PICTURED Candy and She.Art items. Photos by Andrew Davis
One’s mood cannot help but brighten upon entering She.Art chicago (which, despite its name, is actually in Oak Park). Vibrant paintings, intriguing sculptures, and shimmering accessories—all celebrating the essence of women—greet customers.
Windy City Times recently visited the store (which opened June 1) and spoke with effusive owner Candy Johnson, whose personality is in step with the art that surrounds her. The confident Johnson describes herself as ‘multitalented’ and is a self-described ‘writer, artist, metalsmith… you name it.’ She spent some time talking about everything from the support of her partner to why men are so important (for business).
Windy City Times: Even though the store is called She.Art, it’s not exclusively for women, right?
Candy Johnson: My God, are you kidding? Men are certainly welcome! I was thinking there would be more men buying than women; there are more male collectors than female. I don’t want it to be a women’s store. I want it to be for…
WCT: Everyone.
CJ: Yes. I carry items from eras past and present. The collection is so eclectic that I’m hoping that people will come in looking for one [type of art] and find something that he or she likes.
WCT: How do you go about collecting pieces?
CJ: A lot of different ways—I go to flea markets, rummage sales, garage sales, auctions, estate sales. Sometimes I go find sales on back roads, even.
I still collect every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I make a list of [destinations] and I start at 8 o’clock; that’s why I won’t open until 11 a.m.
WCT: What’s been the best deal you’ve gotten?
CJ: All my freebies. [Smiles.] Once, I went to see some friends in North Hollywood and saw this table with these great legs. I jumped in this blue dumpster, took off the tabletop, threw [the legs] in my bag and left my clothes in L.A. I loved them so much. I call them the Three Graces. I consider myself a professional treasure hunter.
WCT: What types of art do you collect?
CJ: I collect all different types of art. [Note: The Web site states that the store sells figurines, stained glass, carvings, paintings, photographs, prints, metal, photos, folk art and sculptures.] I want the store to represent my personality and how diverse I am. I’m not a person who is stale. I constantly move and go on new adventures. I was born like that. When I was a kid, I collected keys.
Actually, I met Mercedes [Corona, her partner] about 10 years ago. She was collecting nude female art, so we both started collecting those. We were going to open a store and call it Eclectic Nudes, but because we felt that Oak Park is a residential area that we thought we’d broaden it to [something that incorporated] eclectic women’s art.
WCT: How’d you come up with the name?
CJ: Well, we were having breakfast in Andersonville one day. I wanted a name that was really simple. We came up with ‘her art,’ but when we saw ‘She.Art,’ that was it.
WCT: You can’t help but notice that ‘heart’ is a big part of the name…
CJ: [Excited.] I know—right? We put the period there because I kept seeing ‘S-Heart.’
WCT: I like that it’s there. Having ‘heart’ there reflects the passion you have for art.
CJ: Exactly. I like the way it looks because, even though the period is there, you can still see the heart in it.
WCT: Let’s talk a bit about local artists.
CJ: Every month we’ll showcase a different local artist. He or she will get a front window display and two walls in the back. [The store is divided into a front area that sells various collectibles and a back room that houses paintings.] We’re strictly looking for local artists—with ‘local’ meaning Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan. I’ve actually received entries from New York and Paris. We also have ongoing featured artists; they have 90-day contracts.
WCT: You also showcase male artists.
CJ: Yes. We have one coming up in September. It’s not about the artist; it’s about the art. The art, however, has to center around women.
WCT: What’s the price range for items?
CJ: Cards are two dollars and the most expensive painting is about $850.
WCT: I see where you offer unique discounts…
CJ: I do! It’s going to change each month. For example, it may be that if you wear pink in the store or tell me a joke, you get 10 percent off. I want people to look at the Web site [www.sheartchicago.com] each month and find out what the next [offer] will be.
WCT: Can people bring in items to sell?
CJ: Absolutely. We accept consignment pieces and I have contracts ready. I’m accepting pieces of furniture and all women-related art, of course. With artists, I work at a very low commission rate. I’m not here to make money off of them but to help them [establish] a following.
WCT: How hard is it to part with some of these items? Don’t you fall in love with some of them?
CJ: Yes, I really do. Like everything else, things have to evolve and change. I figure that, once I sell an item, I can find something to replace it. The hardest thing, though, is pricing an item.
WCT: Is there any other thing you wish to say about She.Art?
CJ: It’s not like a store where you walk and browse around, you know? I want people to come in, sit down, have a bottle of water and just absorb. I want [shopping here] to be a fun experience. Also, it will hopefully inspire people to buy new and different things.
Also, Mercedes is the best. I couldn’t have done this without her. She’s been so supportive of my venture. She stands by everything I do. No matter what I do, she always right there saying, ‘Go for it.’
She.Art chicago is located at 223 S. Blvd., Oak Park; the phone is (708) 763-0155. The store is open from 11-8, Tuesdays through Saturdays.