WHEN HOME IS AN ART GALLERY
Former rectory was begging to be art gallery and home
If you are as devoted to creative expression as Dave and Pat Klug, then the challenge of turning an old rectory into an art gallery and home is just another outlet for your artistic nature. “We wanted to live above our work like a mom and pop shop,” Mrs. Klug said of their move from Mt. Lebanon to the century-old St. Joseph rectory in Carnegie.
He is an illustrator and painter, and she is a marketing consultant. Although they had a handyman, they did much of the work themselves.
“We did have a guy — Everybody should have a guy,” Mr. Klug said.
Turning the nearly 8,000-square-foot building from religious pursuits to creative shoots took three years. The first floor is now a gallery to showcase local artists and Mr. Klug’s work.
“We never bought into the working in an office lifestyle,” his wife said.
Double Dog Studios was named for two dog statues given to the couple by a friend. “And we have two dogs, George and Ollie,” she added, smiling.
The Klugs are avid art and antique collectors and frequent flea market shoppers. She collects mid-century plaster of Paris wall art and displays it in a guest bedroom on the second floor. He is a drummer who has played in many local bands. He keeps his drum kit and a collection of drums and pedals in another room on the second floor, where they mostly live. Only the kitchen is on the first floor. It’s also used for gallery openings and other events.
When the house was used as a rectory for the nearby school and church, the headmaster’s office was on the first floor. The Klugs added shelving, comfortable seating and art, of course.
It leads to the kitchen.
“We took out all the shelving because there is a butler’s pantry,” he explained.
The decorative tile floor they installed contrasts nicely with the kitchen’s simple style.
“The flooring reminded us of a church floor, you know, like at the Vatican,” he said, laughing.
A large painting of a nun by Mr. Klug now hangs in the former pantry. There is also an old safe.
“There is nothing in the safe. We have already cracked it,” Mrs. Klug said, laughing.
One of the couple’s favorite rooms in this five-bedroom house is a tiny bathroom off the mudroom. The walls are covered with small portraits.
“We showcase some of Dave’s art in here,” she said.
“I did these portraits in 1992 of a lot of friends of ours,” he recalled.
He did 30 portraits in 30 days, and each portrait took about 30 minutes to complete. “They were in a show at The Balcony, if you remember that place,” he said.
Now their home is his gallery, with his creations on every floor and sold in the shop just off the home’s vestibule. In addition to original art, there are prints and cards featuring cats and dogs. They are favorites of veterinarians and local pet owners.
Double Dog Studios ( www. doubledogstudio.com)
has its first gallery show, “They Taught Themselves: A Celebration of Thirteen Outsider Artists.” The show, which was curated by P. J. McCardle, opened in June and continues through Sept. 4. Norman Scott, Butch Quinn, J.J. Burns, Kathleen Ferri and
William Truschel are some of the artists included.
“We are really excited,” Mr. Klug said.
Double Dog Studios, 317 Second Ave., Carnegie, is open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, noon-4 p.m. Sundays and by appointment: 412-343-5584.