West Sioux Artist Co-op turns former furniture store into art space

The old West Sioux Furniture store has been transformed into the West Sioux Artist Co-op.

Lydie and John Sweets opened the co-op earlier this summer at 2300 W. Madison St.

They wanted to turn the building from a mainly an empty storage space into something more.

“We now have a space for local artists and crafters to display their art … and have plenty of room for more creators still,” Lydie Sweets said.

The Sweets already have a coffee and food truck planned for the grand opening next month.

“We are just making sure it works out for our creators, but we have invited vendors already and hope it is a big and exciting event,” Sweets said.

John Sweets is highly artistic and that served as part of the inspiration for the business, his wife said.

“When we found this building, John thought it would be the perfect spot for us,” Sweets said. “Our family owns this building and the venue next door, so it is going to be a great addition as we host events.”

The couple began the process of creating the West Sioux Artist Co-op about a year ago. Sweets said friends and family have been invaluable to the process, and events have helped them raise money.

Sweets said she considers herself “more of a crafter,” and with the combination of her husband’s artistic endeavors, the space welcomes both crafters and artists.

“I sew, create tote bags, screenprint and do beadwork,” Sweets said. “We have paintings here from a variety of artists. … We have sculptures, furniture, decor and much more.”

Sweets said the main goal is to give “all artists and creators a chance to display their art.”

The Sweets plan to use the venue space for classes and events. With plenty of parking for customers and space inside, Sweets said the West Sioux Artist Co-op is perfect for a wide variety of activities.

“We plan to have events while it is nice outside,” Sweets said. “We are still looking for vendors and are just excited to let people know we are open and here.”

The plan is to hold a grand opening sometime in September.