Bright red French doors not only open to downtown Macon’s newest art gallery, but provide a portal to the Parisian art world.
In a tiny space at 571 Cherry St., paintings line the pale gray brick walls of the new G&P Art Gallery and Advisory.
“It’s a little jewel box, which is the kind of vibe we were going with, like a good jewel collection,” said Macon native Pearce Groover, who is the “G” in G&P. “I live and work in Paris, buy art there and bring it here.”
The 30-year-old moved overseas several years ago to pursue his postgraduate studies and fuel his passion for art and culture of the Middle Ages that was first awakened through his grandmother’s love of all things French.
Betty Lou Groover took her grandson to Paris for the first time when he was about 10 years old. By the time he was a rising sophomore at First Presbyterian Day School, he was headed to The Sorbonne for a few months to study abroad.
His new showroom for imported art for sale also serves as a window into what type of masterpieces and interesting flea market finds can be acquired from the vast realm of French galleries, auction houses, art markets and pop-up sales.
The gallery joins others downtown including the Macon Arts Alliance and 567 Center for Renewal on First Street, the McEachern Art Center on Second Street and Gallery West on Third Street.
Groover and his business partner, Monsieur Poulain, the “P” in G&P, met at a luxury design house where they work in the French capital.
The idea for opening a gallery came after the proprietors of Ocmulgee Arts asked Groover to procure a French art collection for their Ingleside gallery.
He and Poulain now had a professional purpose for their personal hobbies of combing Paris and the countryside looking for art.
“We had so much fun… and it was a great bonding experience,” Groover said.
They initially gathered nearly three dozen pieces.
At about the same time, Groover family friend Sondralyn Thompson was redecorating her Macon home with interior designer Carrie Robinson, who had a client looking for a 17th Century portrait of a specific French prince related to Louis the XIV.
While on their quest, “G&P” also picked up an 18th Century portrait believed to be of a great actor of his day.
“She wanted one, and then when she saw what we liked, she took two,” Groover said.
“Actually, one of Carrie’s client’s paintings came directly from a sale in Versailles, so that was really exciting,” Poulain said.
Searching and selling
The gallery will be open by appointment and for special shows throughout the year, but advising, consulting and searching for desired works of art will be the primary focus of their business.
They look to the client or decorator for inspiration and ideas before setting out on a treasure hunt.
Whether you are looking to match colors of a sofa or have a specific genre or theme in mind, they will search Paris and the French countryside.
“We can always find something that differs a little bit or opens them up to new facilities,” Poulain said.
Thompson will assist stateside by handling inquiries and opening the gallery when necessary. Those interested in booking an appointment can email [email protected].
“They can find things from all over that are your heart’s desire,” Thompson said. “They have amazing resources.”
Katharine Lovatt, a colleague living in Paris, is helping with communications and another friend who works at the Louvre handles the framing for works going into gallery.
The 240-square-foot Cherry Street cubbyhole once served as a downtown satellite office for Thompson’s husband, David.
His prized Macon Braves “Remember the Magic” sign from the farm team’s 2002 departure from Luther Williams Field remains in the gallery but could be sold for the “right price.”
Poulain has heard a lot of Macon stories from his friend, who is the son of Interim Macon-Bibb County Attorney Duke Groover and the grandson and middle-namesake of the late Georgia legislator and U.S. Marine fighter pilot of World War II’s “Black Sheep Squadron,” Denmark Groover.
“I knew I’d have to come only because of Pearce and how much he told me about the place,” Poulain said before Aug. 8 gallery opening.
His first 48-hours in Macon seemed more like a week, he said, with all the preparations and introductions leading up two nights of receptions for invited guests.
“Only because of how many people we’ve met, how kind people have been and all this set up, also. It’s a lot of work, but great work,” he said. “It was important to bring French art here.”
They plan about four art shows a year, with the next likely to happen in late November.
Groover expects to return home for those quarterly events, which also allows him to touch base with his loved ones.
“He’s created his own job and his own life over there, and I’m really proud of him,” Duke Groover said of his son.
For anyone traveling to France, G&P can also be of assistance by sharing their knowledge and serving as guides to secret shopping spots across the countryside.
“They love to host people over there,” Thompson said.
“It’s a hobby for us. It’s something that we do in our free time anyway. It’s just something that we find incredibly enriching,” Groover said. “It’s a real treat and a great privilege to do this and bring back what I’m passionate about and share it with the people of Macon.”
—Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian covers Macon-Bibb County government entities and businesses for The Macon Newsroom and can be reached at [email protected] or 478-301-2976.
