Wilmington is hoping to attract downtown shoppers looking to support local business, part of its Small Business Saturday event.
Many businesses on Wilmington’s Market Street are participating, including LaFate Gallery.
Contemporary folk artist Eunice LaFate moved to Delaware from Jamaica in December 1983.
“I was nostalgic that winter so I started painting. I painted tropical sceneries," LaFate said.
LaFate is not only a folk artist with 20 plus years of experience, but also a teacher and speaker on issues of diversity and racial harmony.
She received a Governor's Award in 2014 for her work as an arts advocate, and in October received a trailblazer award from the Jamaican Diaspora for being a pioneer of folk art in Delaware.
LaFate says she’s the only Jamaican folk artist with a studio in the First State.
“People were not familiar with folk art, so I’ve been getting some intriguing questions," she said. "Why do you round off the hands, do the people in Jamaica not have fingers? Where are the eyes and the features? And then I explained to them – folk art is not about accuracy and precision, it is about life story. Ask me the story behind the work.”
LaFate feels like fate brought her to pursue studio space about a year ago.
She sold art out of her house before leasing her current storefront. After the death of her husband, she was planning to sell her house - until a dream prompted her to take other measures.
“I called my realtor the next day and I said I’m not selling my house, I have other plans," LaFate said. "I walked up to LOMA, walked into the leasing office and said to the lady, I’m looking at a storefront, I’m an artist and I’d like to open a gallery, and she said you’re lucky.”
A storefront had just opened up, and LaFate moved into the space. She says she receives more business from out of state visitors than from locals - but hopes that will change.
A special section of LaFate’s gallery is dedicated to the topic of caregiving, as she says her gallery is an outgrowth of her grief caring for her late husband, and painting at his bedside.
She also offers weekly classes on caregiving, folk art and other topics.
Copies of her two most famous pieces – titled The Melting Pot vs. The Salad Bowl and another titled Diversity – appear in President Clinton’s library, and are available during Small Business Saturday.
Additionally, LaFate is providing another 40% discount on select studio artwork on Small Business Saturday.
