves and other unique works created by almost 20 artists who are known locally and nationally. 
They include Erica, a sculptor who works primarily with metal, and Mitchell, a glass artist. All the artists have had their work exhibited at the Waveland gallery. Erica expects to add many more artists to the shop’s roster. She said about 200 artists have had work exhibited in the gallery since it opened. Meanwhile, the online ART SHOP is helping to support local artists and put art into the lives of more people. 
“A lot of artists enjoy creating smaller works, and it’s an opportunity for buyers to collect pieces of different price ranges and to walk away with an original work of art during their visit,” Erica said. “It’s also a great way for people to get to learn about new artists. “We employ the same philosophy for the ART SHOP as we did creating our main gallery: We hope to promote the works and creativity of many different artists, helping show their artwork to the public and connecting them to buyers,” said Erica. 
Smaller works of art are for sale and available immediately, unlike the installations in the gallery.
Studio Waveland opened in spring, 2018 in the Waveland Business Center on Coleman Avenue.
Mitchell Gaudet, is an internationally recognized glass artist who works with the hot-cast process. His wife, Erica Larkin Gaudet, is an award-winning metal sculptor and artist. The couple have a history of revitalizing New Orleans neighborhoods by creating arts centers. The Bay-Waveland area embraced the concept whole-heartedly and Studio Waveland has hosted major art events over the past two years, drawing people from across the region. 
The 2018 opening of Studio Waveland
Mitchell and Erica Gaudet at the 2018 opening of Studio Waveland
The city of Waveland recently extended the Gaudet's lease on the building for twelve more years, demonstrating their backing for the new win-win match-up that benefits the community, local tourism and the coast arts scene. This allowed the Gaudets to make the significant investment involved to move and install glass artist Mitchell's studio to the site. The studio includes an enormous melting furnace that holds 600 lbs of molten glass and cooling ovens. Bringing the furnace up to heat is a two-week process. The Gaudets are hoping that by this fall, the installation process will be complete and the COVID crisis will have passed, allowing for a community "Lighting of the Furnace" celebration. When the furnace is operational, Studio Waveland will host workshops and demonstrations, attracting art glass lovers from across the country. With all four components of the arts center in full swing - the gallery, the glass and sculpture studios of the Gaudets and the ART SHOP, Studio Waveland's goal is to fuel the community's culture - and economy. 
Mitchell Gaudet in front of the glass furnace being installed in Studio Waveland.
In the meantime, Erica says, “With the ART SHOP, we are looking forward to being a part of the online art world revolution and being accessible to a broader audience as well.” 
The ART SHOP Artists:
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