Reflections on Ten Years, and Our Future Together
We started with an idea. Nothing else. No money, no space, no experience in running a gallery.
When I look back, I think of the people who made it possible at the very beginning, people who believed in us and organizations that supported our fledgling art business. Some are well-known, while others prefer to remain in the background. We are grateful for them all.
Ready Or Not, Here We Come!
January 2011
Cherie Clinton, my partner in crime, who came up with this crazy scheme and whose enthusiasm sold me on the idea. Her vision and drive set the course for what the gallery is today.
Michael, the studio building manager who told us about the open space in Framingham before it was advertised.
Dick, the landlord who offered us insanely cheap rent because he liked us and knew we would pay on time.
John, the used furniture guy who gave us some pieces of furniture so we wouldn’t have to keep sitting on the floor.
Peter, the upholsterer who wasn’t sure he understood art but did understand the struggles of opening a business and wrote a check that helped us make rent.
Bob, the artist and retired business executive who stopped by to listen, gently advise, and offer much-needed financial support.
Jean, the arts administrator who generously shared her experience in running a successful cooperative gallery in Boston.
The Center for Women and Enterprise, who clued us in on what a business was and how to run it, and who introduced us to concepts like business planning and accounting. (Who knew?)
Arts and Business Council, whose Lawyers for the Arts initiative paired us with pro bono lawyers who helped us with legal documentation.
Katherine French, then director of the Danforth Art Museum, who donated her time to jury and curate our inaugural exhibition.
All that help before we even opened the doors and hosted our first exhibition!
Now, celebrating our tenth anniversary, we have multitudes more to thank.
All the artists who have believed in us and exhibited their work at Fountain Street since the beginning, joining as members—partners in an unproven experiment; we are grateful for their trust and have grown from the experience of working with each one.
And you, who continue to support local art and artists by following the gallery, attending exhibitions and events, and purchasing artworks that touch your heart.
Our very existence rests on the shoulders of individuals and organizations who opened doors and injected support and encouragement at points where it was essential to our survival and growth. We benefited from resources and connections that others may not have access to.
Michele Obama said, “…when you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.” I feel strongly that we have a responsibility to hold the door open. We have committed to doing this in a variety of ways.
When we moved to Boston in 2017, we created the Annex—a smaller space adjacent to our main gallery—geared specifically to newer artists seeking opportunities to show their work in Boston. We have hosted seventy-five artists to date.
Early in 2021, we launched The Sidewalk Video Gallery. By offering this public venue for video and other digital media art, we have attracted a diverse group of artists, styles, and thematic content. We have already shown more than thirty videos created by artists from around the corner and around the globe.
In December, we will be exhibiting work by our first group of three Annex Fellows. Annex Fellowships provide exhibition opportunities and mentorship to artists who are residents of Boston. This year’s Fellows were chosen by guest juror Aynel David Guerra based on the quality and potential of their work, without regard to academic and/or professional achievements or affiliations.
In April 2022, we will launch an occasional series of experimental project exhibitions curated by Allison Maria Rodriguez. First up is “Fire in the Belly,” a week of performance art by artists Dell Marie Hamilton, Joanna Tam, and Georden West with Ena Kantardžić.
We’ve come a long way in ten years, and we have exciting plans in the works going forward. Thank you for supporting local art, and for being a vital part of the Fountain Street community.
With gratitude,
Marie