Art and Haut Couture Make a Home on Main Street

Parrotfish and sea horses may exist here only in the winter-weary minds of locals, but stop in at 152R Main St. in Wenham and you’ll spot at least a flash of their color.

The clapboard house, sturdy and muted like a coral reef, houses two remarkable entities - the and , businesses owned by two generations of dynamic Della-Piana women.

Welcoming me into her gallery on a recent Sunday afternoon, Elissa Della-Piana was quick with an expert introduction. Telling of the building she bought nearly three years ago from the town of Wenham, she said: “When I saw this little building for sale I thought ‘this - this is perfect. I can make a show of any kind of art in here’”.

And referring to the walls of the exhibition space that Della-Piana has activated with blocks of earthy shades bordered with soft white she explained, “I do not want a white box, I know that those exist up and down Newbury Street and in New York- but it’s not my idea of living with art.”

Clearly Della-Piana, who trained at the Rhode Island School of Design and is a successful illustrator, possesses an assertive aesthetic sense and a strong dose of daring.

Speaking of the gallery’s current show she said, “The exhibitions I have in this little space are extremely varied (but are) usually objective art - so this is the first time that I’ve tried to put together a show that is non-objective. I just want to see how it takes, how people react.”

Deftly placed track lights illuminate free-style silver point drawings, translucent cast rubber sculptures rich in color and intrigue, ravishing iridescent color-field works painted on wood- and more. Work by six artists fill two rooms on the first floor, and the wall facing the stairs that lead to a second floor of additional gallery space.

But this show closes on April 21 and then another test follows. Says Della-Piana, “The next show, and it’s a call for entries, is a theme called, ‘Down to the Sea’ (and) I’m hoping for an enormous range of media and interpretations.”

The room at the top of the stairs holds a rare exhibit of Della-Piana’s own fine art- this time drawings based on her garden executed in waxed pencil on Bristol paper.

Elissa Della-Piana’s office, where she formulates and fulfills future exhibitions, is to the right at the back of the building. To the front, above the street, is the headquarters of Seams Couture, the atelier of Harper Della-Piana,

In her atelier, Harper, Elissa’s daughter- and trained couturiere- designs, sews and custom fits bridal wear for clients desiring gowns to match their originality and verve.

With the two Della-Piana women in residence the little clapboard house at 152A Main St. flutters with energy and interest.

Along with Maria Lekkakos of at 154 Main St., the Della-Pianas were the first to settle what looks to become Wenham’s own hot-spot. And being women of both vision and action they are working to turn this dream into a reality.

The current show 'Points of Departure' runs from Feb. 13 to April 21 and can be viewed Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or by appointment.