Picture it: France, 13th century. Gargoyles with spouts in their mouths emerge as a gutter-like tool to divert corrosive rainwater away from buildings, and remain popular as symbols of Catholicism across Western Europe. Though gargoyles are harder to come by in the modern world, these ornate creatures are far from obsolete in the 21st century, as is made clear upon visiting the Gargoyle Statuary.

The Gargoyle Statuary, located at 4550 University Way NE, has provided a home for both gargoyles and local artwork since 1992. With a focus on locally made gothic, pagan and celtic pieces, the statuary has the distinctly haunting yet comforting aura of an abandoned European castle inhabited by modern wizards. The warm aroma of incense, cedar and hay envelops patrons and passersby, drawing them into a tarot reading or lively conversation with of the statuary’s three employees. Beside burbling fountains and beneath hanging lanterns, a large, colorful collection of stony creatures observe patrons and passersby. 

“We do it because we love art, and we wanted local art that was accessible to people,” Gayle Nowicki, owner of the Gargoyle Sanctuary since 1994, said.“Some [artists] we’ve been collaborating with for 30 years.”

Some local artists featured in the store include Braden Duncan, known for their intricate paintings of cats and cat-like creatures, and Dan Westfall, known for his black and white digital and film photography of gothic architecture. 

In 1993, the Gargoyle Statuary faced a major setback after moving into the former Unicorn Pub; an electrical fire damaged large swaths of inventory in the store. While the statuary was met with enthusiastic support from the community and was able to rebuild, they were left with a vast quantity of burnt merchandise. The store offered major markdowns on the scorched gargoyles and singed skeletons in a Valentine’s Day sale that became an annual tradition still in effect today.

The Gargoyle Statuary is part of the U-District Art Walk, and hosts an art show every third Friday. The current open exhibit, “Rampant” by Nikol King, features hanging banners with screen-printed art inspired by medieval heraldry: banners or coats of arms with symbols and colors that indicate family lineage and distinguish royal houses. 

“[Heraldry] created its own symbology of language. Heraldry and banners used to, at some point, be the only art that sages and peasants would ever see,” King said.

King, like several of the artists whose work is featured at the Gargoyle Statuary, used to visit before formally collaborating with the store. 

“This was definitely a foundational place for me that helped inspire my aesthetic and the things that I’m interested in,” King said.

The Gargoyle Statuary is located on a street near UW, often referred to as “the Ave.” Known as a center for art and music, “the Ave” is home to a variety of local businesses.

Eva Johnson, an owner of Innervisions, a record and poster store neighboring the Gargoyle Statuary, described a supportive relationship between local businesses along “the Ave” that have been integral to maintaining the status of University Way as a hub of local art. Johnson noted strong connections between nearby businesses such as Shiga’s Imports, Lucky Dog and Al’s , but particularly highlighted Nowicki and the statuary as a pillar of interconnectedness along “the Ave.”

“[Nowicki is] a wonderful neighbor. You couldn’t ask for better,” Johnson said. 

If you or your loved ones are impacted by a proclivity towards local gothic art, rest assured there is hope for you at the Gargoyle Sanctuary, along with a pair of custom fangs and a sizable family of resin dragons. While gutter systems and major religious movements may come and go, creepy little guys will last forever.