Grand Opening of "Local Sphere" Store in Phoenixville Begins September 26, 2012: Store Rents Its Shelves to Local Vendors and Offers Workshops to All

PHOENIXVILLE, PA, September 16, 2012 (Press-News.org) On September 26, 2012, "Local Sphere" at 12 S. Main Street in Phoenixville, PA will open its doors to the public to begin a four-day long celebration of its grand opening. Each of the four days will contain performances from local musicians and artists to celebrate the opening of the space. Local Sphere is a local market and workshop space. Local Sphere's aim is to bring together the best local crafters, food artisans, artists and musicians and connect them with local intellectuals, innovators, and pillars of the community—all in one space. The store's tagline—"everything local"—expresses the intent of involving a broad range of talent in the area to tip the scales of a Renaissance that has been going on in Phoenixville.

Local Sphere's grand opening celebration begins on Wednesday and will culminate on Saturday. Each of the four days will host a variety of local musicians, artisans and street performers. Local band Mostly Maybe will be on hand. Fire-art, glass shaping with torches, and slam poetry will be part of the carnivalesque atmosphere that celebrates the concept of "everything local" which was launched a month ago. Founder Richard Liston says that Local Sphere aims to "bring the highest quality, most artistic, locally-made products together in one store. If you want to find out what's going on in the area, this will be the place to do it." The store will feature a monthly resident artist and resident musicians. Local favorite Mostly Maybe will be resident musicians for October and will be on hand to work on their craft and talk to people who pass through the space.

The store includes everything from granola snacks and pottery lamps to local music and artwork by Victoria O'Neill and David Gerbstadt. The store will work with local people who produce high-quality items but might not have the resources or time to put into selling them. Local producers will rent low-cost space while Local Sphere pays overhead costs and brings in foot traffic. "It's really a great opportunity for them", says founder Richard Liston.

"Everything local" is the vibe Local Sphere is going for and they want everyone local involved, according to store General Manager Jesse Antonini. "Some people like to emphasize the differences between one another. We want to emphasize our similarities and explore together, not apart. This is a place where the rich rub shoulders with the starving artist, where every class of people can come to shop and where anyone can come to learn something new any day of the week—with money or without. It's a place to connect amazing things together that might not otherwise be connected." The concept is modeled after a small-world network, Antonini explains, "We are connecting different hubs of local activity together to see what kind of tipping effect this can have on the Phoenixville Renaissance."

Local Sphere was born to give home to the Sphere College Project which will also operate there and has been running for three years in Phoenixville. A diverse set of workshops and classes is offered weekly. "It's a different kind of education. It's open, communicative, and formed by its participants in an organic way. This is a community of open ideas and no one is excluded," says Liston.

The store, at 12 S. Main St. in downtown Phoenixville, is between Grace Tattoo and Lulu Boutique, and is cattycorner to Molly Maguire's. The store is still accepting vendors and performers and preparing for its grand opening weekend from September 26th through the 29th. Says Liston, "We're really looking forward to making the grand opening something to remember all four days. It's almost here and everyone is invited."

Local Sphere in Phoenixville is a store which sells local goods, music and arts and is home to the Sphere College Project at 12 S. Main St. in Phoenixville, PA 19460.

http://www.localsphere.org

http://www.facebook.com/localsphere

localsphere12@gmail.com

610-933-2021

Local Sphere in Phoenixville is a store which sells local goods, music and arts and is home to the Sphere College Project at 12 S. Main St. in Phoenixville, PA 19460.