Common Street Gallery: Art Works
by Michelle Troutman

"The first opening was great. Lots of people came out for it -- they were just happy to see a gallery here, and really, very supportive," says Common Street Gallery owner Kate Barnes. She opened the space for classes in March, and hosted her first art exhibition in April.

After moving around the country her whole life, she settled in Waterville with her husband and her two young daughters. "Having home and having family has really grounded me, and it's made me be a stronger artist, because I know the importance of it," Barnes says.

Barnes was raised by artists. Her mother, Susan Barnes, shows her paintings at The Greenhut Galleries in Portland, and also writes.

While growing up, Barnes went to a non-profit afterschool program, Locust Street Art (aka Molly Olga), run by two women in an old house in Buffalo, New York. Kate considered it a special place for a young artist to explore the arts, and her experiences there influenced her to open the gallery.

Kate spent summers in college arts programs. She also went to The Maine College of Art and to The University of Southern Maine, where she studied Painting and Fine Arts.

Barnes has taught at Freshwater Arts. She offers group classes for children ages four through seven every Thursday, and also offers private lessons for adults and for children. People can contact her for lessons through the Web site.

"It propels me. I get jazzed about it; the kids, especially, are pretty inspiring. You know how open they are, and willing to try new things. It's been really fun."

Exhibitions are free, as is admission to the gallery. The current exhibition consists of children's artwork. The first show featured four painters and a printmaker. During the second showing, four photographers' works were displayed; for a fall or spring exhibition, Barnes will host a solo show by Portland-based printmaker Elizabeth Jabar, which involves a three-dimensional use of space. Each show runs two months.

"I wanted to show work that I connect to as a person.” She likes to connect to the artists and to their works. She wants to eventually have a local show, to support local artists, all over Maine, once a year.

Barnes is open to having volunteers, students for community service projects, or those interested in the arts or who want to know more about running an art gallery.

Kate paints at home, and works primarily in oils, using a flat matte paint known as hyper gouache. She feels very lucky to be an artist and to have a way to express herself creatively, like she has a special place to go to. What she enjoys most about being an artist are her abilities to learn quickly, and to challenge herself using different media.

Her future plans for the gallery include evening art and events, such as poetry readings, figure drawing classes, small concerts, puppet shows, and showing art films.

"Mostly, it's just a place to bring our community together with the arts," says Barnes. "If you value something in this community, support it."

The Common Street Gallery at 20 Common St. is open Thursdays and Saturdays from 11am to 4pm: 207-749-4368. Facebook: www.facebook.com/CommonStreetGallery; www.commonstreetgallery.com.

Visit the Meet Me Downtown home page to read our other business profiles.