The Tiny Shop is Making Room for the Big Black Hills Arts Scene
Black Hills Art Beat officially has a headquarters this winter, and it is very small.
If you’ve known me for a while, you probably know me wearing a different business hat. I’m Bonzeye Studio. I’m Black Hills Stickers. I’m a photographer and a graphic designer and probably some other stuff I can’t think of right now. In short… I wear a lot of hats.
This year, I threw a new one into the mix: BHAB.
For most of its first year, Black Hills Art Beat has lived on my computer. I have had the privilege of observing this incredible community in our big beautiful backyard – I have spent the last 6 months talking to and about local artists, local music, local books, local events, and all the people working to build a stronger arts scene in the Black Hills.
In the past, those hats I wear have mostly centered around me, and my many talents, and the Tiny Shop has been a place where I showcase my work in some version of a very small store since 2016. These days, the Tiny Shop exists as a “sometimes store” I open seasonally around the holidays (or when a friend is in town and wants to stop by). Mostly, it exists to stay connected to old friends and show off whatever new art thing I am currently obsessed with.
This year, that thing is Black Hills Art Beat.
The Tiny Shop is usually packed with art, apparel, stickers, jewelry, note cards and all the other things I apparently cannot stop designing or collecting.
But spending this past year talking to so many of the people making things here has changed the way I look at that little shop. There is a ridiculous amount of talent in the Black Hills, and I want to make more room for it.
So this year, I’m opening the doors a little wider.
BONZEYE Tiny Shop is back for the 2026 holiday season, and this year the Tiny Shop at 616 West Street has picked up another job: Black Hills Art Beat headquarters.
We’re kicking things off Saturday, October 3, with the Tiny Shop open from noon to 5 p.m., a small curated maker market in the yard, and whatever other shenanigans we can reasonably pull together.
Weather permitting, a handful of local artists and makers will be setting up outside for the kickoff, and the shop itself will carry more work from local musicians, authors and artists throughout the holiday season.
If October decides not to cooperate, that portion will be canceled, but Tiny Shop will still open for the season and the kickoff will still happen.
The market will stay small and curated because, as the name suggests, Tiny Shop is actually tiny.
The shop will remain open through Christmas, with regular holiday hours still being worked out.
BONZEYE + BLACK HILLS ART BEAT
If you’ve noticed Black Hills Art Beat showing up around BONZEYE this year, there’s a simple reason… They’re both me.
The Tiny Shop gives us a physical place where artists can sell things. Black Hills Art Beat gives us a way to help people discover the artists behind those things.
Putting the two together just makes sense.
I want someone to be able to walk into Tiny Shop, pick up an album by a Black Hills musician they haven’t heard before, find a book by a local author, notice a piece of artwork on the wall and have an easy way to learn more about the person who made it.
Over time, I want to connect the shop and BHAB even more.
That includes artist profiles and an interactive in-shop BHAB portal where you can listen to local music, explore an artist’s work, find out where they are playing next, dig through the event calendar and discover more ways to support them.
It also gives BHAB an actual front door.
Come in and tell me about a show. Bring me a flyer. Tell me about an artist I should know. Pull up the calendar and figure out what you’re doing this weekend.
MUSICIANS, AUTHORS + ARTISTS
I’m also looking for more Black Hills work to carry through the holiday season.
If you’re a local musician with physical releases, I want to hear from you. CDs, vinyl, cassettes and other physical releases are welcome.
The same goes for Black Hills authors with books in print.
Those are the two areas where I want to keep the door fairly open.
I’ll also be selecting work from other local artists and makers where space allows. Paintings, prints, photography, illustration and other work may be considered, but shelf and wall space are limited, so those pieces will have to be more selective.
Know Before You Go
What: BONZEYE Tiny Shop 2026 Holiday Kickoff
When: Saturday, October 3, noon–5 p.m.
Where: 616 West Street, Rapid City
What’s happening: Tiny Shop opens for the holiday season, with a small curated outdoor maker market, local art, books, music, gifts, possible live music, snacks and shenanigans.
Weather note: The outdoor maker market is weather permitting. Tiny Shop will still open and the kickoff will still happen if the market has to be canceled.
After October 3: Tiny Shop will remain open through Christmas. Regular holiday hours are still to be determined.
For now, BHAB headquarters looks like a very small shop, a yard full of makers and whatever we manage to pull together before noon on October 3.
Come for the art. Stay for the shenanigans.