This artist and gallery owner weaves the art of storytelling into her artmaking, to the delight of visitors and collectors alike.
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Update: Since this story appeared, Massaro has moved her gallery to nearby Fredericksburg.
We first met Catherine Massaro of Studio Massaro while researching our piece about Johnson City’s vibrant arts scene. Her gallery, perched on Highway 290 between Highway 281 and Fredericksburg, is hard to miss, marked as it is by her delightful signature scissortail flycatcher motif.
Over the weeks since our first in-person encounter–we actually featured her winter gallery display in an early newsletter, we’ve come to appreciate more her aesthetic sensibility and culinary skills. One of several galleries in LBJ’s hometown to participate in the monthly art walk, we’re still swooning over her mini shrimp cocktails. (Note that Studio Massaro observes a late summer break, and is typically closed the entire month of August.)
With the introduction out of the way, let’s introduce you to the artist herself.
On her training and background
“I started art school at Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, out of high school, where I received a great foundation program. I was a restless young person and after that first year I crewed out on a sailboat for a year out of Annapolis, Maryland, and sailed down the intracoastal waterway. After arriving in Miami, I traveled for another year cross-country, camping in National Parks, living out of a VW van and finally ending my trip in Hawaii. By that time I was eager to return to art school.
I have a BFA in painting and printmaking from Kansas City Art Institute, and an MA from Utah State University, and continue to take workshops in other areas of interest, like jewelry making. I don’t limit myself to one art form as I find there are so many ways to express myself as an artist. Painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, assemblage, collage, watercolor, pastel, and jewelry making as well as clothing design are all areas I work in. Experimenting and exploring new processes it what keeps me constantly excited about making art. I had a career for years in the gift industry in product development and design, which makes me uniquely qualified to expand my brand into so many different art forms.”
On her Hill Country ties
“I have had two homes here. I lived in Hunt and had a studio up there for about three years before moving to Reno, Nevada. About four years ago, while living there, I bought a fixer upper house in Fredericksburg (where I currently live) and spent the winter months working on it. It was always in my plans to get back to the beautiful hill country. Having been born and raised in Buffalo, New York, my life long goal was to escape winter!”
On Studio Massaro
“I made the acquaintance of Linda Haddock at Echo in Johnson City, through a mutual friend during one of the last winters I was here before moving back to Texas. She had her shop down the road a piece from Echo’s current location, and she invited me to show my work in her gallery.
After Echo moved to its current larger building on the corner of Nugent Avenue and Main Street, I invited myself to open Studio Massaro in one of her large rooms. She graciously agreed. Studio Massaro’s current location [106 E. Main Street] became available about a year and a half ago, and I was fortunate enough to get it. The larger space gave me the opportunity to really spread out and expand into all the different products I now have from branded t-shirts, to my new organic coffee line, to fine art. I have three different gallery rooms and a sweet outdoor side porch plus a working studio area and a kitchen, which is very helpful for hosting our Art Walk on the last Saturday of each month.”
On inspiration
“I am involved in the art of storytelling–’artful storytelling.’ Any object that piques my interest can turn into a story that becomes a collage or an assemblage. The color of a spring green field under the big Texas sky can become a painting, and a photograph capturing a unique point of view, no matter the subject, are all fair game and constant inspiration to me. Fine art is nothing more than the fine art of living in my world.”
On that eye-catching scissortail flycatcher
“I like to think of the bird motif as ‘creativity taking flight’! The scissortail is such an elegant bird, and I wanted something bold, simple and graphic that would brand easily and be an quick read for passers-by on signage. People love my bird and I have been using it extensively throughout my merchandise on hats, t-shirts, jewelry ,cards, clothes and handmade gift items. I even have a dish of scissortail-branded M&M’s for visitors to snack on! And of course there are shopping and tote bags.”
On Studio Massaro’s distinct vibe
“Many years ago, when I had a home and studio in Taos, New Mexico, I trademarked the tagline, ‘more than meets the eye.’
And that is what I promise visitors to my gallery every time they come. I want their visit to embrace the unexpected so I try to make my art sensorial . . . tactile, and an invite for both the curiosity seeker and the art lover.
It is not a traditional gallery by any sense of the word, as I want people to see the connections that art can have in their lives. I stage my work and creations so they can experience how a handmade card can connect you to a friend or loved one. How a piece of art can speak to you in a way words cannot and inspire and delight you every day. I want them to find humor in a framed quote and bring a smile in an unexpected moment. I want it to be a place of inspiration and learning as well. My mandala inspired canvas collages, for instance. Why do I work so much with circles? Because mandalas connect rather than divide us. Because they can create a situation where learning takes place by creating order out of chaos. And as always…they are a perfect vehicle for storytelling, helping us to see our connection to the world and to each other.
On my back wall where you check out, I have photographs of many happy customers, proudly showing off their art treasures, and a little sign reminding them: ‘when you buy from a small business, an actual person does a little happy dance.’”
On visitor reactions to the space and her work
“It is so incredibly gratifying to hear responses like: ‘I love your gallery! I’ve never seen work like this!’; ‘You have the most interesting and peaceful gallery in town.’; ‘How do you come up with all these ideas?’; ‘I’m coming back and bringing my sister (brother, friends, husband) they will love this place.’; ‘I saw your bird and had to stop!’ That last one is my favorite of course.”
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Explore More
As of 2019, Catherine’s Studio Massaro can be found at 613 Main Street, Fredericksburg and online at Facebook and Instagram. Catherine encourages folks to always check her social media accounts for unscheduled closings, too.
Thanks for reading!
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