Turtle Gallery celebrates 40th Anniversary on Deer Isle

The Turtle Gallery in Deer Isle celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

In honor of its long time home on the island, its artists were invited to explore the influence of “Home & Shelter” through their familiar landscapes and the scenes and routines of their daily lives.

As part of this effort to give back to the community, the gallery will contribute 4% of profits this season to Island Workforce Housing, which is dedicated to creating affordable housing on Deer Isle.

Since our beginning in 1982, Turtle Gallery has offered a comprehensive selection of fine art, contemporary craft and sculpture by established local and nationally-known makers, many of whom have studied or taught at the nearby Haystack Mountain School of Crafts.

Elena Kubler started The Turtle Gallery in a small storefront on the main street of the village of Deer Isle. Fourteen years after opening, the gallery moved to the 1876 Centennial House on Route 15, where The Turtle now resides. The previous residents of Centennial House were Francis and Priscilla Merritt, who founded Haystack.

Between Memorial Day Weekend and the end of September, groupings of work by numerous artists will be featured, including Mary Aro, Marjorie Glick, Jeff Loxterkamp, Lisa Houck, Paul Heroux, Katama Murray, Barbara Sullivan, Treacy Ziegler and many more.

The next workshop is Portable Fresco Painting with Barbara Sullivan on Aug. 10 and 11 and the next open house is Aug. 12.

The Turtle Gallery resides in an 1876 two-story barn and outdoor sculpture garden located at 61 N. Deer Isle Road on Route 15, just north of the Deer Isle village center. Hours are noon to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday through mid-October and by appointment year-round. For more information, visit urtlegallery.com or call 207-348-9977. The gallery is also on Facebook and Instagram @theturtlegallery.