Ana Maria Andricain, a native of Baton Rouge, has lived and worked
in New York City for 17 years as a professional actress.
She is in Baton Rouge to perform with the BR Little Theatre in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,"
as well as to give a Valentine's night benefit performance for the Theatre and conduct workshops.
Ana is also a talented jeweler who exhibits her work at Caffery Gallery.
Stop by the gallery to see Ana's beautiful line of jewelry--
just in time for Valentine’s Day.
CAFFERY GALLERY 4016 Government Street Baton Rouge, LA 70806 225-388-9397
Andricain, a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has lived in New York City for 17 years as a professional actress. She began creating jewelry backstage to pass the time between scenes at work. She launched her new handcrafted jewelry company during the New York City Transit Strike. "I was making holiday gifts for family and friends back stage and stranded cast members who needed last minute gifts began stopping by and purchasing some of my creations. It was so wonderful to have people respond so enthusiastically to something I love doing. Look for my jewelry this year at Broadway opening nights and the Tony Awards!"
Andricain was in the Broadway Company of "Beauty & the Beast" where she covered the role of Belle. She appeared on Broadway as Stiffy Byng in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "By Jeeves", the original cast of "Marie Christine" at Lincoln Center, "Les Miserables" at the Imperial, "Tip Toes" at Carnegie Hall and "Strike Up the Band" at City Center. Off Broadway she originated the role of Maria in "4 Guys Named Jose" at the John Houseman Theatre. She starred as Eva Peron in the 20th Anniversary National Tour of "Evita," Esmeralda in the World Premier of "Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Dennis DeYoung of the rock group STYX and Ganil in the World Premier of "The Hidden Sky" at the Prince Music Theatre (for which she received a Barrymore Award for Best Actress nomination). She performed in numerous seasons with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. Ana appeared on PBS as Evangeline in "Evangeline the Musical in Concert" with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra; Law & Order:SVU "Identity" & recently completed filming the role of Gladys Perez in the new Steven Soderberg film, "Guerrilla," with Benicio delTorro.
Caffery Gallery is located at 4016 Government Street at Richland in the Mid City Arts and Design District. Also during February in the gallery are work by Baton Rouge painters Kathleen Lemoine and Paul Neff. Gallery hours are 10 - 5 Tuesday through Saturday. For more information call Caffery Gallery at 388-9397, or email cafferygallery@earthlink.net
Thomas Mann
Techno Romantic Jewelry Objects
at Caffery Gallery
Thomas Mann Design Techno-Romantic Jewelry
Thomas Mann has been an active participant in the contemporary American craft movement for the past thirty years as an artist, gallery owner and lecturer. He was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania and has called New Orleans home for over 20 years. He describes himself as an artist working in the medium of jewelry and sculpture. The primary design vocabulary which he employs in the making of jewelry objects combines industrial aesthetics and materials with evocative romantic themes and imagery. He calls this design system Techno-Romantic. Though it is not the only design mode in which he works it is the one for which he is best known. Thomas Mann lives and works in New Orleans where he oversees a jewelry design and production studio, a sculpture studio and gallery. He currently exhibits his jewelry and sculpture with some 250 galleries in the US and abroad.
The book Thomas Mann: Metal Artist by Andrei Codrescu and Lloyd Herman is an in-depth look at the artist, who has received numerous awards for his work, including grants from the Southern Arts Federation and the Louisiana Division of the Arts. Mann’s work has been featured in numerous books, including Making Metal Jewelry; Crafting as a Business; Jewelry, Fundamentals of Metalsmithing; Contemporary American Craft Art; The Art of Jewelry Design; Hand and Home; One of a Kind American Art Jewelry Today; and The Jeweler’s Art. Articles about his work have appeared in periodicals such as Lapidary Journal, Ornament, American Style, Craft, American Craft, and Southern Living. Mann’s work has appeared on the cover of the prestigious Metalsmith magazine.
Thomas Mann has been featured on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” and PBS’s “Nightly Business Report.” His work is in the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the American Craft Museum, and the Historic New Orleans Collection.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT: It was several years after I started making jewelry professionally, in the early 1970's, when I first experienced a true revelation of the creative mystery. That moment of illumination which every artist deserves to have at least once in their lives, but if you're very lucky, you get to experience on many occasions. That moment which delivers the clear but numbing realization of the numerous, interconnected machinations between the hand that moves and the mind that moves it, and the knowledge of the role you play in the manifestation of objects of meaning and importance for you and, more importantly for others.
In my case, the realization was that my love of making jewelry was not just about making jewelry but about making "objects". That designing and making jewelry could actually mean more than producing objects of adornment. That it could be a means of personal expression which might affect people in a much more serious and purposeful way. That it might provide an opportunity for the real communication of ideas and, most importantly, that it could provide the stimulating and inspiring raw material for the imagination. In short, I no longer saw jewelry as jewelry but as a medium of artistic expression akin to that of painting or sculpture.
