ARTWORLD

Maine’s first statewide gallery guide created

By Noah Bruce

Maine has always been a state with vibrant arts communities. However, until now, there hasn’t been a statewide marketing tool for the state’s visual-art offerings.

The brainchild of Boothbay harbor resident Anthony Anderson, the Maine Gallery and Studio Guide fills this gap.

“It started as a pipe dream back in August,” explains Anderson, who owns a company that creates tourist guidebooks. “It was sort of a Saturday afternoon inspiration. By the beginning of September I had spoken to enough advisers who said ‘do it.’ ”

So, together with co-editor Aline Fourier, Anderson set to work compiling information about Maine’s galleries, studios, and museums. “We both had to play detective,” says Anderson. “Aline went to a lot of artists’ meetings in the Belfast area. Artists began to spread the word. It was a grassroots effort.”

Though the pair did list some “starving artists” for free, most galleries and artists had to pay to be included. At this point, the guide is a for-profit venture, though Anderson says this may change as he believes most non-profit art institutions are most comfortable working with other non-profits.

Anderson says the Guide is meant to be as “comprehensive as possible,” but there are some Portland galleries, most notably June Fitzpatrick’s two Portland galleries, that were not included. “I generally don’t buy advertising in something I haven’t seen,” says Fitzpatrick of her decision not to buy into the Guide. “I’ve had a quick glance at it, and I’ve asked people who come into the gallery if they’ve seen it . . . but I won’t make a decision whether to purchase advertising in it for next year until next year.”

Anderson and Fourier printed over 30,000 copies of the Guide and have distributed them free of charge to most Maine art galleries and art museums, and also to hotels and inns across the state.