WISCASSET

The revitalized Maine Art Gallery, an organization for artists and supporters of art in midcoast Maine, invites the public to a gathering at the gallery on Oct. 12 at 5 p.m. Keith Rendall, an artist and gallery owner in Wiscasset, will give a brief talk on the business of art marketing during the event.

The Maine Art Gallery was the vision of Mildred Burrage, a nationally acclaimed artist with roots in Maine. The organization’s mission is to advance and preserve the fine arts of painting, sculpture and graphic arts through exhibitions, lectures, demonstrations, and educational programs for children and adults. Membership once numbered in the hundreds, but in recent years that number decreased and the gallery was shuttered for two years.

In 2016 a small group of artists and art lovers decided that there was a need for an organization that supports art in the manner that Mildred Burrage originally described. The Old Academy Building at 15 Warren St. in Wiscasset, with abundant natural light for studio work and exhibits, thus became The Maine Art Gallery.

The new MAG members produced a full season of events in 2017 that included a Youth Art Exhibit, a Plein Air event, an exhibit of the work of Virginia S. Brun, and Colors in Bloom, a cooperative exhibit with Wiscasset Garden Club in which members created floral arrangements to complement paintings and pastels by invited artists. In addition, several art classes were offered in the gallery’s studio space.

Anyone who believes in the importance of art in our lives is urged to attend the gathering and consider joining the effort to carry out the original mission of the Maine Art Gallery. In addition to the talk, there will be an opportunity to volunteer for committees. Refreshments will be served at 5 p.m., with Rendall’s talk to follow.

More information about the Maine Art Gallery, a non-profit organization, can be found on the gallery web site, www.maineartgallerywiscasset.org and on Facebook at Maine Art Gallery Wiscasset.