Robin O’Dell – How long have you been in St. Pete? I have known you in passing for a long time, but I don’t really know that much about you. I assume others may not either.
Leslie Curran – I was born and raised in St Pete. My father was also a native. When people ask me where I was raised I jokingly say “Munch’s” because we went there almost every day as a kid. As a matter of fact, the candy stand they have there is still the same one as when I was a kid. [Munch’s is an “old school” diner on 6th St. S.]
I am a St. Pete native too, but only first generation. What inspired you to open a gallery?
Well, actually, my uncle was an artist. I always thought that was very cool. One thing he used to say when he finished a painting, “Wait ‘til you get the furniture on it. The frame.” I thought that was a good way to look at it. I thought being a picture framer was a good idea. When I was 23 I had saved some money and asked someone in the business what was needed to open a frame shop. I was given a list, and purchased everything on it, along with a book on how to custom picture frame. I taught myself how to frame. Then, thank God, I went to work for a real master framer and really learned the trade.
That’s fascinating, what is your uncle’s name?
My uncle’s name is Graham Ingles. He was a fine-art artist, but was really known as an illustrator for Mad Magazine and EC Comics. [Notable works include The Haunt of Fear and Tales from the Crypt.)
So you started your own framing business at 23?
Yes, around that time, out of my house! I then went to work for Homer Schwartz at Homer’s Picture Framing & Gallery. He was a phenomenal craftsman, and I found out later that he and Gilbert (Poor Richards Gallery and Framing) had worked together in Houston. During that time I decided to run for City Council, and continued framing with Homer for a few years.
How many times did you serve on City Council?
I was on the Council for four terms, a total of 16 years.
And then, because you were framing, you met artists and started hanging things on the wall?
Basically, I was working for another gallery with a friend of mine. We’d leave artwork by B.C. Woo and Marc Levasseur on the floor and when people came in and inquired, we’d let them know they were for sale. One thing led to another and my friend who I was working with, Linda Gregoire, decided it was time to open our own place and we started Interior Motives on Central Avenue (where Enigma is now).
I remember that.
From that point, it just kept changing and evolving. As financial times changed, and people’s needs changed, and corporations took different directions with their art, it just kept evolving to what it is today.
Do you sell online too, or is the 9th Street gallery the only thing?
We sell online, and expanded our online gallery during the pandemic to include “pre-loved” consigned artwork.
You have the framing and art gallery, do you provide other services too?
ARTicles provides full concierge service, offering pick up and delivery, as well as installation services. We do consultations for residential and commercial sites. Assisting people with their collections, whether adding new work or just beginning to start collecting, is a favorite. If you have $20 you have enough to start collecting! We showcase art from $20 to $20,000- plus. Allowing the client to take a piece home and try it is much appreciated.
Are you an artist?
No! I dabbled in painting for a while, and I guess you could call my frame designs artistic, but not as far as an artist by trade.
Well clearly, you have a great eye. How do you decide what goes in the gallery?
I work with Robin Perry who’s a great curator. We look for artists that are different, who have a good resume, that have a body of work, and that are dedicated to their trade.
How has the business been doing, now that there are new high rises everywhere? It always blows my mind when they announce a new high rise and prices start at 1.2 million.
Business is great! It’s not all because of the new high rises, we have built a great clientele over the years. You would think that the million dollar condos would all have great art, but they don’t! We work with a number of designers, and recommend that they put a line item in their budget for art. It’s just as important as the furniture. Too many times we hear that “we’re at the end of the project, and we’ve gone a little over budget.” Don’t treat art as an afterthought.
What do you consider your biggest personal achievement?
Probably just what I have done in the city, and I guess my continued work in the city. No matter how hard I try to not get involved, I still do.
RKO – I find that anytime there’s talk about the 600 block of Central Avenue your name always comes up. A lot of people don’t even know about that.
[In 2008, the 600 block of Central Avenue was slated to be demolished and replaced by a 15 story mixed-use development. Leslie was instrumental in persuading the investor to save the buildings including the historic Crislip Arcade and rent out the storefronts to artists at reduced rates.]
600. I am proud of that. I’m also proud of my time serving on the City Council. I feel that I was able to have a positive impact in the neighborhoods, with small business, and the overall direction of the City.
Yes, and that’s a legacy that’s still there.
The fortunate thing is that I got to work with Tom Gaffney, who owned the 600 block property and was absolutely wonderful. It is a good example of what can be done; what should be done.
I was one of the many volunteers who came and helped clean out the old shops.
Every storefront was filled with “stuff” that needed to be removed. The city was a huge help with providing roll off dumpsters to get rid of the trash, fixing the street lighting, and cleaning the sidewalks. We then had a yard sale to raise money for marketing the vacant spaces to artists. I believe that the 600 block led the way for the changes we see today. Most of the artist galleries are gone now, but for 5 years they enjoyed a minimal rent for a prime downtown location, and it was good for the community.
It was good! It’s difficult to even remember what downtown St. Pete was like back then.
Oh, I remember! Downtown was asleep and not kept up.
It was always charming, though. I used to ride my bike downtown, even when I was in middle school, and the downtown was mostly abandoned and full of elderly people, but it was still charming. Which leads us to…where do you see St. Pete and the arts scene in the next 5 years? What do you think is going to happen?
I think this city needs to take it up a notch. I would definitely like to see more arts funding at the city and county level. The percentage for the arts/public art needs to be increased. There needs to be a concerted effort to place more art throughout the entire city. Art needs to be accessible for all. More sculptures! I remember years ago Lance Rodgers had an idea for a sculpture walk. Maybe it’s time to revisit that. Milwaukee just did something along that line. Some people like it, some people don’t, which is always the case, and that’s ok. We have our beloved Mainsail Arts Festival and other local art fairs, but maybe it’s time to introduce an International art show into the city. We have a plethora of artists in St Pete, so it’s time to focus on marketing this “Arts City.” Artists can not survive without BUYERS. This is where city/county support would help. We need to grow up. I think we are getting there, slowly.
I agree with that. Slowly. It’s encouraging that big spaces like The Fairgrounds and The ArtsXchange are including spaces for artists to sell their work and have a public presence, which I think only raises everyone up a little more.
I think another addition to the arts scene in St Pete could be an arts school. When we were working on the 600 block, we had discussions with Ringling opening a satellite. At one point the city met with SCAD about doing something at Mirror Lake; maybe not the right time or location, but a start. Again, we need to bring buyers here. St. Pete needs to be a stop for people looking for art.
Well, that’s a difficult thing. How do you attract those people, other than having a reputation as an art town and it becoming an arts destination?
I don’t think it is that difficult of a task. It just has to be made a priority. I think it’s something that the city and county can work together on with Tourist Development – Bed Tax – dollars. We need to start marketing for people to come to this town and buy art. We need to elevate our stature. And, our public art…we pat ourselves on the back for acquiring the sculpture at the Pier by Janet Echelman, yet the grounds underneath are now worn and tired. Many studies have shown the positive effects that the Arts has on people. This city is in the position to elevate the arts. We have great arts programs in schools, arts centers and museums for viewing and learning, and incredible projects like the NOMAD art and SPACECRAFT that take art into neighborhoods. We need more of that, especially during these difficult times.
You have been such a great supporter of St. Pete. What makes you happy?
I am very fortunate that I have a career that makes me happy! My kids (grown) make me happy! Anything outdoors makes me happy!
Thanks for all you do. •
Leslie Curran is the owner and proprietor of
ARTicles Gallery
1234 MLK, Jr. St. N., St. Petersburg
