Independent artists excited to contribute to pop-up shop

Big Pony, the little store that championed independent artists and artisans, is making an appearance for the first time since closing shop in April.

Big Pony opened on Brenton Street in 2012 and moved to Gottingen Street in 2015 before closing its doors.

Local artists like Mollie Cronin are excited to be part of Big Pony’s holiday pop-up shop on Thursday. For many artists the shop was the first to sell their work.

“I think they kind of gave me a little push, which was great and definitely a very important first step for me,” Cronin said.

Cronin’s Art Brat Comics was a side project when Big Pony approached her about her products a little over a year ago. Now Cronin’s work is sold at a number of shops, including Lost and Found, the Daily Grind and Valley Vixen in Wolfville.

Cronin said the support Big Pony lent to local artists is import in an area like Halifax, where many young people come and go.

“If they can support themselves, even in part, doing the creative work they want to do, that’s huge and especially encouraging young people to stay,” Cronin said. “We really need those young creative people to stay in town, but it’s up to everyone else for support to buy local.”

Big Pony co-owner Lindsay Stewart said the best part of Big Pony was the community it created and its ability to host special events. She and her business partner Emily Ross organized Thursday’s pop-up shop because they wanted to revive that sense of community.

“We took pride in supporting local artists,” Stewart said, adding they wanted to showcase the talents of their friends and people in their community.

Although Big Pony’s brick and mortar shop closed last spring, the relationships it fostered with its artists did not go down with it.

Stewart said she still sees Cronin all the time, along with Jessie Wright, the potter behind JAW Pottery, when she gets her morning coffee.

Wright, who will also contribute to the pop-up, was just starting her business when Big Pony approached her to sell with them. They were the first store to sell her products.

“It was an amazing start for me as a beginner potter just to have somewhere to give stuff to and see if it would sell. It meant a lot,” Wright said.

Stewart said there are no concrete plans after the pop-up, but she and Ross plan to host similar events in the future.

“You should never be surprised to see Big Pony popping up somewhere,” Stewart said.  

The Big Pony pop-up will take place Thursday at 6 p.m. at Seven Bays Bouldering.