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Business was different 50 years ago when Smart Studio opened in Northeast Harbor. “We opened from nine am to noon during the week, as there were very few tourists back then” according to founder Wini Smart. Business was brisk for the artist as the summer folk shopped in town to collect their newspaper and groceries. Afternoons were devoted to painting on location to replenish the gallery, five children in tow. “Mom would take us to her favorite painting spots around MDI, she would paint and we would picnic, explore, fish, and play” daughter Gail Cleveland remembers.

Fast forward 50 years to today and one would see some changes at the gallery. Back in 1967 watercolors were hung on fish net and sold for a few dollars. Today the gallery offers much larger works, in oil and watercolor, limited edition prints and cards, gifts, antiques and custom framing. Still offered are the small intimate watercolors painted on location by Wini and Gail.

To celebrate the milestone the gallery is hosting a retrospective show at the Northeast Harbor Library for the month of July. Works on display will include loaned paintings from collectors. There will be a reception for the public on July 20th from 5-7 in the Melon room at the library. The show will be available to view from July 1-30th. Please call the gallery at 276-5152 for more information.