OUR STORY
Mary and Andrew have been working artists for more than thirty years. They've done the gallery shows, the production work, the whole circuit. And somewhere along the way, they both started noticing the same thing: a lot of people who wanted to make art never felt like they had a place to start.
Mary grew up here in Rock Hill. She spent years looking at art, wanting to make it, and not finding a place where she could learn, ask questions, and get supplies without feeling like she needed a degree first or a bank account to match. Andrew kept meeting young, talented artists who had no idea the creative world had a place for them, and parents who didn't know how to point their kids toward it either.
So they stepped back from the production side of things and opened Blue Goose instead. Not another gallery. Not another supply chain. A place built for people at the beginning, wherever that beginning happens to be.
What We Believe
Meet the Team
Mary
Job Title
Growing up in Rock Hill, she spent plenty of time walking around town and looking at art, always wishing there were somewhere she could go to learn, experiment, and explore without feeling like art was only for people who already knew what they were doing. She started taking art classes and programs from an early age, eventually studying at Columbia College, continuing her education in Texas, and earning her BA in Art with a minor in History from Winthrop.
Art has been a constant throughout her life. Mary and Andrew spent years creating and selling their work, exhibiting in shows, and building relationships through the art community. Both have been published, and their work eventually found its way into galleries. But over time, they realized they wanted something different. They didn't want art to become a production line. They wanted to get back to the part they loved most: creating, connecting, and helping other people discover art for themselves.
Mary brings her own work as a two-dimensional artist, along with a genuine desire to make art feel less intimidating and more accessible. She wants people to have a place where they can ask questions, try something new, and find the supplies or encouragement they need to get started. She's curious, a perfectionist, a lover of nature, and always looking for something a little refreshingly different. And if someone walks into Blue Goose and leaves feeling inspired to make something, Mary considers that a job well done.
Job Title
Andrew
Andrew has always been an artist, even when art wasn’t his day job. After high school, he joined the military, where an art program wasn’t exactly part of the plan. Eventually, he found his way back to art at Winthrop, studying what he loved before realizing something important: you don’t necessarily need an art degree to be an artist.
He went on to earn a master’s degree in biology and spent years teaching high school biology and chemistry. All the while, he and Mary were creating and selling their artwork from home. As that side of their lives grew, Andrew eventually left teaching to focus on art full-time.
Today, Andrew works primarily in glass and three-dimensional art. His work has been published and exhibited in galleries, but the gallery world also taught him something about the kind of creative life he wanted. When art became a production machine, the joy started getting lost. That realization helped lead Andrew and Mary to Blue Goose.
Andrew is naturally curious, a bit of a perfectionist, and deeply inspired by nature. He also has a soft spot for artists who are just getting started. One of the things he cares most about is giving emerging artists a chance to be seen, supported, and taken seriously, while showing young artists and their parents that there really are opportunities to build a life around creativity. For Andrew, art doesn't have to be perfect to be worthwhile.
Rock Hill Is Part of This Too
Blue Goose doesn't sit outside the community, we're part of it. That shows up in a few different ways:
We partner with organizations doing good work around Rock Hill, including the Miracle League, the Parks Foundation, ChristmasVille, and more.
Seasonal Contests
Sometimes we give you a theme and let you run with it. Our seasonal contests invite artists of all ages and experience levels to create, have a little fun, and share what they make with the Blue Goose community.
The Community Card Program
Art supplies and studio space shouldn't be out of reach because of cost. Our Community Card Program helps cover that gap, so more people can walk through our doors and actually create something.
Community Canvas
A place for the community to create, contribute, and leave their mark. Community Canvas projects give everyone a chance to take part in something bigger, whether you're an experienced artist or just want to try something new.
Who We Support
Come Be Part of It
Blue Goose isn't just a place to shop. It's a place to learn, try, mess up, get better, and be part of something that's bigger than any one of us. We'd love for you to be part of it too.