From the mid to late 70's I experimented continuously with the application of the ideas and techniques of collage and assemblage to jewelry making. I'd been heavily influenced during my college theatre days by the work of Joseph Cornell, Max Ernst, Man Ray, Marcel Duchamp and especially Picasso and George Braque. Collage and assemblage techniques, invented by the cubists and developed by the Surrealists, DaDaists, the Italian Futurists and the Russian Constructivists represented art thinking and making totally peculiar to the twentieth century.
I assumed the personal challenge of finding my own way to apply these influences and techniques to the making of jewelry objects that could have a wide public audience. Potent examples from the field of contemporary metals, which confirmed me in this direction, were offered in the work of metal artists and teachers such as Robert Ebendorf and J. Fred Woell in America, and Anton Cepka, Claus Bury and Herman Junger in Europe. All of who were influenced by these same 20th century art movements. The "Techno-Romantic® style that I developed from this investigation has become the guiding vocabulary for a significant portion of my work as an artist and it continues to be a powerful resource.
I adopted the techniques of collage and assemblage and applied them to making of jewelry objects with the intention of making them available to as wide an audience as possible. In a conscientious decision made in the late 70's, I eschewed the use of precious metals or gemstones and concentrated solely of found and alternative materials. I was determined to have the work for of the imagery and meaning encompassed in it rather than the perceived intrinsic value of the materials employed in it's making. It is my hope that my work will challenge the viewer and the wearer to derive a common denominator of personal meaning and value from the assemblage of components presented.
I also assumed the personal mission to bring this amalgam of materials, techniques and influences, in the form of wearable jewelry objects to the general public, exclusive of the museum and gallery system. In the early years of my carrier the primary means of reaching the public was through the craft fair system. At that time, (early to mid 70's) the contemporary craft gallery system was still developing, so there was not much choice for the artist except to exhibit via the art fair, and later the craft fair systems.
In an ongoing effort to define this work with words other than those employed by the art establishment I came up with a succession of terms that evolved over time into Techno.Romantic. First in the series in the late 70's was Heartwear (post hippie mysticism), then in the early eighties I switched to Future Primitive (the discovery of primitive multicultural design roots). Having gotten a cease and desist letter from the owners of the copyright to that name I switched once again to the eclectic handle of Para-Normal Jewelry Objects (new wave technofreneticism).
Techno-Romantic encompasses each of these phases. It is home base. It was always there waiting to be recognized. I had been a Techno-Romantic all along. It just took the time and life experience to find out. I invented this phrase in 1984 and immediately trademarked it. It is the guiding vocabulary for most the my work as an artist and continues to be a powerful resource.
Below, earlier works by Mary Ann Caffery
"Caffery's stunning mosaic panels, tall and slender, varying slightly in length, are intricate and colorful and, in arrangements of two or more, create stunning patterns on the wall. An 'In My Garden' series of three expresses serenity, truth and beauty by turn, and the trio belongs together. Subtle patterns and clever design mark every inch of the mosaic panels, and give them depth and meaning." From The Advocate, July 18, 2004, reviewing the Baton Rouge Gallery exhibit featuring mosaics by Mary Ann Caffery, drawings by Billie Bourgeois, and layered glass works by Craig McCullen, which was on display through July 31, 2004.
Photos of Turquoise and Exotic Stone Jewelry by Amy Kahn Russell; Reveille Article; Passion Flowers
(right, photo of Amy Kahn Russell jewelry -- earrings, necklaces, brooches -- and we have lots more of her work this week ... it's an AKR Turquoise Trunk Show!)----------------------------------------------->
A Baton Rouge native, artist Amy Kahn Russell uses antique pieces, amber, semi-precious stones and sterling silver in hand-crafted necklaces, earrings, pendants and rings. Her work was recently featured on WAFB TV-9's Weekend Morning Show with Kellee Hennessy and Barbara Dixon. In addition to our regular large variety and selection of Amy's work, we have a special turquoise trunk show. Call us at (225) 388-9397 or email CafferyGallery@earthlink.net for information on available pieces and styles.
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.
Wall Crosses from Ireland and Small Tabletop Replicas of Celtic Crosses from Scotland, England and Ireland
Louisiana Folk Art by ALVIN BATISTE
Rusted Recycled Metal Yard Dogs & Cats --by Richard Kolb
-Architectural Stained Glass -Jewelry -Gifts From Around The World --New Glass Review Top 100
--Here's an interesting summary of the public art project that Mary Ann and other Louisiana artists completed at Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans: The Concourse C Collaborative Project.
Caffery Gallery 4016 Government Street Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Caffery Architectural Stained Glass and Mosaics 225-388-9957
We actively support the community through leadership in Mid-City Merchants, and we underwrite programming on WRKF, including folk, acoustic blues and world music on Hootenanny Power, Saturday nights from 9 pm to midnight also on WRKF Public Radio, 89.3 fm.
We do not have an online catalog. You can make arrangements through phone calls and email to purchase any arts or gift items, and you can buy them securely online through PayPal by clicking the logo below. You can call us at (225) 388-9397 or email us at cafferygallery@earthlink.net to determine the shipping, insurance, and any related charges to use in the popular and secure PayPal purchase.
...made from recycled metal, acrylic paint and exterior grade varnish, hanpainted by people with developmental disabilities. The Passion Flowers can be hung or used as a centerpiece. 
