“They say a business has made it after five years,” says Beth Cossey, board member and exhibiting artist at Gallery 302 in Bridgton. “So we're almost there.” The gallery, a co-op of artists from the Lakes Region in western Maine, recently passed the four-year mark. It's still young in business years, but it has come a long way since it began as an ad in the local newspaper.

“We wanted to see if anybody would be interested in a gallery, or getting artists together,” says Cossey. It turns out there was plenty of interest, as 35 artists showed up at the meeting mentioned in the ad. Everything quickly fell in place after that successful first meeting — the town was incredibly interested and supportive of the idea, the artists were committed to making it work, and an ideal space right on Main Street was available. Today the gallery is operating at capacity with 63 artists on display and 36 more on the waiting list.

Like everywhere else in this tourist-centric town, summer is the busiest season for the gallery. Bridgton's population more than doubles in the summer from tourists and seasonal residents, which give Maine artists a chance to reach audiences from all over the country. The gallery still gets skiers and leaf-peepers who stop by during the rest of the year, but the gallery is largely sustained by local customers. “There's been a lot of community support,” says Cossey.

Hand carved and painted ducks by Donald Bolduc.

Gallery 302 members pride themselves on maintaining a unique style. They display a variety of different types of art, currently including hand-carved and painted wooden ducks, pottery, miniature blown-glass critters, pine needle baskets, stained glass, and plenty more. Also on display are works by international artists from Holland, Russia, and Ukraine who have settled into the Lakes Region.

The gallery has an impressive array of art on display, but Cossey says they try to limit the number of artists working in any one medium. For example, you won't find more than six photographers or five jewelers on display at the same time. “We don't want it to be all one thing, so we try to keep a balance,” says Cossey. Even among artists working in the same medium, there's such a range of styles that it's hard to compare. Paintings may be abstract, realist, or somewhere in between. Photography subject matter and style varies by photographer.

But the most impressive thing about the gallery may be that they only sell original works of art — no reprints. Once an artist sells a particular painting, photograph, or whatever, they replace it with a new — and different — piece. This keeps the collection fresh, which keeps customers coming back for more.

Artists pay $25 a year for membership, along with $75 every three months for one of the 64 available gallery spaces to display their work. The gallery is non-profit, but keeps 15% commission on sales to help pay for basic needs like rent, utilities, and advertising. Each artist also has to work a certain number of days at the gallery.

Cossey stresses the importance for artists to work in the gallery, because it gives them a chance to see and interact with their clientele. Lynn Harrison, a photographer who has been involved with the gallery since it opened, agrees. While customer comments don't influence her art directly, Harrison says it does get her to think about things differently, and she keeps her “eyes and ears open” when customers walk through the gallery.

The small cost is worth it for artists, whose work gets more exposure in the gallery than it otherwise would. “There's a bigger draw here because there are so many different kinds of art,” says Harrison. The co-op also brings artists together who might otherwise not have met. Harrison calls it a “great social group” that is very welcoming. It gives her the chance to talk shop with other photographers. She admits there might be a “twinge of competition” among artists in the gallery, but its healthy. “Our work is so different that there's no need to be fearful.”

Beth Cossey stands next to some of her watercolors at Gallery 302.

The artists keep everything as democratic as possible at the gallery, both for new artists and those who are already members. New artists who want to join bring 3-4 examples of their work to the gallery on a night when most of the current members are there. Each member votes ‘yes' or ‘no' on an artist, and if there are more yes's than no's, the artist is in. Once artists are admitted, they draw numbers every three months to determine which space in the gallery their work will be displayed.

Members are very appreciative of the support of the local community, and try to find ways to stay involved. Since it began, Gallery 302 has given out three scholarships to local graduating high school art students. Gallery members also host several events, including monthly wine & cheese receptions, a “Student Art Month” in conjunction with local schools, as well as a partnership with area summer camps to display, judge, and possibly sell the best art from camp art classes. “Art in Bloom” is a new annual event where local gardeners come in to the gallery, choose a painting and design an arrangement to complement it. Their biggest event, “Art in the Park,” is coming up on July 21.

Cossey would love to have more partnerships, host more events, and offer classes, noting that each new way they can get different crowds into the gallery will help it grow. The artists are all for expansion, with so many on the waiting list.

As that five-year mark approaches, Cossey and the other artists will certainly be working to make all their goals a reality. Like the scenes depicted in a number of paintings and photographs hanging on its walls, the horizon looks bright for Gallery 302.

Links:
Gallery 302 website