Hail Mary

This is a special store with a hecka special nice owner /​mosaic artist, aptly named Mary. On display are some very wonderful light fixtures, mostly hanging, all of which Mary created. She also has portraits done with small mosaic pieces and an array of other things mosaic. Lots of Marys to choose from as well! Additionally, my friend took a mosaic class from her and absolutely loved it and is now making pieces on her own.

What an incredible collection of handmade, original mosaic delights! Step into mosaicist Mary’s magical world of swirling color and wonderment… a tiny hole-​in-​the-​wall of a shop, covered in handmade treasures and art. Ceilings and walls are dripping with mosaic-​ed lamps, wall art, sculpture, photographs, and more. Need a cross or Virgin Mary for your shrine? or a quirky gift for an art-​loving friend? THis place is the ticket… truly an iconic establishment that helps define Portland as a major hub of recycled-​arts talent.
Mary’s work is also on permanent display at the Kennedy School, I believe… seek it out the next time you are there.

This tiny little shop is simply chock-​full of mosaics and religious ephemera. Mary Taponga, the owner and primary featured artist, makes all sorts of crazy mosaic-​based art, from lights to glasses to crosses to crazy mosaic murals… the mosaics are stacked floor-​to-​ceiling and even hanging about the room. The space itself is super tiny and can only fit a few people. There’s a rack of vintage clothes and some vintage cards and postcards as well. Sort of a mish-​mash of collected randomness alongside works of art.
The mosaics themselves range from downright gorgeous and intricate to somewhat kitschy. I’m not a big fan of the Virgin Mary stuff or the crosses, but some of the more abstract creations like the stained-​glass-​mosaic home light covers are simply stunning. It’s of course hard when you see it all in one place crammed in together — it’s overwhelming — but I imagine that if you bought one piece and took it home it would be much less intense.
While it’s not my style, I have appreciation for this art, and with so much going on in one room, it’s easy to spend some time picking through everything there.