First ‘Member Art Show’ at BRAF

Mark Coates
Sun, 05/27/2018 - 8:00am
Diana Young
This colorful painting by Diana Young is one of the works by BRAF’s 140 members just waiting to “invite you in.” Courtesy of the venue
Ann Hedgecock
Barbara Chase
Sharon Ryan

Story Location:
1 Townsend Avenue
Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
United States

    Boothbay Region Art Foundation (BRAF)  is proud to present the first Member’s Show of the season.  Over 140 local and regional artists work will be on display at the gallery  through June 16. 

    A wide variety of paintings, photographs, sculpture, prints and drawings demonstrate the amazing talent of the region.  An opening reception to celebrate the artists will be on June 1, 5-7 p.m.

    A little BRAF history ...

    In 1963, 26 Boothbay artists, both year-round and summer residents, saw a need to leave a legacy to this region that had given them both inspiration and livelihood. To start the idea rolling, an auction was held on the library lawn, at which time a sum of $1,700 was collected. This money was used to establish the Boothbay Region High School Scholarship Foundation, Inc.

    Their aim was to further public interest in the arts, stimulate visual arts in the local schools, and provide funds to educate students in the field of art. Among those 20six charter members were Weston Andersen, Earle Barlow, Tom Cavanaugh, Robert Courjon, John Heagen Eames, William Keinbusch, Herbert Maynard, Fritz Rockwell, Lawrence Sisson, and Gustaf Tenggren. In addition to fund-raising, the group supplied artist/instructors to the schools, helped form an after-school Art Club, and engaged a part-time art teacher to develop programs and exhibits for displaying students’ work.

    By 1965, the original mission was accomplished; and the group re-stated its mission “to create opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy, learn from and participate in the visual arts”. With this well-worded purpose, Boothbay Region Art Foundation, Inc. began its present existence as a 501 {c} (3). From 1966 to 1993, BRAF’s gallery was located in the historic Brick House behind the House of Logan. From 1994 – 2005, BRAF prospered at 7 Townsend Avenue where both sales and memberships increased.

    Want to know more? Visit https://boothbayartists.org.

    The Gallery is located at  1 Townsend Avenue in Boothbay Harbor. The Gallery is open Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and  Sunday 1-5 p.m. For more information, call 633-2703.

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