Bella Gallery brings handmade gifts, fine art to downtown Chelsea

While not an artist herself, Kim Watkins has always loved the arts. Nudged on by her appreciate of handmade goods and support from her artist friends, she decided to get into the art businesses with her own shop, Bella Gallery. The fine art and homemade goods store opened in November in a second-floor space on W. Middle St. 

 

"Everything is handmade artistry work," Watkins says. "That is the requirement to be in the store, and it has just really spread like wildfire."

 

Watkins began by telling her artists friends about the store, and her troupe of artists has grown quickly since then. She now carries pottery, wood carvings, oil paintings, fiber art, watercolors and more. New artists, she says, are joining the mix every week. 

 

"It has been awesome," Watkins says of the community's reaction to Bella Gallery thus far. "I want to be known as a gift destination and that is what is happening. We have stuff for everyone too, from thing for babies and children to wall art." 

 

Watkins now manages the store herself, with help from her neighboring entrepreneur, Deborah Coy of The Attic Boutique. She hopes to eventually grow into a larger, first-floor storefront and continue to showcase local artists.