Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 1, January 2003

Copyright 2002 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article and photos below in your research. Be sure to quote the Seattle Sun as your source.

Ave shop a popular haunt for

Gargoyle lovers since '92

By JAMES BUSH

As you step from a sunny day on the Ave into the dimly lit Gargoyles Statuary, the mere sight of the thousands of items on display can be overwhelming.

"One problem I have," says owner Gayle Nowicki, "is getting people to stay here long enough so you can adjust to it."

But, once you start a slow tour of the crowded, yet not cramped University District storefront, the carved faces on the walls make themselves known. Demons and angels, trolls and wizards, goddesses and mermen catch your eye and compete for your attention. "It mixes up a lot of stuff, but all in all, it goes together well," says Nowicki.

Gargoyles Statuary opened on Nov. 13, 1992 (Friday the 13th) and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. The original owners were Tim Gabor and Jaq Chartier; Nowicki was hired about six months after the store opened. She remembers falling in love with the store at first sight. "They hired me on the spot and I just never left," she says. After serving two-and-a-half years as store manager and buyer, Nowicki took over the business on Oct. 31, 1995 (Halloween, of course).

Nowicki grew up in Detroit, where she developed a childhood fascination for the architectural details in the Motor City's ornate, turn-of-the century buildings, such as the Fox Theater and the Michigan Central Railroad Station. She moved to Ann Arbor, where she studied art history at the University of Michigan, with an emphasis on Renaissance art and 19th century art. She also had extensive retail experience, giving her the perfect credentials to eventually take over Gargoyles.

The word "gargoyle" is a derivation of the old French word for throat "gargouille." The term was created to describe the carved water spouts projecting from the roofs of 13th Century gothic cathedrals (although the water channels themselves date back to Roman architecture). These carvings were often in the shape of animals or more fanciful beasts, with the rain water shooting from the creature's mouth.

Although some think of gargoyles as symbolic protectors of a building, they often served as more of an annoyance to people on the streets below. The spouts helped to move the water away from the building's foundation, but often sprayed it onto the heads of passers-by. "How protective are those?" she jokes. "They won't protect you from the rain."

Whether the use of bizarre beasts was meant to entice former pagans into the churches or to frighten away evil spirits is uncertain, but builders took a fancy to the water spouts. Over time, they became more elaborate and playful, such as the famous Gargoyles that adorn the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Although the term "gargoyle" is properly applied only to functioning water channels, elaborate carved faces and figures (known as "grotesques") continued to appear on Western European churches and other buildings for years. Chimeras, or combinations of various animals were especially popular, such as winged dogs or griffins (which combine the features of an eagle and a lion).

All these critters, plus many more are represented on the walls and shelves at Gargoyles Statuary. Some pieces are copied from famous carvings, such as replicas of the Notre Dame gargoyles. Nowicki reaches down to pet a miniature version of one of Rome's Vatican lions. "These are gorgeous," she says. "I've seen these in person."

Other works are the creation of modern artists inspired by the form. Nowicki says the shop has greatly expanded the number of artists represented over the years. The work of many local artists can be found among the statuary and the store's various other offerings: tarot cards, art prints, jewelry, photos, candles, and incense, to name a few.

Some of the carvings, such as a pair of "welcome lions" (placed at either side of a home's main entrance) and various planters, fountains, and birdbaths, are constructed of concrete for outdoor use.

Others have special significance for local residents, such as the "Greenman," an architectural motif featuring a man whose facial features are intertwined with foliage. The Greenman is one of the store's best sellers, says Nowicki. "It's just an image that people like."

Spooky skulls and demons move best around Halloween, although most are grouped together in the store's Scary Corner, she adds. "We try to keep it in one place so people don't think that's all we carry."

Gargoyles has a Web site (www.gargoylesstatuary.com) and a mail-order catalog, but the best way to make your choice is to brave the store's visual maze in search of that dream piece.

Has Nowicki installed a few gargoyles in her own home? "I'll just give you a definitive 'yes,'" she says. "I have a lot of fun with it. I'm our best customer."