Candy Store Gallery

{{Infobox museum

| name = Candy Store Gallery

| established = {{Start date|1962|df=y}}

| dissolved = {{End date|1992|df=y}}

| location = Folsom, California

| type = art gallery

| accreditation =

| key_holdings = Funk artists of Northern California, USA

| founder = Adeliza McHugh

| website =

| embedded =

}}

The Candy Store Gallery (from 1962 to 1992) introduced many important artists and styles of art, and was a leading showcase for the Funk artists of Northern California, United States.{{Cite web|title=The Candy Store, On View: August 24 – September 29, 1989|url=https://sma.sou.edu/exhibitions/1978-the-candy-store/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-19|website=Schneider Museum of Art|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201510/https://sma.sou.edu/exhibitions/1978-the-candy-store/ |archive-date=2021-06-24 }}

History

Located in a commercial building at 605 Sutter Street in downtown Folsom, California, the Candy Store Gallery previously served as a library and candy store, before becoming the personal residence of Adeliza McHugh, who founded the gallery in order to showcase the works of regional artists whom she admired.{{cite book|last=Linhares|first=Diana L. Daniels ; with essays by Philip E.|title=Clayton Bailey's world of wonders|year=2011|publisher=Crocker Art Museum|location=Sacramento, CA|isbn=978-1-8840-3822-8|pages=8|author2=Frank, Patrick}} Despite having no formal art background, McHugh was instrumental in introducing many artists that would go on to achieve national, and in some cases, international reputations including James Albertson, Robert Arneson, Clayton Bailey, Roy De Forest, David Gilhooly, Irv Marcus, Maija Peeples-Bright, Peter VandenBerge, Camille VandenBerge, and William T. Wiley.{{Cite web|last=Goldman|first=Ed|date=2017-09-15|title=The Spirit of the Candy Store|url=https://www.sacmag.com/magazine/the-spirit-of-the-candy-store/|access-date=2021-06-19|website=Sacramento Magazine|language=en-US}}

By way of various group exhibitions, the gallery also played an important role in defining, and promoting, Funk art and Nut art.

The Candy Store Gallery began in 1962 when McHugh was stopped by the local health department from continuing to sell homemade confections, (specifically almond nougat treats).{{Cite web|last=Ollman|first=Leah|date=2018-07-03|title=Review: This Candy Store wasn't a candy store: Remembering a California gallery that made art stars|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-candy-store-review-20180703-story.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-19|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703191116/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-candy-store-review-20180703-story.html |archive-date=2018-07-03 }}

Despite its relatively small size (just two rooms), the gallery gained wide attention from critics and collectors, including a much publicized visit in 1970 by art collector and actor Vincent Price. Although many of the artists given their starts at the gallery went on to bigger venues, most remained loyal to McHugh and continued to exhibit, and sell work, through the gallery.{{cite news|last=Folsom Telegraph|title=Art From Adeliza's Candy Store at Museum|url=http://www.folsomtelegraph.com/article/art-adezlizas-candy-store-museum|accessdate=22 March 2014|newspaper=The Folsom Telegraph|date=16 March 2005}} In recognition of the gallery's contributions, it was honored in 1981 by an attendance record-breaking exhibition at Sacramento's Crocker Art Museum titled "Welcome to the Candy Store."

The gallery closed in 1992, and McHugh died in 2003 at age 91.{{cite web|last=Smithsonian Archives of American Art|title=Candy Store Gallery records|url=http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/candy-store-gallery-records-11583|work=SmithsonianArchivesOfAmericanArt|accessdate=22 March 2014}}

References

External links

[https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/candy-store-gallery-records-11583 Candy Store Gallery records, 1970-2002], Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

Category:1962 establishments in California

Category:1992 disestablishments in California

Category:Art museums and galleries established in 1962

Category:Organizations disestablished in 1992

Category:Defunct art museums and galleries in California

Category:Contemporary art galleries in the United States

Category:Folsom, California