By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

On a spring day in 2003, friends George Bradt and Eve Abreu realized Bridgton was lacking an art gallery.

So, they put an ad in the Bridgton News asking for artists and art supporters to come together for a planning meeting.

A crowd of 40 interested folks gathered at the Bridgton Community Center on May 5 and hatched the plan to open a gallery in two months. 

“For me being a part of the beginning of this gallery was a way for me to be able to show my art work. It was a way to connect with other artists and be inspired by what others were doing. Just knowing that I needed to be able to fill my space with high quality work was a huge incentive that helped me immensely in my growth as an artist,” said Cathy Grigsby of Bridgton, one of the eight founding artists. “What I didn’t know at the time was that being a part of a gallery co-op was also an opportunity to learn about the difficulties and rewards of working in a community towards a common goal.”

Another founder, Sandra Long of Naples, pointed out, “Why was it important to create Gallery 302? There was no place in our area that showcased local artists work. Bridgton was growing and it was the perfect opportunity to start a gallery.”

Celia Talbot of Naples added, “It created a place for artists to sell their work, and in doing so also created an artist community. I had no idea there were so many artists in this area.  Not only has it been a good place to sell my work but it has been a great place to meet friends.”

At that first meeting, a group volunteered to be Board of Directors with Ernie Kozen as president; George Bradt as vice president; Lynn Harrison and Elna Stone as co-secretaries; and Nancy Smoak as treasurer. A short while later, Beth Cossey took over for George as vice president. 

The group then looked at several storefronts and determined the old Hayes Hardware Store was the best choice available.

Lynn Harrison put up $5,000 in start-up funds to flow through a 501(c)(3) entity called Friends of Bridgton Arts. The money was used to pay rent, rehab the old hardware space, and purchase supplies.

The 10 weeks between the initial decision to create a gallery and its opening were quite frenetic! Work crews swarmed the gallery space on weekends while the business of forming a new non-profit entity moved forward behind the scenes.

The new group then had to decide how to recruit artists and create publicity. George acquired the perfect phone number, 647-ARTS! There were heated debates about what kinds of art would be displayed. The overarching desire was that artists’ work would be of professional quality. The board held weekly two-hour meetings to brainstorm tasks, resolve the inevitable questions, and create the gallery Bridgton has today. 

Gallery 302 opened temporarily in June 2003 with an art show hosted by the Lakes Environmental Association. Shortly thereafter, the exhibiting gallery artists moved in, and the public was invited to share in a celebratory opening reception on July 25, 2003.

“Through the years, Bridgton has hosted short-lived galleries on Main Street. In the 70s, Bridgton was known for its prestigious annual juried art show that drew artists from in state as well as from out of state with its well-known jurors and large purchase prizes,” said Molly Mains of Bridgton. “The next 20 years offered very little in the way of visual arts until LEA created a fundraiser showcasing local art talent. The time was ripe for a venue to bring local artists to the forefront. With the LEA event as a catalyst, Gallery 302 was created. It gave local artists the opportunity to share their work with the public and it gave Bridgton an invitation to participate in this wonderful world of art.”

Lynn Harrison of Bridgton said it was important to create a gallery to have a place where the multitude of local and regional artists could showcase their creative works.

“We felt it would be a great addition to Bridgton and would begin to make Bridgton a destination rather than a ‘pass through’ town. We were initially flabbergasted at the response from artists who had been doing their own thing out of sight. The town responded positively, as well,” Harrison said. 

Elna Stone of Bridgton remembers George Bradt putting the ad in The Bridgton News asking if anyone would be interested in starting an art gallery in Bridgton.

“He would be making pizza if we came to the meeting. I had just finished my first ‘Scenes of Bridgton’ calendar of 12 original paintings of the Bridgton area. What better way to sell those 12 originals than to have an art gallery as I didn’t know many people in Bridgton,” Stone said. “The original people found the best space in Bridgton, organized the space – built spaces, painted the venue, got a Board of Directors established.”

In the 20 years since the creation of the Bridgton Art Guild (which owns and operates Gallery 302), the steadfast group of artists and art enthusiasts has been a fixture in Bridgton. And it prospers today with the active support of a local community which celebrates the arts.

This coming Tuesday, Aug. 8, 20 years of art success will be celebrated with a party at the Magic Lantern Theatre. And, the public is invited (see ticket information in the Founding Artist cutline)!

As founding artists look back at the 20 years Gallery 302 has existed, they offered up a few thoughts regarding what they are most proud of:

Cathy Grigsby of Bridgton, whose interest is in pastel, fiber, acrylics and collage, said, “I have seen people come and go over the years and witnessed the immense amount of work that goes into the running of the gallery and while we have lost people due to burn out and even death, the original spirit of cooperation and love of art is still alive and well today.”

Sandra Long of Naples (painting & prints) — “I am pleased that the gallery is still viable and that we have so many fine artists work in the gallery. We continue to offer classes to the community.”

Celia Talbott of Naples (stoneware and porcelain pottery) — “I am so proud that our little gallery has been able to survive the pandemic, as well as other obstacles. Also, we have brought a greater awareness of art to the community with our classes, receptions, art talks and many other programs.”

Molly Mains of Bridgton (acrylics, oils pastels and prints) — “I think what I’m most proud of are all the artists through the years who have been vital members of our creative community whether for a short participation time or many years of service. Along with their art, they have brought expertise in so many areas and concern for the success of all we promote. We are strong today because of their creative energy. And that optimism and hard work that we all share motivates us now and into the future!”

Karen Lipiatos of Lovell (jewelry design) — “I’m very proud of the true spirit of cooperation permeating decisions and actions of the exhibiting artists through these 20 years. These have been passionate, creative, talented, community-oriented, and wonderful people. I feel so honored and blessed to have been a part of this organization for the past 20 years — a true community.” 

Lynn Harrison of Bridgton (photography) — “I am most proud of having been among the founders, the gallery’s longevity through the national financial difficulties of 2008 and the COVID pandemic, and the vibrancy of the gallery today, led by a strong, enthusiastic board of directors, many of whose members are a generation younger than the founders.”

Elna Stone of Bridgton (watercolor artist) — I am most proud of the evolution of Gallery 302, from a small, hometown gallery (with the help of the established community) to the wonderful well-known gallery we have today.  We survived a recession, closing because of Covid-19, more and more excellent artists wanting to be juried into the gallery and a very smart Board and members running it like an excellent business. I love it!”