Our eldest daughter Ellie wrote this about our upcoming store closure. She and her sister grew up right in front of many of you, and both now live wonderful lives informed by all the interactions with customers and artists which they experienced daily. We're extremely proud of both of them, and grateful to all of you who helped us raise them!
June 7, 2024
In 1986, two 28 year-olds walked onto this front porch to make this building the home of their business - a folk art gallery that celebrated art from all over North and South America, and specialized in art made by current indigenous artists. They wanted to work with artists who were celebrating and continuing their heritage by making art as a source of income to feed their family.
Well, those two crazy kids were my amazing parents, and after 38 years of sharing this art with people in person through these front doors, on June 16th they will be closing the doors of the store and going to online only. They hate the word “retirement,” so let’s just call it a major transition
I am so proud of my parents. For 38 years they have worked their asses off to define the idea of “appreciation not appropriation,” and educated customers and art collectors and passers by on indigenous art and culture. North American indigenous culture isn’t just historical: it is alive and thriving, and since 1986, my parents have used this building as their base to share that with the world.
So please, if you find yourself in Manchester, Vermont in the next two weekends, swing on by 4963 Main Street and give them a hug because they deserve it. They have poured 38 years of love into this 200+ year old building: they met thousands of wonderful customers, many of which became and continue to be dear friends, they worked together as a team to give back to indigenous communities and cultures, they traveled the country in Volkswagen buses and minivans and airplanes and rental cars across the Southwest, Canada, and Alaska, and they raised my sister and I there from the pack and play behind the counter, to hanging out every day after school, to modeling jewelry for national magazine advertisements, to hosting artists from all over the country, and everything in between. The first tooth I lost was on that front porch, if that says anything
So, go give them a hug this weekend or next, and if you can’t make it, go check out their website! All can be found on their Instagram page - @longagoandfarawaygallery and Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/longagoandfarawaygallery
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