On the edge of downtown Main Street of Farmville, Va., amongst the furniture and antique shops, there is an orange building – peculiar in comparison to the muted tones of the old factory buildings and abandoned brick structures. When walking up the stairs, you can hold on to the railing of old hospital beds and will be met with what looks the carcass of a demented baby pig. Around the next corner, there are peaceful scenes of a cornfield.
The gallery is curated by Jarrod Fergeson and is purposefully aesthetically ambiguous as to appeal to a variety of tastes and price ranges as one of the only commercial art galleries in the area. This allows for quite the eclectic mix of pieces ranging from glass taxidermy to folk art. Featured there are also works in ceramics, photography and graphic design by Longwood University professors Adam Paulek, Michael Mergen and Christopher Register. Fergeson opened the gallery in 2008 here in Farmville after moving from Richmond to ensure a shorter commute for his wife, Longwood history professor Dr. Larissa Smith-Fergeson. Prior to its use as an art gallery, the building was home to a string of sometimes-successful eateries and before that was a railroad telegraph station.
Every corner is filled with art, and the space is “constantly in flux,” according to Fergeson, with both new regional and international artists showcased. At the front, there stands a small divider wall, which serves to separate the gallery space from the gift shop space.
But make no mistake; everything in the gift shop is art itself. There are beautiful ceramic cups, as well books full of illustrations from art magazines like Juxstapoz and Hi- Fructose.
There is genuinely something for everyone at the J. Fergeson Gallery. If you’re looking for kitchen supplies, they’ve even got funky ice cube trays in the gift shop section next to a collection of children’s activity books by local artist Jeremy Elder from Appomattox.
To stay updated on what’s going on at the gallery, you can follow the J.Fergeson Gallery on Facebook, look around their website jfergesongallery.com or stop in, say hello and take a look around at the unique collection and quirky assortment of art and gifts. It is the orange building at 311 N. Main Street, Farmville, Va. 23901.