‘Punk Rock Cool’ Art Sale: Priced to Move

An art show and sale that’s “punk-rock cool” meets “accessible enough for mom?”

The seventh annual Priced to Move is set for December 16, 5 p.m. — 10 p.m., and December 17, 2 p.m. — 10 p.m., 2018, at Hops and Habanas’ Fondren location.

Founded by illustrator/designer Ian Hanson and photographer/musician Cody Cox, Priced to Move offers Jackson-based artists the chance to put their work in the hands of locals for an “under $100” price point.

“It’s an art sale for our friends and others who are bartenders and baristas and small business owners to be able to buy art,” Hanson said.

Hanson and Cox don’t take a commission. Artists take home almost all of the proceeds of their sales, save for a ten percent “tip” toward the live, local bands who perform both nights of the show.

Garrad Lee, a frequent collaborator to Hanson and Cox and music promoter for the event, said keeping it grassroots is by design. “It’s never been the stated intention, but the show is Jackson art for metro Jackson people.”

Lee noted Priced to Move is one of his mother’s favorite events. “When it first started, we tried to keep a grimy edge to it,” he said. “It’s very DIY. But my parents come to buy art. There is an element of cool that appeals to everyone across all spectrums.”

Hanson remembered a couple of patrons who came through one year when the show was held the same weekend as the annual Chimneyville Crafts Festival. “I don’t think they had any idea what we were,” he recounted. “They saw us on the news, came by and both of them walked out with three or four things.”

Cox said he always knew an edgy show like this could be supported by their friends. “But I never thought it would be this big. Every year, it’s grown. We say there’s no way to top last year and it keeps getting bigger.”

In year one, a dozen vendors participated. Last year, in a bigger venue, the Davis Planetarium, Priced to Move boasted 32. Hanson said the artist roster for this year, at two-dozen, is the fastest they have ever filled up. “Within two weeks, we had a waiting list,” he added. “And there are people who emailed me I didn’t even know. That’s cool.”

That roster – jewelry makers, painters, cross stitchers, glass artists, metal workers and more – includes established creatives who participate “because [the show] is fun,” said Cox. “There are a whole lot of new [artists] who have never hung outside of a student show. I always buy at least one piece from someone whose art I have never seen.”

Cox said, on the show’s first night each year, he and Hanson do a walk-through. “I’m like, ‘that’s so cool, and I’ve got to make sure to get some of that.”

And he advises early arrival. “Once it’s sold,” he explained, “it’s sold.”

Priced to Move has roots in self-promotion. “Cody and I talked about having a show, just the two of us,” Hanson remembered of Priced to Move’s origins. “The whole idea was to keep it cheap and then the thought of bringing in more people came up.”

Fellow artist and friend Andy Hilton had just purchased a warehouse space on McTyere Avenue in Midtown, and the art show idea “organically grew.” Artists like Scott Allen, Laura Meek and Maddy Aper’s work showed and sold alongside Hanson’s and Cox’s with a measure of locally-sourced, live music.

Two years ago, a Mississippi Creative Economy grant gave Hanson and Cox working capital to buy plywood for displays to hang art. “It’s kept us afloat,” Hanson said, along with volunteers who work the register and help set up and tear down. “We’re really lucky there are a lot of cool people in town willing to pitch in without much money involved.”

Add to that the generosity of past venues like Sneaky Beans, The Hatch and, this year, Hops and Habanas, and the low-to-no-cost model seems to be working.

“It’s one of those things we never intended to be an ongoing thing,” Hanson joked. “After two years, everyone is like, ‘I can’t wait for next year.’ So we say, ‘I guess we’ll do it again.”

Cox echoed their long-term staying power. “Every year, everyone is leaving with arms full of art, saying, ‘This is awesome.’ I don’t think Priced to Move is going anywhere because it’s obviously something people want.”

Priced to Move Volume 7’s visual artists include Ahmad and Saddi Thompson, Austin Lee, Alexa Espinal, Bill Anderson, Christina McField, Clay Hardwick, D+P, Eli Childers, Elizabeth Fowler, Jason Thomas, Jonathan Faulkner, Joshua Little, Justin Nowland, Kira Cummings, Kiri O’Gwynn, Lauren Miltner, Leslie Galloway, Mallory Palmertree, Ming Donkey, Phillip Rollins, Samantha Ledbetter, Samara Thomas, Wade Thompson and Will Brooks.

Music, curated by Lee and Cox, who also own two record labels together, includes Friday’s Jason Mathena, Antwone Perkins and Skratchin Jackson and Saturday’s Sir Flywalker, Lisbon Deaths and Clouds & Crayons.

Gumbo will be available for sale Friday night and draft beer will be on tap all weekend. Admission for Priced to Move is free.