If you’ve ever walked into The Spring Street Market and Café on a Sunday morning hoping to snag an open table, only to find yourself waiting 30 minutes for another customer to leave, you might have passed the time perusing the artwork that adorns the café’s walls.
Since its founding in 2014, Spring Street Market owner and founder Karen Gosselin has sought to support local artists by displaying their pieces throughout her establishment. Ten years ago, Gosselin told the Record, the café began displaying the work of two artists at a time — one on each of the opposite walls of its dining room. Now, she displays many works in the dining room at a time, rotating the majority of the art every three months.
When Gosselin first started showcasing the work of local artists, she took a commission when a piece would sell. In recent years, however, she phased out that practice.
“It’s a bonus for [the artists] because they don’t have to pay a commission, and it’s a bonus for me because I get to have different artwork on the walls all the time,” she said.
Gosselin said she discovers most of the artwork she displays through word of mouth, but the walls of Spring Street Market are currently decorated with a selection of original pieces from the Williamstown Cultural District’s annual “Eyes on Art Town” exhibition. This year’s pieces employ a variety of media, including acrylic on canvas, photography, and watercolors. The same works are also displayed on lampposts on Spring Street and Latham Street.
One piece from the “Eyes on Art Town” exhibition is a watercolor painting of a bright pink squid whose tentacles curl in various directions. Entitled I’m a Hugger, this work was created by artist and architect Scott Henderson, the College’s senior project manager.
Another one of Henderson’s watercolor paintings, entitled The Spring Street Market and Café, hangs permanently on the wall of Spring Street Market. The artwork depicts the facade of the bustling establishment.
“He’s a really good artist, but it’s my favorite piece that he’s ever done,” Gosselin said. “Every time I look at it, I’m happy.”
Henderson told the Record that he appreciates Gosselin’s encouragement. “Karen’s unwavering support for local art has transformed the café into a vibrant gallery that celebrates creativity and community,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunities she’s provided, allowing me to grow and collaborate in such an inspiring space.”
Henderson’s rendition of Spring Street Market is not the only piece that is on permanent display. Three others — a photograph of the sun setting over the Green River, a picture of a Berkshire sunset, and a close-up painting of a coffee mug that the artist gifted to Gosselin — are all a part of the café’s own collection and are not for sale.
Gosselin added that her customers frequently express interest in the art. “It sparks conversation,” she said. “I can see it with students [and] I can see it with people that come here. They walk around and look at it and talk about it.”
While Spring Street Market mainly sources from local artists in the Berkshires, Gosselin said that she soon hopes to showcase artwork by students at the College as well as from around the area. “[Students] could sell their art [or] they could do it and not sell their art,” she said. “It’s your deal. I’m just giving you the wall space.”
