Art is something to be treasured, and thankfully, always will be treasured. The reason? Art is dynamic, elastic, and subjective. We all have our own views of art, which is an integral part of what makes art, art. That said, downtown Annapolis has its own flair when it comes to the art scene. The galleries there (there are more than you’d think!) feature an eclectic collection of marine-inspired art, colorful glass art, and acrylic paintings of faraway places. Of the greats downtown is Easy Street Gallery, established in 1979 and run by family. Peruse the pictures, learn about the gallery and the exquisite artwork represented there, and prepare to interpret the whimsical designs on your next trip there.
Their site, www.easystreetgallery.com, briefly tells of their history: a shop that specializes in handmade art founded by Marsha and Terry Moore. The couple’s daughter, Megan, followed in the artsy steps of her parents and came onboard in the 90s. The shop on 8 Francis Street is truly unique in its endeavor to provide an expanse of varied artwork–recycled pieces, glass pieces, functional items for the home, paintings, and jewelry.
Just like the contents of a home say a lot about the owners of the home, so does the artwork about the integrity and excitement of Easy Street. All kinds of work of artists from around the country–and some from right around you–populate the shop. Pottery comes in all kinds of forms: earring holders made by Barb Lund, large decorative platters crafted by Eric Henderick and Noell VanHendrick at Z Pots Studio, mugs, coasters, and even wasabi dishes swirled with a curios glass and pottery blend. Easy Street also provides the most lovely storage options you will ever come across: glass, copper, and metal vases; bowls made of blown glass; and alcohol dispensers weighed down with massive rocks. All kinds of freestanding and pendant lamps are also available.
Sometimes decorative pieces are just as needed as functional pieces. Easy Street carries the epitome of funky and fun art. Right now, the shop features glass blown balloons, painted ornaments, wooden salad tongs, creative paper books, small prints, dangling sun catchers, colorful glass appetizer plates, and gem and stone jewelry. As you can imagine from the pictures, it is quite easy to slip into reverie amidst the light reflecting on the colorful glass beauties. 
The location downtown also rubs off on the artwork displayed at Easy Street–in a good way. The gallery carries several nautical-themed pieces, like crystal sailboats.
The prices in the gallery, as you could guess, range by each item. Handmade soaps in the shop run about $12 and intricate glass items can run an upwards of $500. One important thing to keep in mind when considering price is that all the items in the gallery are crafted by artisans in the country, giving you the chance to support the good ol’ USA.Visit the site linked above to peruse the offerings and even purchase fine pieces of art right from your couch. Of course, the more enticing alternative is to peruse and shop in the store. Here’s a bonus: it has a stunning view of the Capitol from outside.
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