Porter Street Artists transform Riverside homes into galleries for show

No churches or convention centers for the Porter Street Artists and Friends art show.

Instead, the vendors – all artists living in Riverside – display their work in several Porter Street homes.

In Joann Ryan’s home, at 941 Porter, her living room switches to an art gallery. Her driveway is a makeshift fairy garden and the dining room displays pottery for sale. Her guest bedroom converts to a clothing store and the attached bath becomes the fitting room.

This year’s event is 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 17. It’s one of many fall craft and barn shows in the region.

Ryan’s house has the most vendors, about 10, but roughly 13 other artists sell items from other homes on the block.

“Someone in the neighborhood would make a comment like ‘we ought to have an art show,’” Ryan said. “So one year I just did.”

That was in 2012 when the show was limited to Ryan’s home. It has now expanded into a biannual event that draws in almost two dozen Riverside artists, utilizes multiple Porter Street homes and attended by people from all corners of the city and nearby towns.

“It’s a pretty unique event,” Ryan said, adding that she was unaware of any other neighborhood that hosted an arts and crafts show in residents’ homes.

Last year’s show attracted about 500 people, Ryan said.

The group also hosts a springtime show that is held the third Sunday in April each year.

The fall event includes a single food truck and some live music, but lacks some of the other entertainment options larger crafts shows offer.

Ryan considered turning the event into a block party but decided to keep it small and local for now.

“I had this big dream of having the block closed off and food vendors up and down the street and different bands playing at opposite ends of the block – a carnival-like atmosphere,” Ryan said. “We went to the city and found out it is only $25 to close off the street.”

But with a little more research Ryan found out that other costs such as security and portable toilets would add another $700.

To justify that expense, Porter Street Artists and Friends would have to charge admission. And Ryan said the group prides themselves on producing a free show.

“Even if we don’t make that much money, it’s a fun neighborhood event,” Ryan said.

Customers can shop for a variety of items: jewelry, silk scarves, stained glass, miniature pies, sculptures, sketches, paintings, outdoor furniture and shadow boxes, to name a few.

“I always encourage artists to come up with something just a little bit different each year,” Ryan said. “So people who come every year still have a reason to buy.”

Ryan herself spends about three hours each week working on her metal sculptures, a craft she’s done for a decade.

In the week leading up to the event, Ryan removes any remnants of her home to transform it into a seller’s space. Her couch and chairs go into storage. All private belongings go in her bedroom, the only space off limits to shoppers.

“We have artists that did not have a venue before and had not figured out how to get their work out in front of people,” Ryan said. “It makes me happy that (the show) gives these people an outlet.”

This story was originally published September 20, 2015 at 9:47 AM with the headline "Porter Street Artists transform Riverside homes into galleries for show."