PHOTOS: Opening Exhibitions 2025 at Barn Gallery – Ogunquit Art Association

As the golden light, and fickle weather, of late May bathed Ogunquit, Maine, a palpable creative energy converged on Barn Gallery — the vital link between Maine’s legendary Ogunquit Art Colony of the past and its thriving artistic present. The May 24, 2025 Gala Reception for Opening Exhibitions marked not just another season, but 97 years of uninterrupted artistic legacy under the Ogunquit Art Association (OAA), Maine’s original artists’ group founded in 1928.

At the core of every opening exhibition lies OAA Expressions, the association’s signature showcase that embodies its founding philosophy. Unlike juried shows constrained by trends, this exhibition represents something rare and profound: artists presenting what they personally consider their finest work, “free from the usual vagaries of popular opinion and fashions of taste.”

Walking through this year’s OAA Expressions, visitors experienced something extraordinary — unfiltered artistic vision in its purest form. Paintings vibrated with bold color beside subtle monochromatic studies. Sculptures shared space with delicate paper works. Each piece represented an artist’s personal benchmark of excellence, creating a thrilling diversity that nonetheless spoke with one voice about artistic authenticity.

As one longtime patron observed, “This is where you see art made for art’s sake — exactly what the Ogunquit Colony stood for in 1928, and what makes this place special today.” The recurring OAA Expressions exhibition changes completely with each iteration, yet always maintains this radical commitment to artistic self-determination.

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Photos of the Gala Reception for the 2025 Opening Exhibitions at Barn Gallery (by OAA Artist Member, Dave Wade)

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Once again, the outdoor Sculpture Court at Barn Gallery features both OAA sculptors and invited New England artists. It’s truly one of the most immersive art experiences in New England — a place where three-dimensional works come alive amid Ogunquit’s signature sea breezes and golden coastal light. As visitors wander among the sculptures, the salt-tinged air and dappled sunlight filtering through the trees create an ever-changing gallery without walls. This is art in dialogue with its environment, where the rugged beauty of coastal Maine serves as both backdrop and collaborator. The court’s layout encourages leisurely contemplation, inviting guests to circle each piece as shifting perspectives reveal new details with each step.

For the 2025 Opening Art Exhibitions at Barn Gallery, two exceptional artists — photographer Karen Bushold and printmaker Carol Travers Lummus — epitomize how today’s OAA members honor tradition while forging new paths.

Bushold’s showcase, loosely organized around the concept of “Tales of Time and Travels,” captures fleeting moments of beauty across continents, from Havana’s peeling walls to Miami’s neon glow. Her approach — “encounter by surprise or accident” — echoes Cartier-Bresson’s decisive moment, yet her vibrant digital compositions are unmistakably contemporary. A member for fifteen years (and connected to OAA through her husband for three decades), Bushold embodies the OAA’s enduring appeal: a community where artists grow, experiment, and inspire one another.

Lummus’ “Lines, Lace and Levity” showcases masterful intaglio prints that would feel at home in 1920s Ogunquit, yet her whimsical narratives about “foppish folks” are entirely fresh. After 30 years with OAA, her work embodies what critic Hal LaCroix called “coy statements on social conventions” — proving traditional techniques can speak to modern concerns.

Beyond these highlights, the Expanded Collectors Gallery offers accessible treasures (all works under $850), while upcoming events continue the conversation:

• June 5, 2025 (at 6 PM): Gallery Talk with Bushold & Lummus

PLAN YOUR VISIT TODAY:

• Opening Exhibitions At Barn Gallery continue through June 21
• Barn Gallery | 3 Hartwig Lane, Ogunquit
• Free admission

SAVE THE DATE: OAA Annual Art Auction

• July 30, 31 / August 1, 2 “71st OAA Art Auction Preview”
• August 2 “71st OAA Art Auction” (doors open 6pm; auction begins 7pm)

Come for the art. Stay for the inspiration. And leave with a deeper connection to the creative spirit of Ogunquit.