Haley Art Gallery: In Support of Artists and Fair Trade

 

Business Name: Haley Art Gallery

Location: 178 Haley Road, Kittery, Maine

Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 12-6 p.m.

Contact: (207) 439-7612; haleygallery@comcast.net

The Biz: Jackie Abramian and her husband Harout DerSimonian opened the Haley Art Gallery in January of 2005 in a historic renovated dairy farm, where the couple also lives. While Jackie is not an artist herself, she and her husband are strong supporters of the arts. As a longtime publicist and former journalist, Jackie promotes artists and has written a book called "Power up on PR" about how artists can hone public relation skills to get their name out there.

The gallery, which also has a gift shop, only carries unique, original artwork that cannot be found anywhere else on the seacoast. Both local and international artwork is featured, including art from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, California, Prague, Armenia and Iraq. The Abramians carry art from Fair Trade cottage industries around the world from paintings to sculptures.

To Jackie, appreciating arts does not consist of looking at paintings on the walls and leaving, but rather a broader experience that encompasses the realms of poetry, oration, history, culture, and exercise, as well.

The gallery also serves as a meeting place rented out for functions such as yoga lessons, children’s art workshops and Victorian tea parties.

Maine's Governor John Baldacci visited the gallery on the fifth anniversary of 9/11 for an exhibit showcasing work from artists who had been affected by the tragedy. Other exhibits have included a two-month long children’s artwork exhibit by students in two Kittery schools, a green art expo that featured eco-artists and an appearance by the Green Alliance, an exhibit by survivors of the Armenian Genocide and Jewish Holocaust and a green art expo that featured eco-artists and an appearance by the Green Alliance.

Owner’s Word: “[Artwork] has to be handmade or we won’t carry it. It has to be fair trade so that the artists aren’t exploited and so that art is more affordable…. I would like the gallery to grow more into a place where people come to get the most unique artwork; and when people give gifts [from the gallery], I want them to feel proud they supported the arts. If you want to support the arts, you need to start by supporting the artist.” –Jackie Abramian

Featured Artwork: "Fall Ride on Ocean Ave," Oil on Canvas – Ann Legg (Kennebunkport, Maine – master pastelist with the American Pastel Society).

For More Information: Visit the gallery's website or follow the gallery on Twitter.