Menswear isn't on its own at Cecil D's Studio 134

August 28, 2007

Design and art combine in Moncton. Gallery scene by Erin Keller

Combining fine arts and clothing may not be the most common way for an artist to exhibit their work. It may actually be one of the least common. But when your background is fashion and design and your current pursuit is art, there seems no better way to market both aspects.

Among the men's shirts, ties, suits belts and cuff links are the pieces of art. Sculptures sit on the tables and on either end of the fireplace mantle. Paintings in a wide variety of mediums are on the walls throughout.

"I've chosen fine art and married it with design," said owner Cecil D.Long. The store has been open for about two years on Church Street, and before that had a location on Main. In this location, Long has the opportunity to put a great deal of time into his art, often working on five or six pieces at a time, according to his partner, Jeff Garcia.

"He can continue his art and I can look after the retail side of it," explained Garcia.

Keeping up with the demand is something that likely occupies a great deal of time. According to Garcia, pieces often sell very quickly, and there's even one now, hanging in an upstairs office, which Long still says needs a little work. There's also the occasional empty hook on the wall where something has sold and another piece has not yet been put in its place. Online there are examples of his sculpture and paintings, but the listing is out of date. Even those pieces sell faster than they can be updated.

It wasn't so much the art community in Moncton that led Long to come back, but the community in general. That's why the tree out front will be something that's for the community. Starting in June, the tree is being carved by Long as a sculpture for the community. At the top there are five figures, and those will be designed so they aren't interacting with each other, but rather the street they are facing.

They have also had the idea of having the customer's children involved by painting the bottom of the tree once it's finished, said Garcia.

Between the sculptures and paintings, there isn't a particular medium that Long works with. He has used oils, acrylics, egg tempera and likely everything in between.

"There isn't a medium I haven't worked with," said Long. "I'm not afraid to try anything." Just as he has no specific medium he works with primarily, Long also has no particular size, whether it be in painting or sculpture easily evidenced by the size of the small sculptures on the mantle compared to the tree out front. In paintings, the size is dictated by the message or theme; the finished size is the one that Long would feel reflected the most drama. That's the intent.

According to Long, the work he creates changes as it goes. With sculpture, especially subtractive sculpture such as the tree, things can change easily. Because things are being removed with subtractive sculpture, instead of added, one small mistake can change the entire direction a piece is going in. The same goes for painting, although it may be a memory trigger that sends the artist in a different direction with their creation.

As artists, it's all about memory, explained Long. "Your memory comes out without you knowing it."

Another influence on work is the people. The people an artist meets may make them think in a certain way, or force them to remember something. So, with or without knowing it, that person whom an artist just met, will influence their work the next time they pick up a paint brush, chisel, or whatever other tool they work with.

The pieces have also proven to attract many collectors who come back for more than one item. Long notes that because of the variety of the work he produces, it looks like there are many artists who create his pieces. Some individuals have as many as 40 pieces of art he has created, and one individual in Halifax in is possession of 20.

As of last Wednesday, there was one piece sitting on an upstairs floor that may soon have been heading to join another collector. The tapestry is a classic renaissance piece that someone had taken an interest in while it was hanging at Dieppe Auto. They were expected at Studio 134 that day for another look at the piece before making their decision.

Long's work can be found elsewhere in the Metro area. Car dealerships, downtown restaurants as well as the Greater Moncton International Airport showcases some of his work. Notably, at the airport, two 1 tonne sculptures are on display that Long carved while the planning for the current store was going on.

Cecil D's studio 134 is located at 134 Church Street and even though it looks like a house, you don't have to ring the doorbell. The works are available for purchase out of the store, alongside the menswear selection.

Download Entire Article (PDF)

[Back to News Articles]