Local shop owner and assistant professor of photography Bradley Phillips and his wife Leslie Phillips kept their store open later than usual for April's First Friday with the Arts to help Southeast students sell their art.

For their third time participating in First Friday, they got in touch with other professors to contact students that might be interested in selling their art at the store. Kith and Kin, the Phillips’ vintage shop, kept no profits from the art sales. All they asked that the artists were there to talk about the event. The Phillips’ passion for art is what influences their store and their desire to participate in events such as First Friday.

“We love the art scene,” Leslie Phillips said. “We have a mural in our shop that was created by Justin Miller, a painting professor, and we sell a lot of our own graphic tees. We’re just really passionate about bringing art to Cape and think our little space is a good place to do that.”

Buttons and prints made by Riendeau and Blankenship for First Friday student art sales at Kith and Kin.Photo by Katya Chronister ~ Arrow Reporter

Junior Julie Riendeau and sophomore Logan Blankenship displayed their art at the shop April 4 to 6. Among the art they were selling was hand-printed graphic T-shirts, stickers and small prints. Both Riendeau and Blankenship said they were excited to have to this opportunity.

“We definitely weren't expecting this,” Riendeau said. “We were already making art for our conference, then I found out about this [Kith and Kin art sale] on the way there [to the conference]. So the stuff [graphic T-shirts, stickers, prints] here is more evolved versions of we made for that.”

The Phillips’ want to continue to be a part of First Friday because they think they may be able to offer something a little different.

T-shirt designed and printed by Riendeau and Blankenship for First Friday student art sales at Kith and Kin. Photo by Katya Chronister ~ Arrow Reporter

“We think our space is a little eclectic and cool and totally different than any other art place in Cape,” Leslie Phillips said.

The pendants, banners, blankets, bags and clothing at Kith and Kin are all made in the United States. The clothing has a wide range of sizes and prices Leslie Phillips said. The shop sells vintage items and even has old-fashioned VHS movie nights.

“We want to have other events that get you out of the house where you don’t have to go to a club or a bar,” Leslie Phillips said.

The name for the store comes from an old Irish saying about family and community, with kin referring to family ad kith referencing a neighborhood. To see more of what Kith and Kin have to offer, visit their Facebook page, Kith and Kin Cape Girardeau.