A new contemporary art gallery features artists from the South Shore and around the world.
Photography by Kjeld Mahoney
Duxbury’s Indigo House Gallery is celebrating its one-year anniversary in April. Tucked in a quiet corner of Duxbury Marketplace, passersby can glimpse pops of color through the gallery’s large front windows. Inside, the decor is simple and modern, with whitewashed walls showcasing a carefully curated mix of paintings, sculptures and pottery from artists in Massachusetts and around the globe.
Opening a gallery was a leap of faith for owners Christen and John Vienneau. Inspired by their mutual appreciation for art, the couple set out to create a welcoming space where people in the community could learn about artists they may never have heard of, and where potential buyers could discover unique high-quality pieces for their collection.
“Our goal is to highlight local artists and artisans alongside more traditional and contemporary pieces to offer an eclectic mix of art forms,” says Christen, who does most of the buying for the gallery. “I like the mixture between minimalism and maximalism. And I love contemporary art, which is very popular here.”
John, a former sign maker, oversees the art inventory and handles the gallery’s business affairs.
“I have a pretty active left brain for an artist,” says John, with a laugh.
The gallery’s collection is eclectic. One wall displays colorful house portraits by Cotuit artist Mary Moquin as well as clever mixed-media collages by Duxbury artist Mandy Fariello. Along the edge of the room stand several contemporary sculptural works by Ellery Ekleberry, an MFA candidate at UMass-Dartmouth. At the back of the gallery are several large-scale canvases depicting colorful swirling waves and manta rays, painted by Sammy Ann, an artist who hails from Melbourne, Australia.
Having lived in Duxbury until the age of 11, Christen was excited to move back to town with her family about five years ago and is pleased that their daughter, Ava, will now be able to grow up near the ocean and surrounded by artwork at the gallery. “Ava is very helpful and creative,” says Christen, who hopes that her daughter will get to work in the gallery someday.
The Vinenneaus launched an Instagram page for the gallery last year
to start building relationships with artists and art lovers (follow them
@indigohousegallery) and they are already closing in on 6,000 followers. Their soon-to-be-launched website will feature an online store and will list upcoming classes and special gallery events.
“We’re doing this for the community more than for the profit,” says John. “We wanted to have a nice environment for people to come into.”
Christen agrees.
“Art is expressive and fun and good for your soul. We wanted to create a cozy place to look at colors and think about life. It’s nice to have something enlightening.”
It’s nice to have something in Indigo.
