A Peek Inside Art & Artish, The New Gift Shop On 5th Avenue

After teasing us with a sign announcing all the things that wouldn’t be opening in the space at 272 5th Avenue, between Garfield and 1st, neighbor Julie Raimondi opened Art & Artish in December, and has been offering unexpected treasures in the sweet boutique ever since.

With a background in magazine editing, Raimondi says she saw something missing in the neighborhood — namely, affordable and interesting gifts that even your mother will love — and decided to fill that gap. We asked the new business owner a few questions about the shop, how artists can get involved, what’s on tap for Valentine’s Day, and more.

Park Slope Stoop: Tell us a bit about your background — how did this shop come to be?

Julie Raimondi: As for how this store came about, it’s really the same the old cliche story: I started with what I needed — to prove to my mother wrong, that I do live in a cool neighborhood that’s not just for rich people. But taking her for a stroll last July, I realized I could not make my case. There was nothing to just go look at near me, maybe shop at, that she would not gasp at the prices and embarrass me. Which seemed weird and wrong. Then it dawned on me I could figure out how to make that store. I can’t be the only one with a visiting mother. My husband reminded me that I wanted to do this exact thing 20 years ago after leaving my first career. At 23 I couldn’t even begin to begin, so got an internship at a magazine instead and….

There’s lots of overlap with the best parts of my old job as an editor. The goal of serving the audience is the same. Providing ideas and solutions to specific group, with a particular set of needs, in a specific place.

Why did you decide to settle in Park Slope?

I’ve lived in Park Slope for about 9 years and this is the neighborhood I know and love and want to contribute to (and commute to). I guess I ended up here for the same reasons all the transplants did: I like being able to see the sky, being surrounded by nature and parks and gorgeous architecture, and writers, people from different parts of the world and economic spectrum, and having lots of public interaction space, and decent transportation and school options. We previously lived in Brooklyn Heights which is one of the most beautiful places on earth, but settled in Park Slope permanently because it felt more like home.

How can artists learn more about getting their items into your shop?

The website has info for professionals and and non-professionals. I’ve already met great talent hiding from view in our ‘hood. In the spring I’ll be starting “First Audience” for people who want to start selling their creative work, but want in-person honest feedback from potential customers. We strip out the marketing, language barriers, inability to make eye contact, computer skills, social media prowess, and money required for sales launch success to focus on what needs to resonate forever: the thing itself. There’s more about that at www.artandartish.org/first.

Do you make anything yourself — do you consider yourself an artist in some way?

I make a lot of things in a lot of mediums — clay, corn husks, fabric, plants, really anything that can be moved around. But the one thing I’m semi-serious about is digital painting, meaning it’s the only art I make that I apply any process to. I don’t think I would call myself an artist. I don’t know what that word means to the world, and barely know what it means to me personally. Mostly think we simply need more words.

I do know I was very wrong about artistic talent for the majority of my life — which is really a bummer because I’ve wasted so much time. I was raised with the idea that if you weren’t born with ability to translate real life things onto paper with a pencil accurately you weren’t an artist. It took years for my husband to convince me it was a skill. And once I saw it was in my grasp by improving little by little, I kept going and going until I had the idea for the store. At which point everything non store related stopped.

Now I give myself drawing time as a treat for finishing a super-tedious task. But I know I’ll get back to it as soon as I get the chance to be bored. Either way, you will not be buying anything painted by me any time soon. I did design some magnetic poster/print hangers that people love and need and can afford, and buy — and that was way more thrilling than I would have ever imagined.

We noticed you have a small, furry employee who seems perhaps a little lazy at the job. Who is that dog?

That small furry employee you saw is Büdjie, Duke of Autumn, Earl of Balm and Salve. His laziness is matched only by his desire for comfort but he is the light of our lives and the butt of all family jokes. He does greet visitors depending on a variety of factors I’ve yet to uncover. If you are a small child, you can be guaranteed many licks. But people should speak up if they want to play with him. I’m happy to rouse him from his bed for cute duty, but I think that makes people feel guilty to wake him, especially since his whole “look” leans so far toward pitiful already. But seriously, I will happily wake him. He has ONE JOB!

What have you got planned for the shop for Valentine’s Day?

In addition to jewelry and other gifties for Valentine’s Day, we’re having a special treat: on February 13 (12-9pm) and 14 (9am-9pm) we’ll have beautiful fresh mini bouquets from FLRL Design made by owner Kristen Ball. Just trying to make it easier to find something last-minute, still beautiful and special, but also near home.