The Value Of Fine Art - Edgewater Gallery
06/06/2024 08:47AM ● By WENDIE PECHARSKY
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
The gallery’s home, a historic building that once housed the beloved Frog Hollow Crafts Center, now stands as a testament to Middlebury’s rich artistic heritage. It has been transformed into a gallery that contributes to the local culture with vibrant exhibitions from emerging and established artists from Vermont and beyond.
In 2015, the gallery opened a second location at 6 Merchants Row in Middlebury and dubbed it Edgewater Gallery on the Green. At the helm of both locations is Director Theresa Harris, who says that when the Merchants Row building became available, the owner jumped at the chance to lease it because “it’s just such a gorgeous space for hanging art: big, tall windows and natural light and open space.”
AN EXPANSIVE ARRAY OF WORKS
Together, the galleries showcase the works of over 50 fine and mixed-media artists, 30 photographers, sculptors, 3-D artists, and more than a dozen jewelry creators/designers on a rotating basis.
Though Theresa has the last word on what art will be exhibited, she says, “It’s a joint effort, and I ask our staff to weigh in on various artists. I appreciate different perspectives and take those into account when I’m making final decisions.”
The Water Owns Your Heart 52"x42" oil on canvas
GETTING TO KNOW THE ARTISTS
Theresa, whose art background includes 30 years as a textile designer in the home furnishings field, says one of the best parts of her job at the gallery is forming relationships with the artists whose work she acquires and sells. “I enjoy helping artists thrive, get exposure, and sell their art,” she says. “I know how much it means to an artist because I’ve been on the other side.”
When asked how she decides which artists will be featured where, she says, “We have two large spaces, so as far as featuring an artist goes, it’s a rotating process with a goal of giving each artist an opportunity at some point to have a solo show or be part of a group show or to do an artist talk or demonstration of some kind. These features help to educate and hopefully generate excitement over an artist’s work.”
Homer Wells Torres Del Paine 38"x45" etched aluminum;
CURRENT EXHIBITS
“Borders and Boundaries,” a two-person
exhibit that runs until June 25, is now showing
at Edgewater Gallery at the Falls. It features
artist Homer Wells, whose work represents the
mountains of Vermont, the Champlain Valley,
the New England coastline, and the glaciers
of the Northwest, and Alexis Serio, whose
landscapes combine layers of bold color with
subtle tonal shifts and floating abstract shapes.
Kate Gridley Untitled 8"x8" oil on panel;
A solo exhibition featuring artist Helen Schulman, who, on her Facebook page, calls her work “abstractions with landscape associations,” will open on June 28 at the Edgewater Gallery on the Green.
Helen Shulman Mixer 12"x12" oil on panel.
At Edgewater Gallery at the Falls, a solo show featuring the minimalist abstracts and still life by Ellen Rolli, an artist new to the gallery, will also open that same day (June 28) and run through August 10.
Jane Davies Perfect Squall 8"x10" mixed media on paper.
SUMMERTIME MEANS MORE VISITORS
Theresa expects quite an influx of visitors during July and August because “Middlebury is such a beautiful, quaint town, so we get a lot of people on vacation.” But she also notices that more and more, “we get people who are not just happening by but have made coming to Middlebury a day trip and want to see the galleries because they’re such large spaces. So, if you’re an art appreciator, you get to see a lot between the two galleries. We’re starting to hear people say, ‘Oh yes, we always make one or two trips a year to the galleries.’”
HOURS OF OPERATION
The galleries are now open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm, and Sunday, 11am to 4pm. They are closed on Mondays.
Edgewater Gallery
6 Merchants Row and 1 Mill Street
Middlebury, VT
