WHO WE ARE
Megan Cafferata, Priscilla Cross, Joan Freiman, Paula Green, Phyllis Janto, Mary Herndon, Suzanne Phillips, Abbie Read, Carol Sloane, Ieva Tatarski, Cynthia White
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to support and stimulate one another’s art while exhibiting and selling our work
OUR HISTORY
Fourteen years ago a group of artists began to talk of finding a local place where they could exhibit their works. Surveying possible sheds, barns and garages, they found a place in a charming old 19th century building being restored by its owner.
In May 1994 the six artists, now officially partners, moved in, mounted their first show and named the place, in a humorous twist, the Downtown Gallery. Thus began a long process of professional development as individual, (and quite different) artists and as entrepreneurs of a gallery. Their mission: “to exhibit and sell our art, to know each other’s art more fully, and to experience the stimulation and enjoyment of working together in the arts”. In detail, this has meant learning how to exhibit each other’s often diverse works to best advantage, how to advertise themselves, how to share the day-to-day running of the gallery and how to make decisions together. It has been an education for all, the partners agree.
Other artists have joined the partnership; currently, the original six remain, with four others who are committed partners. In a new spacious setting, also a renovated old building in the Village, Downtown Gallery artists enjoy expanding their exhibits’ scope and developing new ideas.
WHY WE ARE THE “DOWNTOWN” GALLERY
Since Washington is so tiny it hardly has a downtown, we thought highlighting the unexpected would be a good thing and we liked the idea of having some humor in our name. Also, there are a number of famous Downtown Galleries and we wanted to join their ranks.
WHY WE ARE ONLY WOMEN
We started our group with local friends who had no gallery representation and wanted to show their work. It happened that we were all women. We make all our gallery decisions by consensus and we look out for each other. How we work together has been a major thrust of our group. We have had men apply to join us, and we have not been adverse to the idea.
WHY WE ARE IN A RURAL TOWN
We wanted to keep commuting to a minimum. Most of the original group lived in Washington, and had families and other jobs. Also we found a very reasonable rent. We wanted to call the shots. If we were in a larger town we would feel obliged to stay open more hours than any of us had time for.
WHY ARE WE IN MAINE
Most of us are transplants from a more urban life. We relish the openness of the landscape and the pace of the lifestyle here. Our work reflects our passions.
OTHER ARTISTS WE HAVE INVITED TO JOIN US
Anne Ayvaliotis
Siri Beckman
Paula Benne
Tom Boothby
Claire Bridge
Alan Crichton
Jim Coffey
Trevor Corp
Charles DuBack
Jim Fangbone
Samuel Gelber
Deborah Gill
Judy Hamm
Francis Hodsdon
Carolyn Judson
Joel LaVasseur
Seth Lester
Steve Lindsay
Karen Mac Donald
Don Meserve
Susan Metzger
Barbara Meyer
Barbara Neeson
Mat O’Donell
Kari Radasch
Steve Roberts
Amy Schusser
Nina Scott Hansen
Rob Shetterly
Stu Silverstein
Abbie Shawn
Wally Warren
WHERE ELSE WE HAVE SHOWN OUR WORK AS A GROUP
College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor Maine
Davistown Museum, Liberty Maine
Hannibal’s Café, Union Maine
Perimeter Gallery, Belfast Maine
The Blaine House, Augusta Maine
Three Fish, Portland Maine
WHY WE ARE SEASONAL
We are not in a walking town, and people have to travel to find us. They are less willing to take an extra ride into the country in the winter.
FRIENDS WE MISS WHO ARE NO LONGER PARTNERS
Dyan Berk
Lorna Crichton
Amy Frees Corp
