To the Editor:

On a recent Friday night in Brunswick, as rain fell steadily, people queued up under their umbrellas in anticipation of being first to the wall where a previously scouted work of art hung for sale.

Forty-eight people were in line at Curtis Memorial Library, more at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. At 5 p.m., the doors were unlocked and the excitement began.

The 2012 10 x 10 Benefit Art Exhibit & Sale was the most successful to date. We sold 102 original works of art by Maine artists and raised $3,000 from silent auction pieces. A record $14,000 was raised for the nonprofit Arts Are Elementary program.

On behalf of the 10 x 10 Committee, Arts Are Elementary and the 1,044 students who will enjoy art residencies in their classrooms this year, I would like to thank the Greater Brunswick community for supporting this year’s event.

Thank you to the 165 participating artists who created amazing works of art in 10” x 10” format, including John Bisbee, Katherine Bradford, David Cedrone, Rebecca Goodale, Dahlov Ipcar, Sally Loughridge, Jerry Day Mason, Andrea Sulzer, Henry Wolyniec and Mark Wethli.

Thank you to our amazing group of volunteers who number well over 100. From the Bowdoin College Women’s Hockey Team, to the Brunswick High School students, to the artists of Points of View and all the moms, dads and other community members.

And thanks to our many sponsors.

The community came out in large numbers that night, whether to purchase art or to have a glass of wine and support the cause, it was a great night for the arts in Maine. Thank you all for being a part of it.

Lucy Cooney
Brunswick