by Steve Desroches
“This store is my love letter back to Provincetown,” says owner Tim Convery. “I think Provincetown is one of the most amazing places I’ve ever been. I wanted to do the best I could for the town.”
With bright colors, sharp designs, interesting angles, and a unique point of view, the art and clothing at Tim-Scapes, a new shop on Commercial Street, presents a uniquely Provincetown brand.
Convery’s designs are already a ubiquitous fashion statement up and down Commercial Street, featuring angular lobsters or geometric lighthouses with a cyrillicesque “Ptown” written below. Bright, fresh, and creative, Tim-Scapes designs have melded the art colony history of Provincetown with a creative take on the tourist economy of Cape Cod.
“I’m a hybrid of the high end art gallery and the tourist t-shirt shop,” says Convery, in his airy and energetic shop in the East End overlooking Commercial Street and the harbor. “I wanted to reinvent the souvenir t-shirt.”
The design aesthetic of Tim-Scapes began 20 years ago as a creative and memorable way to wrap presents for friends. Convery used duct tape, in a variety of colors, and would write his friends’ names or a message on the package. Friends began to save the wrappings. An ex-partner was the one who finally suggested he take the design and the duct tape to the next level. After years in New York City in the advertising and marketing world, Convery was ready for a change. Arriving in 2008, he began work as a massage therapist. He showed his work at the former Rogue’s Gallery last summer, which was very well received. Things really took off when he had the designs put on t-shirts and beach towels. Now he has dedicated himself to his art, his designs, and his new store.
“I never, ever thought I would open a store. Never, ever,” says Convery.
All Tim-Scapes items are made in America. Hailing originally from the old factory town of Worcester, Massachusetts, Convery sees the negative effects on the economy when manufacturing jobs move overseas.
“I want to support the American worker, no matter how corny that sounds,” says Convery. “I just don’t want to have more crap from China.”
With neon duct tape covered buoys, lifesavers, and clam rakes, Tim-Scapes is hyper-local in its mission and artistic vision. It’s an authentic voice for what one artist has to say about Provincetown. With a keen observational eye Convery uses the visual snapshots of Provincetown that are in his mind, processes them through a distinct creative method, and mixes it with what he notices is coming into fashion when it comes to design. He fully takes advantage of the artistic freedom that is such a part of Provincetown’s culture and returns it back, allowing people to express themselves by wearing bold designs that echo Convery’s love for Provincetown.
“Things happen in P’town that can’t happen other places,” says Convery. “It is a true melting pot. Most of New England is cold, cold, cold. But there is some type of magical cocktail that is amazing here. I’ve received nothing but support from everyone. There’s no place quite like it.”
Tim-Scapes is located at 394 Commercial St. and is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For more information visit www.tim-scapes.com.
