The Baldwin Avenue Gallery (Photo – Jean Sudbury)
The Baldwin Avenue Gallery is located at 12 N. Baldwin Ave., Sierra Madre, CA. This eye-catching art gallery is owned by Mary Hoffman Serr and Michael Todd Serr, and they share an astonishing life story which includes Akido, Jujitsu, art and the movie business.
By Jean Sudbury
Michael was born in the rural Midwest, and his family moved to California when he was a child. Michael describes his father as the James Dean type, and his mother as ‘’the belle of the ball.’’ They shared a romantic philosophy of love over money. Michael spent his youth in a hippie commune near Ventura, California. Michael is an artist whose works have been on display in California art galleries, including in Visalia and in Half Moon Bay.
Mary grew up in the San Joaquin Valley, the land of cows and cotton. From a young age, she took various Martial Arts classes in Visalia, California, including her continuing Akido practice. She moved to West LA for college, earning a degree in fashion design and merchandizing. She earned her advanced degree in fashion design at Chico State University.
After years of adventure, Mary moved back to Visalia and resumed her Aikido studies at a local Dojo studio owned by Michael, a Jujitsu expert and teacher. They became friends, good friends, and this friendship became a partnership, then a marriage. They have been together for 15 years. Michael always had wanted to be a movie producer, but with no film degree, how could he get in? Using his martial arts expertise, he became a bodyguard for actors on movie sets where he learned the process and development of movie making. His creative, artistic eye and Martial Arts expertise led him to script reviews, and oversight of set designs and stunts.
Portion of the exhibition at the Baldwin Avenue Gallery (Photo – Jean Sudbury)
Meanwhile, Michael’s mother had moved from Visalia to Sierra Madre, where she taught for many years at the Gooden School. In 2006, Michael and Mary also moved to Sierra Madre and raised their family. Their dream included sharing their artistry with Sierra Madre and helping other artists achieve their goals. When the commercial space on Baldwin Avenue became available for lease, they seized the opportunity to realize their dream. They redesigned the space and created the right place to display art.
The works of seven local artists on display at the Baldwin Avenue Gallery include acrylics, oils, sculpture, and some paintings by Michael. A patio area behind the gallery will feature poetry, music and artistic education. Mary and Michael see The BAG as a celebration of creativity in many forms. Art is interactive communication, and this message is what they want to convey.
> The Baldwin Avenue Gallery, The BAG, is now open Thursdays through Sundays. The Ribbon Cutting will occur on Thursday, July 8. The Grand Opening ceremony will occur on Saturday, July 10. For more information, go to baldwinavenuegallery.com.
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