Day 69 - Firefolk Arts, Waitsfield, Vermont
📌APIA Every Day (69) - Firefolk Arts, situated in Waitsfield, Vermont, proudly stands as the sole BIPOC-owned art gallery in the state, opening its doors on June 10, 2023. Founded by Tina Picz, a Filipina American artist, this 700-square-foot converted firehouse provides a platform for local artists and businesses to uplift and highlight underrepresented voices. Managed by Picz, along with her daughter and husband, the space includes various art projects, serving as an art space, gallery, and co-working studio.
Tina Picz, who relocated from Massachusetts to Vermont in 2020, was surprised by the lack of BIPOC or AAPI-owned art galleries in the area. Motivated by this, she founded Firefolk Arts to provide an art space for Vermont’s Asian American and Pacific Islander population, as well as for people of color in general. Situated in the majority-white town of Waitsfield, with only a 0.23% Asian American population, Firefolk Arts addresses the cultural and population gap by fostering inclusivity and representation.
As a relatively new BIPOC/AAPI art gallery, there is limited information available. However, Firefolk Arts has hosted several events in Vermont since its opening, featuring the work of ceramicists, photographers, illustrators, food vendors, and multimedia artists. How does the history and identity of AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander) communities through art spaces transcend place-based preservation practices?
LEARN MORE:
Boston Globe: AAPI-owned gallery, Firefolk Arts, fills critical gap in Vermont art scene
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