Opening up shop right across the street from downtown’s dining destination Wood Fire, a local artist’s latest business venture is also focused on wood — wood burning, to be exact.

Longtime Dowagiac resident and business owner Larry Collins will open his new downtown gallery, Art and a Suit, this Saturday, in conjunction with this weekend’s Under the Harvest Moon Festival. Located at the former 1st Source Bank building next to Beckwith Park on Front Street, the aptly named studio will feature Collins’ wood burning artwork, as well as a selection of suits, ties and dress shoes for sale.

Collins, a native of Mississippi and resident of Dowagiac for the past 30 years, has been creating works of art since childhood, he said. He has spent the past four decades cultivating a particular passion for working with wood burning. Inspired by a small piece he saw in display at store when he was younger, he began to teach himself how to perform the intricate burning work that goes into creating pieces, he said.

“I had a hard time figuring it out at first, but I didn’t stop until I had it,” Collins said. “Then I couldn’t quit; I was trapped.”

The artist has produced countless works using the method over the years, many of which are displayed on the brick walls of his new gallery, including a massive work depicting events from the Civil Rights Movement that took Collins over a year to complete he said.

“I like doing paintings about people, because of the faces and the stories behind them,” Collins said. “I love capturing that.”

Also on display are several wood burnings that depict important Dowagiac landmarks, such as the old mill pond, the historic train depot and the city’s trademark statue, Farr Park’s Dance of Creation.

On the other side of the studio is a tribute to another one of Collins’ passions — fashion. The resident has spent the last several years collecting suit jackets, shoes and vintage ties, which he plans on displaying and selling to customers, he said.

“It’s getting hard to find certain types of clothing, especially here in Dowagiac,” Collins said.

The owner will also offer custom matting and framing services for artwork and photos, he said.

This is the third business that Collins owns here in Dowagiac, along with Creekside Greenhouse and Earl’s BBQ, which he co-owns with his brother, Earl. While never a longtime goal of his, when the opportunity presented itself to open a studio downtown, he took it, he said.

“I love it here,” he said about the new space. “I think the building itself is a work of art.”

Collins also plans using the studio to create more of his trademark artwork, and invites visitors to come and see him work.

“I want people to come and look around, especially when I’m working,” he said.

The business will be open every Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.