July 9, 2021

An artist who specializes in henna, a temporary body art, will be opening a downtown location.

Henna Harvest, owned by Anndell Wubben, will be in the former Intoxibakes space in the Jones421 Building.

Henna originated several thousand years ago and has become popular throughout the world. When Wubben started doing the body art 13 years ago, it was often at events or only by appointment. Now, she’s creating a more permanent space for her to continue practicing her art.

“I’ve mostly done private appointments, and what really got me started were Renaissance festivals and art festivals. Pre-COVID, I was doing upwards of 20 (events) a summer,” Wubben said. “It’s always kind of been a dream of mine to have a studio or a boutique, and I wasn’t really sure if it would happen. I started really actively looking this last January for a space.”

The space she did find was perfect, Wubben said, as the Jones421 Building is her ideal location.

“I knew ideally I’d want to be downtown, and if I had a choice, that I would like to be in the Jones building,” Wubben said. “I think it’s a great place with the courtyard and with all the food and the music, and you’ve got the Levitt, and it’s just an amazing part of downtown.”

Wubben said she hopes her modern “tattoo-like” take on henna will not only keep her regulars coming back but also bring new customers who are passing by and want to learn more about the art.

“I think a lot of people are starting to understand what henna is, especially as a difference from 10 to 12 years ago,” Wubben said. “There’s still a lot of people who aren’t aware of what it is and what it offers and what kind of medium it is. I think the more that I’ve been talking about it now, a lot of people I think are getting more and more excited about it.”

Wubben said she anticipates opening next week and being open Wednesday through Sunday for appointments and Friday and Saturday for walk-ins.