By MOLLIE BROWN / Business Columnist

A magnificent hand-carved wooden carousel horse greeted me when I walked in the back door of the Blue Phrog Gallery on Main Street in Montevallo. Then a voice called out, “Hello.”

I asked which way, turned right and met Suzanne Hurst and her sweet Alice, a brindle-colored Staffordshire Terrier.

Hurst, who serves as president of the Montevallo Arts Council, and husband Phil have owned the gallery for three-and-a-half years. Hurst said the store name is from an old song.

“We were trying to find a catchy name for our business,” she said. “My friend Cheryl suggested I write down everything I like on a piece a paper, frogs are one of the things I wrote down. Phil used to sing for a living and he remembered a line from an old Peter, Paul and Mary song.”

The gallery features artwork of well-known local artists: Calera-Troy Criswell’s watercolor and oil paintings and Becky Bolton Criswell’s pottery; Helena-Michael Johnson’s jewelry; Birmingham-Jennifer Harwell’s acrylic paintings, Vestavia-Barbara Prior’s watercolor paintings; Wilsonville-Connie Kelley’s porcelain paintings and jewelry; Montevallo-Andy Cummings’ chain saw wood carvings and Bobby Jones’ stained glass and dream catchers; Tuscaloosa-Maurice Clabaugh’s wood turnings; Brierfield-Ted Burnett’s hand-carved art and painting.

The gallery has many pieces of University of Montevallo graduates. “Shawna Covington is known for her fractured nature artwork,” Hurst said. “To date she has five endangered species paintings, we have the polar bear. We have a metal dress welded and designed by Julia Peerson Carpenter. Sam Cornman, who practically ran Montevallo’s glass studio and classes several years ago, has several glass art pieces here.”

The business has expanded to include art supplies and framing. “Falcon Art Supply opened Aug. 27 next to The Tavern on Main Street,” Hurst said. “We stock paper, paint, brushes, easels, mannequins, rapidograph pens, technical pencils, oil pastels, chalk and spray paint. We hope to add art lessons and framing in the near future.”

Falcon Art Supply store hours are Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 665-2237 for more information or message FalconArtSupply on Facebook.

Blue Phrog Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The gallery can be viewed at Bluephroggallery.com. Consignments accepted by appointment, 665-3766.

 

Mollie Brown is a business columnist for the Shelby County Reporter. She can be reached at dmjhb1@bellsouth.net.