A Storeful of Panache Opens on Main Street

Possessions Gallery, a new gift store and gallery located at 416 Main St., is one of the latest additions to Melrose's downtown. After a "soft" opening on July 6, the grand opening was held on Saturday, Sept. 11 with a reception from 4-8 p.m. with wine and food catered by Absolutely Fabulous. 

The aesthetics of the store are subtle, yet striking, as soon as you walk through the doors. Take the two-toned wall color, for instance.

"If I got paid for every time I was asked what colors the walls were...!" said owner and Melrose resident Richard Cappiello.

The wall colors purposefully draw you in, enveloping you in a warm welcome. The tight, clean lines of arranged artwork on the walls are plentiful, yet not crowded. The juxtaposition of color and texture of all the gifts throughout the store give customers the effect of meandering through a museum admiring art, more than shopping in a gift store. That connection is conscious.

"A lot of customers say it feels like they're in a museum gift store," says Cappiello.

After 30 years in the hair industry, almost 20 as a hairdresser on Newbury Street in Boston, Cappiello turned his artful eye to creating a masterpiece of a store, purchasing, consigning, and selling an eclectic range of gifts, most under $50—from artwork, to greeting cards, jewelry and unique gifts created or consigned by Melrose residents that you won't find anywhere else.

Like the Egg art. 

Think Fabergé. 

(Yes, Fabergé. On Melrose's Main Street.)

Melrose residents and artists, Chris Benoit and Bryen Creegan, of Majestic Egg Designs, hand craft works of collectible egg art using real eggs—not the kind you cook with, but goose, emu, ostrich and rhea. A family craft and tradition handed down from Chris' grandmother, these eggs have to be seen to be believed. 

All hand cut and then painted, each is delicately trimmed with materials like Swarovski crystals, pearls, tassels, and beads, organza, and some are even gold-plaited; whatever it takes to tell the story. There are Christmas-themed eggs, clock eggs, jewelry boxes, wonderful wedding themes, and baby shower gifts that can be personalized. There are even eggs that light up. Prices range from $135 to $1,250 or more. Eggs can also be customized to order.

My gallery for a horse: more unique works of art around each corner

Then there's another unique, collectible piece of art: a three-foot tall, miniature carousel horse on a pole, positioned on the floor in the back corner of the gallery, underneath large, framed photographs of carousel horses from the famed Paragon Carousel in Hull. 

An elderly woman in Melrose who owned it contacted Cappiello shortly after the store opening. She had decided she no longer wanted the decoration. Did he want to sell it for her?

"I was kind of skeptical," he said, "but told her that if I couldn't take it, I had a friend who might." Then he saw it and was amazed. It's consigned for $800.

In addition to these one-of-a-kind collectible works of art, there's everyday, yet fun manufactured gifts for special occasions, or special people, most under $50. 

"I'm trying to keep 50 percent of the store under $50," says Cappiello. 

Like jeweled flip flops; whimsical wine holders (wine not included); Original Hand warmer pottery mugs for right and left-handed people; greeting cards by three different artists; and an assortment of jewelry by five consigned artists. Colorful stained glass in designs of mermaids, mermen, butterflies and fairies hang from the ceilings in the front of the gallery. Created by artist Leo Vincent of Peabody, each is trimmed in copper or silver. 

Then there's furniture as art. Breathtaking, beautiful furniture from yet another Melrose resident and artist is on display throughout the store. Kevin Mack, a graduate of the outstanding North Bennett Street School in Boston, crafts award-winning period reproductions and custom furniture and cabinetry. Mack's work is on display at the Deerfield Museum in Old Deerfield, MA. A few samples of his work are on display, available for purchase, at Possessions.

Passion for promoting local artists

Cappiello's love of art and artists who make beautiful, quality items—whether paintings, furniture, or baby blankets—is obvious. Representing 30 different artists and crafters, his passion for promoting local artists fuels him. 

"There are so many good artists out there, but no venue to show their work. That's what my gallery does," he said.

Like a museum docent, Cappiello walks around the gallery, telling the story behind each piece of art to interested customers. Pointing to the framed photograph of a Masai Warrior, he explains the photo took the artist three hours to capture. Why? Because the warrior had never seen a camera before. 

Or the baby blankets and hats hand-knit by Mickey Corbett of Danvers. Notice that the flowers are knit directly into the blanket, not knit separately, and then sewn on later. 

Or the oil on canvas paintings by Cal Dray Dellaria, a Medici artist, he explains, whose philosophy is to use multiple fine layers of oil on canvas to capture her images.

There's even goodwill for sale. Theresa Cronin, a cancer survivor from Malden, hand paints smooth, river rocks with one-word messages like "Inspire", "Faith", and "Joy". Sold for $5 each in a small, satin bag, proceeds will benefit cancer research.

Stop inside. Possessions provides a singular shopping experience. And, if asked, Capiello might even disclose the wall's paint colors.