There aren’t many undergraduate students who can say they’ve helped develop a shop from the ground up, but that’s exactly what the students in Ariella Mostkoff’s MINT course did this semester. The result of their efforts is The Fridge, a pop-up shop located in Thornebrook Village that features work from SA+AH students, alumni and faculty.
While still an undergraduate student in the graphic design program, Mostkoff wrote a proposal for an outlet to sell art and design work from SA+AH students and faculty. By further developing the concept alongside her students, Mostkoff gave them the unique opportunity to gain real-world experience promoting and selling their own work.
Ris Volk, a 1st year MFA candidate in Graphic Design, was part of the interior design team that was tasked with designing the atmosphere and layout of the shop. Along with classmates Brianna Ostrowski and McKenna Wilson, Volk turned an empty storefront into an innovative and functional show space.
“The most rewarding part about this project was getting to see it come to life. It was such a short timeline,” Volk explained. “We were able to develop the concept and, many Lowe’s and Hobby Lobby trips later, open shop and see the public interacting with and enjoying a space we designed.”
The artists who feature work in The Fridge get a percentage of each sale of their pieces, and the remainder is donated to the School of Art + Art History. The shop is a way not only to provide space for students to sell their work, but also to support more opportunities for SA+AH students in the future.
The Fridge, located in Thornebrook Village, will be open through October 13 from 12-7 p.m., and from 12-3 p.m. on Friday, October 14. For more information, visit the Facebook page.