Black Umbrella Art Gallery and Tattoo Studio, 12951 Historic Main St. in Garden Grove, officially opened its doors at 6 p.m. Saturday evening, with owners and family members tearing off the brown-paper-wrapped front doors,to reveal the interior.
Black Umbrella Art Gallery and Tattoo Studio, 12951 Historic Main St. in Garden Grove, officially opened its doors at 6 p.m. Saturday evening, with owners and family members tearing off the brown-paper-wrapped front doors,to reveal the interior.
The studio holds 49 occupants and so after the occupancy limit was reached, as owners, Krystin and Kurtis Gibson stood at the door welcoming guests, another group of guests patiently waited outside for their turn to view a huge selection of artwork on the walls, along with incredibly unique sculptures by Jennifer Stewart, who just happens to own the Azteca Mexican Restaurant, also on Main Street.
Robin Marcario also has her tile artwork on display inside Black Umbrella and around the City of Garden Grove.
"We are really excited to celebrate tonight with everyone who supported us to get here," said Krystin Gibson, along with other artists.
The Gibsons hired a museum curator to assist in placement of the artwork and statues.
Black Umbrella is flanked to the immediate north by The Brickhouse Restaurant and Lounge and Huy Khiem Photography on the south and another close neighbor is Kaye's Kitchen.
Most of the studio is taken up with artwork in the front of the gallery, with the back portion, set up in an upscale setting for four tattoo artists, said Joey Vargas, who helps set up tattoo appointments.
Garden Grove Mayor Pro tem Steve Jones said he is excited to see the Gibsons succeed with their business.
"It's a fresh new life on Main Street," said Jones. "It's taken at least a year for them to get here," he said.
Planning Commission Chair John O'Neill said he thinks it's great that Black Umbrella has opened on Main Street.
"The Gibsons are a great couple who are home-grown in Garden Grove and love this community and want the community and Main Street to grow," said O'Neill. "Regardless of the feeling of tattoos, it's a family business and that's what it's always been about here on Main Street."
"I think it's fantastic they've opened here," said Garden Grove Councilman Phat Bui. "It's really a nice mixture of different art mediums, statues and pictures, and Main Street will appreciate several art studios and this will encourage others to also showcase their art.”
Bui said other artists will appreciate the opportunity to display their artistic endeavors at the Black Umbrella.
"I'm humbled by the effect of this huge gallery; it was expensive for the Gibson's to do this and so it has to be a real passion of theirs to do this. I'm glad they persisted and the city gave them the opportunity to open here," Bui added.
"This is a very nice addition to the community and it's going to make Main Street a destination where people will want to come and stay, with community interaction," said Stewart. "It's a friendly gallery that will give young artists a start.”
