With suncatchers peeking through the window and color oozing from the inside, Onyx and Iris opened its doors at noon July 6.
Housing the creations of 15 different artists, the store offers an array of unique pieces: animal bone art, watercolor, crochet, crystals, upcycled fashion, jewelry, candles, incense and more.
Owner and artist Laia Gore moved the shop from its original location in Cedar Key to Gainesville in under two months with the help of friends and family. Her team worked until the night before opening day to get ready.
“I’m really excited to be in Gainesville and to be among people who appreciate this kind of thing,” Gore said. “I’m excited to meet new people.”
Not unfamiliar to Gainesville pop-up markets, her business amassed just under 3,000 followers on Instagram and attracted around 150 customers on its opening day.
Her creations are among those for sale. Gore began making animal bone displays nearly six years ago, and jewelry three years ago. It can take her hours to craft and curate each deadly trinket.
Among the shoppers in the store was Leah Kestner, who's lived in Gainesville for nearly ten years. Kestner discovered Onyx and Iris through one of its pop-ups at GNV Market near Heartwood Soundstage.
“I just like the style and her attention to detail is really nice,” she said, flaunting a pair of earrings she previously bought from the business.
Kestner said she appreciates the uniqueness of Gore’s items, and that you can purchase an item knowing it may be one of one, if not one of a handful made of its kind.
“I love that Gainesville is getting more weird and niche,” she said.
She’s not the only one who admires the creative community of Gainesville. Novi Martinez, a 28-year-old Atlanta resident, met Gore doing pop-up markets as well, and now sells her upcycled fashion and handmade candles in the store.
Watching Gore be able to expand proves how special both the artist and Gainesville itself is, Martinez said.
“Being able to see Laia move into a space like this, especially in a town like this where there’s going to be a lot more exposure, more people that have access to the art, more space,” she said. “I’m really proud of her, it’s been amazing to see it all grow.”
Gore commutes nearly 45 minutes from Cedar Key during this transition. Besides the opportune space vacancy when Coterie Market closed, her main reason for the move was to escape the coastal effects of hurricane season.
“I really feel like this is my community,” she said.
Gore said she’s excited to begin offering art classes between mid-to-late August. Her goal is to offer one weeknight class and one weekend class. For now, the store is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and hours vary throughout the week.
Contact Noor Sukkar at nsukkar@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @noorsukkarr
Noor Sukkar is a third-year journalism major with a minor in Arabic. She is the Avenue's Fall 2024 General Assignment reporter. When she's not writing, she's most likely talking to her cat or overwatering her plants.
