Since the early 1970s, the flagship store of the 10-store nationwide chain at 248-12 Union Turnpike has been the only…
By Adam Kramer
For more nearly 30 years, Jerry’s Artarama in Bellerose has been meeting the art supply needs of Queens’ artists and aspiring artists.
Since the early 1970s, the flagship store of the 10-store nationwide chain at 248-12 Union Turnpike has been the only full service art supply shop in the borough. The store’s aisles are filled to the brim with everything an artist needs from paints to canvases and frames to portfolio bags.
“I can get everything I need for school projects,” said Madeleine Avendano, an 11-year-old sixth grader from Bayside, shopping for supplies. “They have the best variety, everything for a professional to a kid like me.”
“It is the only place in the area.” said Polly Avendano — Madeleine’s mother. “It has the largest selection and authentic art supplies.”
Jerry’s Artarama’s manager, Patrick Bartholomew, a university-trained painter who has been at the store for the past five years, said what makes the store great is that it tries to accommodate everyone.
“We try to respond to people’s needs,” he said. “For example, we ask art instructors to work with us and provide us with a course list so we can set up towards the list.”
He said they also hire artists to work in the store because it helps the customers when the staff has an interest in art and are not there just there as salespeople.
“It is not like a supermarket,” he said “It is not like soap — aisle 7. People want explanations of the different supplies.”
The shop was founded by Jerry Goldstein, who is now in semi-retirement working part time in the Florida store. He said the chain is now run by Goldstein’s two sons, David and Ira Bartholomew said.
Goldstein’s sons have also been responsible for the chain’s growth by expanding across the country. Jerry’s Artarama now stretches from Queens to Florida and from North Carolina to Montana.
Bartholomew said the Queens store attracts art professionals, students, senior citizens and crafts people. Besides the art supplies people come to the store for picture framing and there are art classes for elementary school kids up to senior citizens.
The teachers at the school, which offers classes for beginners to advanced five days a week and on the weekends, are trained artists or artists who have made names for themselves in the field, he said.
Bartholomew said the school — run by Leo Gonzalas — has been a “springboard” for many students by giving them instruction on a particular needs, such as helping them with their college portfolios.
“The classes are mixed depending on ability,” he said. “The students start with drawing and progress to painting.”
He said the beginning classes start out drawing still lifes and progress to figures. There is no particular style in the painting class — it depends on the student and the teacher, Bartholomew said.
“I’ve been working here for almost a year and I love it,” said Blkgaud Bay, the store’s custom framer and Bellerose resident. “I am an artist myself and here I am always doing something creative — as artists that is what we do.”
Reach reporter Adam Kramer by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 157.
