Minas Closing Shop in Baltimore

Minas Konsolas, artist, gallery owner

More than two decades of original art, used blue jeans and all the wisdom you can handle from the philosopher behind the counter will come to an end early this spring when Minas Konsolas closes up the Baltimore boutique which carries his name.

“I’ve decided to paint full time,” said Konsolas, a native of Karpathos, Greece who landed in East Baltimore in 1976 and graduated from the Maryland Institute, College of Art. “Finally, 61 years later I’m going to do what I love. My paintings are actually selling better now than the other stuff in the store.”

Minas, at 815 West 36^th street in Hampden is expected to close for good by late March.

One of Baltimore’s most beloved characters, the kind and gentle Minas began selling art and vintage clothes, old toys and odds and ends on Ann Street in Fells Point in 1992. Over the next 22 years – the first 11 near the tugboats of Thames Street, the last 11 near the ruined mills of North Baltimore – the gallery has hosted scores of poetry and fiction readings.

Readings have included everyone from the late poet and provocateur David “Footlong” Franks, who died in 2010, Christine Grillo, who has beautiful tales of playing Candyland at Christmas with her family; and Rosalia Scalia, laureate of Little Italy.

One of the longest and most successful runs at Minas was the monthly 510 Reading series, a celebration of fiction hosted by Jen Michalski, author of The Tide King (Black Lawrence Press) and Michael Kimball, whose work includes the well-received Dear Everybody.

The Irish Wedding by Minas

The next 510 event will be held on Saturday, January 25, featuring Eric Goodman, the satirist D.R. Belz (author of White Asparagus), and the poet Clarinda Harris. The final line-up in the series will take the state on February 15.

“Over the seven years that the 510 happened at Minas, I have formed many partnerships in the upstairs gallery – professional, personal and fun,” said a grateful Michalski. “I wouldn’t have half of the network that I do if I’d never stepped in that storefront.”

After April, the work of Minas Konsolas – everything from masks made out of cardboard and painted to look like wood to colorful cities of dreams – will both be made and exhibited at the home the artist shares with Peggy Hoffman, his wife and the person who brought a true buyer’s touch to the clothing at Minas.

Mural by Minas in Baltimores Greektown neighborhood of Leini Leftafkis from the novel, Orlo & Leini

“I have a spare room at home I am using for a studio,” said Minas of his townhouse across the alley from Saints Philip and James Catholic Church in Charles Village. “And we’ll do exhibitions on the first floor.”

Except for the artwork, everything at the store – a few blocks off the Falls Road exit of the Jones Falls Expressway – is 50 percent off until the shades comes down for the last time. Minas said that he and Hoffman are currently in negotiations with a potential buyer for the building.

“It’s going to be sad to walk away from all the human interaction” and retreat into his studio, said Minas, whose work ranges in price from $200 to $800 and has lately focused on the animal world. “But I am sad and happy.”