Art in the Age, located at 116 N. 3rd Street, is quickly becoming one of the Old City’s most popular boutiques. AITA was first founded in 2006, as an online store (www.artintheage.com) and distributor to other boutiques, but by the end of 2008, they decided they finally needed their own physical identity. For that, they turned to Rissay Ltd. We immediately loved the idea of the store, everything being handmade, one-of-a-kind goods not found anywhere else. It was an avenue for high quality artists, designers, and fabricators to show how significant custom craft still is in this world of commodity and mass reproduction.
It was our turn now to showcase our originality, ingenuity, and craft. Rissay is more than just a design firm, we are capable of running the full show with our in-house construction expertise. Nothing was to be lost in the details of going from designers to builder, since it is all one and the same. If Art in the Age was to become more than just an idea, we had to design a built environment that encompassed everything AITA stood for. To do just that, we had to follow the same process as all their products do, design it and build it ourselves. All the displays and pieces you find around the store are either custom made by Rissay or antique pieces we refurbished and adapted. The cashwrap and liquor display make use of reclaimed tongue and groove wood boards that came out of Rissay’s own office. To contrast the darker green and bluish grey of the more industrial center pieces, they are flanked by much softer cream tones in the custom clothing displays which features elegant moulding.
It is this mix of industrial, Victorian, and eclectic styles that help each piece stand out on their own, not like your typical stream lined matching interiors of your mainstream store. Throughout the store you’ll find other pieces made in our fabrication shop, that feature that Art in the Age quality with more reclaimed lumber, steel banding, glass, and that overall one-of-a-kind feel. Now Rissay can’t take credit for making everything, we did salvage a well worn metal door from an old downtown warehouse that now creates the boundary between AITA’s office and the showroom. The store also features a 1923 record keeper turned apothecary, as well as a 1950s warehouse cart, which we converted into a bold, innovative clothing rack.
Art in the Age's store is a true embodiement of all the ideas their brand represents. To keep true to the character of the space we left much of the brick exposed, as well as the original wood floor. We added a 33 feet long canvas to feature all of their artists’ work, along with continually changing exhibitions. Quality lighting was essential to setting the mood of the store. When you first come in you are greeted by a modern twist on the classic ring chandelier. Over the cash register area, are numerous antique Edison bulbs hanging at various levels to give a soft ambiance. There’s also plenty of lighting to highlight AITA’s ever changing exhibitions. Feel free to check out the Art in the Age photo album found on the right side of the screen, as well as on www.rissay.com . We’ll be uploading more sketches and photos soon. Be sure to stop by Art in the Age sometime to check out our design capabilities, as well as craftsmanship, in addition to all of their wonderful products.
Thanks for the comment, John! It was a fun, creative project. We also repurposed an old warehouse door, apothecary, etc. The majority of the fixtures we created used reclaimed lumber, beadboard, steel. I believe all of these aged pieces helped to personify the mission of the store.
Always glad to hear someone who takes pride in their job and appreciates the work of others.
Posted by: Rissay | 06/24/2010 at 04:34 PM
I had just came from your website www.rissay.com where I saw the pic of the old warehouse cart turned clothes rack. I just wanted to say that I really enjoy seeing someone repurpose a old piece of equipment like that into something both usefull and visually striking. These pieces also serve as a small piece of history.
I guess I am so partial to this truck because I work at Hamilton Caster who has been making similar trucks for over 100 years.....Good job!
Posted by: johnyater | 06/07/2010 at 11:23 PM