A place to make a mess: How Megan Bair’s For Art’s Sake opens art to everyone

For Megan Bair, art is about community as much as it is about creativity. 

Art is a medium of nuanced expression and interpretation, which can be daunting to enter into. 

However, Bair is committed to lowering the barriers for people to express themselves through art, and has brought this philosophy to Mt. Pleasant, with the goal of creating a collaborative and connected space.

As the owner of For Art’s Sake in downtown Mt. Pleasant, Bair brings the opportunity to partake in art directly to the Mt. Pleasant community. 

Bair first opened the store in the summer of 2021 and has since developed it into a place where community members can gather to learn new skills, as well as purchase art from local artists. 

Bair does not claim the title of a professional artist, despite having ample talent, and thus is able to teach with knowledge and experience, but also an understanding of what it means to begin as an amateur artist.

“I want to teach people to take a moment and try [art]. Not to feel like you’re going to perfect it on the first try, but just to pick up a brush or pick up a hot glue gun,” says Bair of the notion that trying new things is more important than perfecting them.

“So many kids have used a hot glue gun for the first time here, and I feel like I’m the most powerful superwoman, because they leave here excited, saying ‘Mom, guess what?’ and it’s so cool [to see],” she shares. A part of what led to For Arts Sake’s opening was Bair’s recognition that Mt. Pleasant needed more third spaces. 

For Bair, having places where people can gather is integral to a healthy community. 

On her store’s provision of a third space, she says, “A lot of people don’t have the space or resources to make art, be creative, or try new things. It’s nice to have this space here where it’s okay to get paint on the table, and if you spill glitter on the floor, no one will be mad.” 

Bair also recognizes the importance of third spaces appealing to people at all stages of life.

“People can spend time together [at the store] and have a play date between kids or have an adult night out that’s different and unique,” she explains. 

Bair’s events and programs at For Arts Sake impact the community in that they stimulate creativity and engagement with new skills. However, the store also has a more sentimental impact on both Bair and the Mt. Pleasant community. 

“I love that [my store] has been able to make so many core memories for kids and families, like someone’s first time using watercolor,” she shares. “Or it’s their birthday party and we made slime with 17 kids, and it was a mess, but everybody had a great time. I feel like those things will last.”

In addition to providing a place where community members can practice art, Bair also provides a place for people to sell their art in her store. 

“I remember when I was in college, and I sold my very first piece of art,” she says. “That was a moment where I was like ‘it’s real, I can do this.’ When somebody besides friends or family bought my art, it was an amazing feeling. I wanted to be a part of that for other people too.” 

Now, Bair’s work affords other people the opportunity to have small moments of success and happiness that create a lasting impact.

There are defining moments in each lifetime, where choices are presented. Often, none of the choices look particularly appealing. It is vitally important in such situations to still be able to “find your sweetness,” as Bair puts it. This is the paradigm that she raised For Arts Sake out of, and the positive attitude she now brings to the Mt. Pleasant community. 

“I am proud of building this place from nothing, really. The people who have become connected and stuck around have been amazing. They’re here because they want to be. I don’t pay anybody,” says Bair on bringing a touch of sweetness to the chaos of ordinary life. 

“There are people that come in [to the store] and then come back, and there are families that trust me with their kids, summer after summer for art camps. I’m most proud of the way I’ve created a space where people can feel connected.”