On a mid-October afternoon when the weather seemed to be dashing cold and warm together in an array of wind, sun, and color, I stood in front of Motherland, a business at 17 West Main Street in Lockport. Motherland’s inviting storefront consists of dusty olive green accenting, a large window, and a dark wooden door. A slate placard describes the business as a gift shop and apothecary though none of these descriptors are part of the store’s official name. Lettering on the door spells out Apotheca and holds another key to the business’ ethos. Honoring nature and our individuality encouraging exploration of both. Painted on the storefront window, a white rabbit framed in a circlet of sparsely-leafed branches and moon phases suggests both movement and death. Its stretched out limbs depict a small leap or the animal lying sideways relaxing into death. The rabbit’s all-white eyes also defy a simple interpretation; they suggest both a lack of sight and a deep insight, eyes that see beyond what the rest of us see. These signs along with the sun gleaming off the doorway glass leave me unsure of what precisely I will find inside.
I soon learn that this defiance of easy interpretation is a thread that runs through Motherland, a business that is built around a concept rather than a traditional business model. Inside the streetlevel store, shelves and tables hold an array of teas, herbal supplements, candles, mugs, beard maintenance products, a row of simple syrups, and more. Tucked into corners and next to the products are an array of items you might find in the pockets of a curious child: bird eggs, dried leaves, sticks, nests, and bones. While this list of products and accent decor suggests hodgepodge or even clutter, the store arrangement is anything but: It exudes deliberateness. The shelves are neatly stocked. Every arrangement invites noticing. A dream of neatness married with an abundance of interesting things. The personal products and candles indicate that this space is a gift shop, but the supplements and teas make me remember the word apothecary on the front chalkboard sign, and finally the decor gathered from nature suggests a natural history museum or a naturalist’s storeroom. This place pushes against categorization.
Motherland is a building made up of three things: Apotheca, the street-level store full of curiosities and personal products; Motherland artists’ studio, a space on the building’s 2nd floor that hosts space for artists, events, and community classes; and an exquisitely designed apartment for rent. Motherland is also the homebase of the art and design business operated by building owners Laura Duquette and Matt Duquette (formerly 12 Grain Studios). Laura and Matt describe Motherland on their website as “a place of internal and personal growth meant to influence personal journeys. A place for artists, thinkers, adventurers and the curious.” So to sum up, Motherland is a retail building, an art and design company office, a community gathering place, and perhaps most importantly, Motherland is a conceptual space. In the words of Laura Duquette “a source of inspiration.”
If you choose to visit Motherland, you’ll most likely start in the store Apotheca. The name, of course, suggests Apothecary, the historical term for a place of business that dispensed medicine. And in some ways this matches what you will find in the store. Many of the items are teas and supplements that promote digestion, energy, or sleep. The store also hosts an “herbal hour” one Thursday a month in which a New York State certified herbalist discusses different uses for plants in cooking and health.
Laura says she likes to think of the store as a ‘storeroom of things that come from nature.’
Laura tells me that Apothecary is not a name she could officially give the store because New York State Law only allows licensed pharmacists to use that term. Laura though says she likes the name Apotheca because it can suggest an Apothecary, yes, but it technically means a storeroom. It is a term used often in the wine business. Laura says she likes to think of the store as a “storeroom of things that come from nature.”
Another way you might choose to visit Motherland is through their programming. The Duquettes use their studio space professionally as they are both artists and designers, but they also conceptualized the studio as a resource for the community. They have run art programming for both children and adults and currently host a monthly figure drawing class. This past summer they collaborated with Bert Gambini to offer a reader’s theater. “These events are family friendly or an inexpensive date night that offers up a unique experience,” Lara explains. “Motherland is hosting an upcoming Halloween party titled A night of Risk and Panic. Like all things connected to Motherland, this event is conceptual. The night will explore the idea of panic beyond just the blood and gore of horror films. Laura says that the Halloween party concept is about “bringing more of an art form to Halloween.” More details here.
I admitted to the Duquettes that I did not immediately associate Lockport with conceptual projects. Matt explained that they initially planned to set up shop in Buffalo and focus on their art and design business. Yet over time they realized that they wanted to diversify what they worked on. Together they do a bit of illustration, a bit of fine art, a bit of design, and now a bit of retail. This diversification keeps them pliable when business gets spare but it also allows them to dabble in all the things they love. Laura says that she and Matt are people always “pitching ideas before they are relevant” and admits that Motherland may at first seem out of place in Lockport. And yet as she continued to explain the tight-knit community of Lockport and Motherland’s desire to promote community engagement, the fit became more apparent. Laura also notes that Lockport needs businesses that are not “more of the same” and that “people are always looking for something different.” The Duquettes both note that people often wander into the store just to ask “what is this place?” This curiosity creates a pathway for Laura and Matt to continue to get to know and to connect with the Lockport community.
The Duquette’s resumes are as intriguing and varied as Motherland. They are both artists and work together in design, illustration, and animation. Matt, a native of Tonawanda, is a commercial artist working as an illustrator and graphic designer. He has showcased his work in numerous places in Buffalo along with venues in New York City and Durham, North Carolina. Laura, a native of Lockport, is a designer, writer, and has a background in metal work. Laura also works with partner Jamie Duchscherer in a venture called Daughters Art Services that matches artists with small business owners looking to bring art to their commercial spaces.
Motherland Apotheca | 17 W Main St, Lockport, NY 14094 | (716) 462-0121 | Instagram
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