On Government Street just past Sister Paula Psychic Palm Reader and before Calandro’s Supermarket lies a pink house trimmed in black and white polka dots. The threshold of the front door is framed in cloth flowers, and the windows on either side display hanging pieces of purple, green and red stained glass. Before patrons enter the Caffery Gallery, their art bone is already tickled.
Mary Ann Caffery, who earned a MFA from LSU, opened Caffery Gallery in 1989 on Government Street about eight blocks from the current location, which was established in 1992. For 13 years, the gallery housed local art as well as novelty items.
“I chose to sell and feature pieces that fit with the spirit of the store, which is unexplainable,” said Caffery. “It just does or it doesn’t fit into that spirit.”
Among hand-crafted jewelry and pottery, customers can find Carmen Miranda paper dolls and Garden Nuns (Garden Gnomes with habits). There is a wide selection of fine art and fun toys, which both feature distinct creativity.
“Our customers are people who like unique things, who like contemporary art,” Caffery said.
The contemporary theme of the gallery also is complemented with vintage reincarnations, taking the form of earrings, posters or furniture. Jewelry pieces by Catherine Popesco of Paris are molded from casts dating back to the 1920s and 1930s. Many of the books, candles, soaps and postcards are nostalgic of the post-WWII era.
In keeping with Caffery’s patronage of modern art, the gallery also hosts many local artists. Bruce Odell, Amy Kahn Russell and Alvin Batiste contribute original pottery, jewelry and oil paintings respectively to the inventory of work by Baton Rouge natives.
Nov. 21 marked the first of Caffery’s exhibits to be shown in her own gallery. She has previously worked on mosaic pieces for the New Orleans International airport and last winter the Baton Rouge Gallery hosted her show “Icons.” The recent exhibit was titled “Spiritual Journeys,” which presented a series of stained glass compositions.
“Since I have been involved with art, I find it interesting what makes things sacred to people,” Caffery said. “In Ireland they have standing stones, France has cathedrals … this exhibit is my idea of spirituality.”
The gallery presents a different art show every six weeks and Caffery’s opening soon will be followed by an art sale. On Dec. 7, Greg Elliott and his wife, Roberta Cohen of the LSU art department, will be putting their sculpture pieces up for sale, along with Bruce Odell’s pottery work. The sale will last from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The gallery is a truly unique vendor for almost anything artistic. From decorative umbrellas, pink flamingo swizzle sticks and Elvis Presley memorabilia to Louisiana folk art, introspective collages and Celtic crosses, the Caffery Gallery is an exceptional contribution to Baton Rouge art and commerce.