Perico Gallery - Avalon, CA
Posted by: 
silverquill
N 33° 20.664 W 118° 19.607
11S E 376536 N 3690254
Quick Description: This art gallery, tucked away in the Metropole Market on Catalina Island, features the unique Catalina Tile as well as a range of watercolors and prints, many depicting island scenes.
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 8/5/2009 2:33:15 AM
Waymark Code: WM6Y9E
Views: 0
Long Description:
From the store web site:
"A unique art and gift gallery featuring watercolors and prints of
Catalina Island. A wonderful selection of note cards, ceramics,
interesting picture frames and one of a kind gifts. Also, the
exclusive vocation, of the famous Catalina Tile.
William Wrigley purchased Santa Catalina Island in 1919. He had a
vision of a magic island to draw tourists from the mainland. As
development occurred it was soon discovered that the island
harbored great quantities of red clays. The clays were tested and
determined to be ideal for building materials. As construction with
clay materials commenced, a natural interest among the workers for
art tile and pottery was created, thus producing the beautiful
ambiance of decorative tiles on roofs, buildings, stairways, and
fountains throughout the city of Avalon. The tile-manufacturing
plant's largest and most important project was the Casino; this
masterpiece is the landmark of Catalina.
The Santa Catalina Island Company tile and pottery plant was in
operation from 1927 to 1937. Its work and style achieved a strong
interest and a following on the mainland. Advertisements in
newspapers and magazines, as well as catalogues, were distributed
offering the art tile and pottery for sale. Unfortunately, with the
Great Depression, the plant was no longer profitable and was sold
to Gladding McBean on the mainland. Today, Catalina pottery and
tile is sought by those with fond memories of visits to the island,
and by those intrigued by its unique beauty."
Perico Gallery