Kelly Zaneto seated on a dark wood bench at BCMT Gallery beneath Blackbird, Backwards by Jay Sylvester, beside Now and Forever by Ann Swingler, wearing the Coclico Franklin Flat in black — Kelly in the Franklin Flat in Black, beneath Jay Sylvester, *Blackbird, Backwards*, beside Ann Swingler, *Now and Forever*, with Katie Grove, *Menhir I*, and Joshua Vogel, *Cast Iron Chain Links*, at right

For Fall/Winter 2026-27, we brought HER LIGHT to BCMT Gallery in Kingston, New York. The setting felt almost inevitable. The collection considers the wardrobe as a living archive, shaped by what we keep, reject, and make our own. At BCMT, those same acts of looking and choosing play out across furniture, sculpture, fiber, ceramics, and objects made by hand, assembled not because they match, but because they share a point of view.

At the center of that conversation is Kelly Zaneto, co-founder of Blackcreek Mercantile & Trading Co. and curator of the BCMT Gallery. Kelly and her partner, artist and furniture designer Joshua Vogel, began BCMT in 2010 as a small furniture and object studio. When the conventional path to growth pointed toward scaling production, they chose another direction. Kelly expanded the world of BCMT through the gallery, bringing other artists and craftspeople into its orbit while protecting the hands-on nature of the original studio.

After spending time in the space for HER LIGHT, we wanted to know more about the woman whose eye helped shape it. Kelly talks to us about learning to trust her intuition, the soul of making, the simplicity of wearing black, the family rings that keep her connected to her roots, and the sculpted Coclico heel that felt immediately simpatico.

Kelly Zaneto looking at Now and Forever by Ann Swingler at BCMT Gallery, with Cast Iron Chain Links by Joshua Vogel and Swift Flight Path by Sue Kirk, wearing the Coclico Franklin Flat in black — Kelly in the Franklin Flat in Black, looking at Ann Swingler, *Now and Forever*, with Joshua Vogel, *Cast Iron Chain Links*, and Sue Kirk, *Swift Flight Path*, at right

On BCMT's Evolution

When Joshua Vogel and I started BCMT, after he parted ways with BDDW, we were in a “rediscovery” period. What are we doing? And why? The answer came in the form of an artist who wants to be able to create, alongside the reality of needing to make money to keep the lights on and the studio going.

Since no one was buying a sculpture a day, we decided to get back to the basics of “craft” and making things here in the USA. We knew we needed this idea of “cottage industry” products to support us and give him room to create the more gestural works.

Everything we do is under the umbrella of craft, from small, limited runs of step stools, serving boards, and cutting board oil, to the furniture and then the “fine art.”

Because of the way we make things, and the fact that we have been doing it for nearly 17 years now, I realized that the only way for us to grow our business would have been to scale the cottage industry. This was not something we were interested in doing. By scaling, in my opinion, the soul of making leaves the final product. This was not an option for us.

So I felt a more natural expansion would be to support other craftspeople and artists under our brand. This is how the gallery was born under the BCMT umbrella.

Kelly Zaneto seated in front of The Santa Ana Quartet by Jay Sylvester beside Holed Form by Sue Kirk, wearing the Coclico Icy Pump in black — Kelly in the Icy Pump in Black, with Jay Sylvester, *The Santa Ana Quartet*, and Sue Kirk, *Holed Form*

Holed Form by Sue Kirk, a woven willow sculpture at BCMT Gallery — Sue Kirk, *Holed Form*

Surrounded by Art

I am grateful and lucky to be surrounded by so many amazing works. Not just in the workshop, witnessing the smaller goods and furniture pieces, and JV sculpting and creating his art, but also on Fridays, when I wind my week down immersed in the most wonderful “octaves of energy” that the works I’ve curated hum when they are all together.

I suppose I get the best of both worlds here.

Trusting Intuition

When I put a call out for artists to be in the collective I was curating, I had a “vision” of myself using my intuition as the filter. My parameters were elemental, natural materials that aligned with our furniture and JV’s sculpture. Then, I would edit strictly on what my gut said.

I’ve spent years exercising the muscle of my intuition, so it all came together as I intended, down to how I anticipated visitors would feel when they walked in. That really translates, and every time I’m still in utter amazement.

Trusting myself is the true answer here.

Kelly Zaneto standing beside Cast Iron Chain Links by Joshua Vogel on pedestals, with Swift Flight Path by Sue Kirk behind her and the Curved Woven Wall by Joshua Vogel and Whitney Young, wearing the Coclico Icy Pump in black — Kelly in the Icy Pump in Black, with Joshua Vogel, *Cast Iron Chain Links*, Sue Kirk, *Swift Flight Path*, and Joshua Vogel and Whitney Young, *Curved Woven Wall*

Swift Flight Path by Sue Kirk, a woven willow wall sculpture at BCMT Gallery — Sue Kirk, *Swift Flight Path*

Becoming a Curator

Boots, no pun intended, on the ground and experiential. Starting something from the ground up and building it is how my role has defined itself.

Both JV and I are very hands-on and connected to BCMT. Being with an artist has also given me an education that is very much “in real life.” I do think I came into this lifetime with some of that information from another lifetime...

I naturally evolved into the role of curator, and I imagine I will continue to evolve even still.

On Kingston

I feel like we would need to sit down for a much longer conversation here...

But ultimately, at the beginning, Kingston gave us the space to create and the opportunity to build something wonderful.

Coclico Franklin Flat in black leather on wooden stairs below Field Test by Margaret Griffith — The Franklin Flat in Black, with Margaret Griffith, *Field Test*

Kelly Zaneto of BCMT Gallery seated on wooden stairs below Field Test by Margaret Griffith, wearing the Coclico Franklin Flat in black — Kelly Zaneto of BCMT Gallery, with Margaret Griffith, *Field Test*

Personal Style

When I gave birth to our daughter, who we homeschool and who has grown up in this world we have created, I decided to keep things very simple in the department of what I wear. So I choose to wear black.

I am drawn to different styles and textures to keep it interesting, but I manage so many aspects of our lives that I can’t think too much about this. The majority of the time I am running the shop, I just need to be comfortable.

I do love to switch it up for gallery days and events we host. Again, best of both worlds...

Coclico Icarus Pump in Oxblood leather with Howl by Kat Howard and a woven willow sculpture at BCMT Gallery — The Icarus Pump in Oxblood, with Kat Howard, *Howl*

Howl by Kat Howard, flax and brass hoops on a fiber curtain at BCMT Gallery — Kat Howard, *Howl*

This Season: Icy and Franklin

Honestly, this works really well with my answer about clothing. The Icy Pump had that “sculpted” heel, which I was very attracted to. A simple detail that makes a big difference. It felt simpatico.

As for the flats, these come in for the comfort I need most of the time, but also have a great look!

Forever Items

My rings.

I have my grandmother’s “cheetah ring” with black diamond eyes, my grandfather’s diamond, and an estate-sale men’s pinky ring with a diamond horseshoe.

Wearing these pieces keeps my connection to my roots strong and present.