New owners – Annie Armistead and Abby Reczek

Troika Contemporary Crafts in Downtown Floyd is happy to announce new owners!  As of January, Abby Reczek and Annie Armistead took ownership of the iconic gallery which has been a part of the lifeblood in downtown Floyd for nearly ten years.  When Susan Icove recently told Abby Reczek she was looking for new owners for Troika, Abby didn’t hesitate. She knew that she wanted to step in.

When The Station was newly renovated in 2009, Silvie Granatelli, Susan Icove, and Gibby Waitzkin agreed to rent a small space for opening a “fine” crafts gallery.  They named it Troika, after a type of horse-drawn Russian vehicle that featured three horses harnessed together. The three women created the gallery as a vehicle to showcase their vision; a kaleidoscope of exquisite crafts.
Left to right: Gibby Waitzkin, Silvie Granatelli and Susan Icove, who started the gallery ten years ago.

All three of the founding Troika ladies are professional craft artists.  Susan is an upcycle lighting designer, Silvie is a potter, and Gibby is a photographer, paper-maker, and sculptor.  They started out showing their own work while also holding shows for other craftspeople in the community.
In 2011, however, a large and airy corner at the front of the building became available; directly across from the renowned Floyd Country Store. Troika expanded, taking up residence behind the big windows facing Locust Street.  In the new space, the Troika ladies were able to grow their inventory to represent the creations of over fifty craftspeople.  They had space for local, regional, and national artists who did everything from pottery, to woodworking and glassblowing, to fiber art and jewelry.
As time went on, the original three partners would meet annually to decide if they were up for running the gallery for another year.  Last summer, they decided that the lure of having more time for family and travel had finally tipped the balance.  That’s where Abby came in.
While working as Silvie’s studio assistant, Abby Reczek had been filling in as Troika’s part time manager since moving to Floyd in 2013.  After an initial conversation with Susan Icove, Abby went to her friend and fellow artist, Annie Armistead, to see if she would be interested in becoming her business partner. Annie had decades of experience as the previous owner of Millie’s; a boutique in Salem, Virginia.  She’d also been working for Troika over the years and knew the shop well.  Annie is largely responsible for the artistic, eye-catching displays guests to Troika have enjoyed for so long.
Abby and Annie plan to bring their own vision to the gallery.  First, they added their own work to the shelves.  Annie is a jeweler who crafts unique, wearable art inspired by nature, as well as by her southwestern Virginia heritage. Her work incorporates sculptural forms molded in precious metal clay, often finished with gemstones, to create one-of-a-kind pieces of fine silver jewelry.
Along with Annie, Abby is thrilled to be showing her work at the gallery.  She makes functional pottery inspired by Floyd’s rolling green hills, blue skies, and the subtler colors of the natural world.  She hopes that customers will share her appreciation of natural wonder through the touch and feel of her pottery.
In addition to bringing their own work to Troika, Abby and Annie plan to have a featured artist each month, along with a reception.  They kicked off 2019 with an opening show; “Mud and Metal” which focused on Annie and Abby’s work.  It was a roaring success.  The gallery overflowed with local patrons and friends.
Keep your eyes open for more featured artisans over the coming months.  Most of the showcased artists in 2019 will either be Floyd residents, or those whose roots run deep here in Floyd.  Also, make a date with yourself to check out the new Troika artscape.  You’ll discover the work of new artists, along with a wider variety of items; including bath products and greeting cards.  The new owners have reimagined this arts destination as a place that offers a wide range of craftsmanship that is both fine and affordable.  The selection will be designed to appeal to your taste and your budget.
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Troika Contemporary Crafts Gallery
203 S. Locust Street Floyd, Virginia
www.troikacrafts.com • (540) 745-8764
www.facebook.com/troikacrafts