Art Gecko Studio
Art Gecko is a small storefront bursting with BIG creativity. Proprietors Cory Hollerbach and Robin Springer have called their space at 218 E. State Street home for the last three years, but Art Gecko has been in operation since 2016.
The mother-daughter pair have formal educations in art, and Springer is both a book illustrator and former art teacher. Their enterprise was first called “Hollerbach and Vine Design” when the duo started making custom painted gift boxes. Over time the business model evolved and expanded to the studio and local artisan shop that is now known as Art Gecko.
The name “Art Gecko” is a play on “Art Deco,” the style of visual arts and design that was popular in the 1920s and 30s. Springer and Hollerbach also share a love for geckos, exhibited by their matching gecko tattoos. The studio is decorated with an ever-growing collection of colorful lizards, many gifted by their clients. Most notable is the remarkable metal gecko sculpture in the studio’s entryway, a handmade gift from a special client.
Art Gecko offers wide variety of activities and services for kids from 3 to 103, including birthday parties, themed movie nights, painting classes, and polymer clay classes.
For birthday parties, Hollerbach and Springer go all out. The birthday boy or girl provides the theme and Art Gecko customizes everything to match, from the studio decorations to the art project to the custom cupcakes or cookies served by Baked Designs by JJB.
Some memorable birthday party themes include dragonflies, Labrador Retrievers, Harry Potter, and anime comics. Hollerbach loves a challenge, drawing inspiration from her own special birthday memories, and strives to recreate that wonder and magic for each of her clients.
Opportunities for creative expression are certainly not limited to children at Art Gecko. Hollerbach and Springer believe that it’s just as important for adults to find creative outlets, especially those who don’t consider themselves “artistic.” At the end of each class at Art Gecko, students present their art to the class and get to walk away with their work professionally matted (they can, of course, purchase the perfect frame in the studio, too!).
Art Gecko also has a great selection of local artisan crafts available for purchase in the studio, including handmade jewelry, pottery, and baskets. They also take on custom, unique jobs like repairs to damaged art pieces, repainting worn items, banners, signs, graphics, and more – requests are always welcome.
Unsurprisingly, the Art Gecko team has lots of creative new ideas in store for the studio, with an Introduction to Sculpture class starting November 2, 2021. Their classes fill up quickly so be on the lookout for new offerings.
When you visit you become family, and you are never too old for a birthday party. It is a place to let your children (or your inner child) be imaginative and great place for a night out with friends. You can even get charcuterie from Boarding House Bistro next door to make the event extra special.
To learn more about Art Gecko and check out their ever-changing selection of handcrafted items, stop by the studio at 218 E. State Street. They are not always in the shop so don’t be discouraged if you miss them. You can always find them online at https://www.artgeckostudio.org/.