Let it be known that the popular holiday event, Art in the Square, is not held outdoors in the middle of Townsend Square! It is held indoors at the Boothbay Harbor Art Foundation (BRAF) gallery where you will find 12 x 12 squares painted by local and regional artists – professionals and amateur.

Many artists paint several works on these mini-canvases throughout December as the squares begin flying out the door – and they do! Some reflect the holiday season, others are winter landscapes, still life, florals, abstracts, seascapes and more.

Every year, on Black Friday, BRAF opens its gallery doors at 11 a.m. for the first chance to view and buy original artwork that helps BRAF fulfill its mission: The Art Foundation sponsors two Boothbay Region High School Scholarship Awards and every Mother’s Day weekend, hosts a Pre-K-grade 12 Student Art Show both funded by Art in the Square sales of 12” X 12” mini masterpieces. Each finished canvas sells for $100. The artist receives 75 percent and $25 goes to BRAF’s Scholarship Fund and Community Outreach Programs. One of those outreach programs is the Foundation’s sponsorship of museum passes to Portland Museum of Art and the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland. These passes are available all year for families or individuals at Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library.

Like June Campbell Rose said a few years back, “It’s hip to be square!”

Some of the artists who have had works in the show on a regular basis, and who clearly agree with June, are: Tony van Hasselt, Francine Needham, Mark A. Mellor, Ludmilla Schicchi, Lauren Stockwell, Sally G. Smith, Bruce Burnham, Kristin Neuforth, Maria Boord, Roger Milinowski, Livy Graubitz, Sarah Wilde, Judy Nixon and Jo Crary.

Don’t miss this show. Great gifts await in oils, watercolors, gouache, mixed media, assemblage art, and maybe even one or two for yourself!

BRAF’s open hours are scheduled for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., during the Gardens Aglow/Boothbay Lights Festival.

A special reception for Art in the Square is planned for Harbor Lights, Saturday, Dec. 1. The gallery will open at 10 a.m. that day. Later, from 4 to 6 p.m., stop by for refreshments at the Art in the Square opening reception!

Boothbay Region Art Foundation is at 1 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor. For more info, visit https://boothbayartists.org