Destination KennebunkART l Friday Art Walks
Kennebunkport’s Best Art Galleries and Studios are in Kennebunkport and Kennebunk Lower Village, Downtown Kennebunk and Cape Porpoise.
The Kennebunk art scene is thriving. The beautiful seaside towns of Kennebunkport, Cape Porpoise, Goose Rocks and Kennebunk Beach are full of inspiration, but recently the art scene has really started to bustle with new galleries opening next to classic collections. Growing with big brush strokes, the Kennebunks are now home to some of Maine’s best art galleries, art exhibits and festivals – plus the Village Art Walk on the 2nd Friday and the Art Trail of the Kennebunks.
One of the best times to visit Kennebunkport’s art community is The 2nd Friday Village Art Walk, and during The Kennebunkport Festival in June, formerly called the Kennebunkport Fine Food and Art Festival. This weeklong celebration pairs artists with Maine’s best chefs for lavish dinners at Kennebunkport’s finest homes and galas at the best waterfront resorts. But you can savor the Kennebunks art scene in any season.
Dock Square in Kennebunkport is home to several beautiful galleries including Abacus, Rusty Fly, True North and Compliments in the heart of the Port. The Kennebunkport Historical Society’s White Columns on Maine Street is home to beautiful historical works of art as well as the First Family Bush Legacy exhibit– a collection of photos of the Bush Family and their time in Kennebunkport on Walkers Point during George H W Bush’s presidency and beyond. Mast Cove Gallery and the Kennebunkport Graves Memorial Library, next door to each other, both feature priceless art works, and those with prices too for the art collector in you.
Heading out Ocean Avenue to President Bush’s famous Walkers Point estate, you will pass several galleries, like Robert Paine, Landmark Gallery and North Light Gallery. Photographers will love Christopher Becker Photography gallery featuring time exposure photos of cityscapes, the seaside, and a fantastic collective of dog photography.
In Lower Village Kennebunk, Maine Art Hill is home to nine unique art galleries in 4 separate buildings—The Gallery, Shows, The Grand and Studios. The Maine Art Gallery is open year-round and is one of Southern Maine’s premier art gallery destinations representing over 40 fine artists. Each artist has some connection to Maine whether they are from here, live here currently or are lucky enough to spend time here when they can. Several artists are known nationally and even worldwide. Shows are located in a historic home at 5 Chase Hill offering an intimate gallery setting for viewing original artwork. The Grand features new works from select artists from The Gallery. Studios is a collection of six micro galleries representing high-quality artists and artisans. The Works, a three dimensional gallery, Pop-Up, a weekly surprise of local talent, Thompson and Company Fine Art, Maine Art Hill Prints and Maine Art Hill Framing, and PhosArt Fine Art.
Be sure to also visit Sue Rioux Designs on Port Road to see her amazing kaleidoscopes heading up Port Road, and Morph and Blue Whale Trading Co., just beyond the Fire Station.
River Tree Center for The Arts is a non-profit art society with changing art exhibits, painting, jewelry making, pottery and sculpture classes, and Pecha Kucha evenings where artists, scientists and professional provide insightful impromptu lectures.
Kennebunk’s Route 35 to Summer Street brings you to Jack Nahill’s Gallery. Proceeding along historic Summer Street, you are treated to spectacular architecture from Victorian to Gothic and Federal mansions that line the Kennebunk River and speak to the craftsmanship and the grand lifestyle of centuries ago – the Wedding Cake House being the most photographed and famous.
In downtown Kennebunk, The Brick Store Museum on Main Street offers more historical art depicting the evolution of Kennebunk from the shipbuilding period to the turn of the century social heydays to Presidents and the progression of the towns.
Also visit Kennebunk Free Library’s Speers Gallery, Shutter Gallery, Frame Works, Sunburst Clay Works, Claudia Hopf and Michael Fillyaw studios. This is your opportunity to meet and chat with the artists about their inspiration at each of the venues of Kennebunk’s down town area.
The 2nd Friday Village Art Walk of Kennebunk and Kennebunkport includes open houses at over 20 art galleries and studios in Dock Square, Ocean Ave Kennebunkport and Lower Village Kennebunk and downtown Kennebunk. More details on the Art Walk on our Blog
Abacus Gallery, 2 Ocean Ave, Kennebunkport, 207-967-0111
Since 1971 featuring the Abacus calendar and artwork by Maine artist Dana Heacock, and an exciting selection of crafts.
Christopher Becker Photo Gallery, 127 Ocean Ave, Kennebunkport -207-967-0069
Compliments Gallery, Dock Square, Kennebunkport – 207-967-2269, Gallery of fine American crafts featuring the calendar and works of Maine artist Kate Libby.
F-8 Photography Gallery, 5 Spring Street, Kennebunkport, 207-967-3227, A contemporary fine art photography gallery
Kennebunkport Historical Society, 125 North Street, Kennebunkport, 207-967-2751
Mast Cove Gallery, 1 Mast Cove Lane, Kennebunkport,207-967-3453
Maine Art Gallery & Maine Art Hill – 14 Western Ave, Kennebunk, 207-967-2803, A gallery of outdoor wind sculptures, original paintings and sculpture representing 30 artists plus a Maine Art Hill community of cottages with rotating art exhibits, jewelry, framing, sculpture and 3D curations.
The Grand, inside the Grand Hotel, beautiful art on display in the lobby, part of Maine Art Hill, Lower Village on Chase Hill and Western Ave.
Sue Rioux Kaleidoscopes, Port Road, Kennebunk, across from Pedros.
Of The Sea and Sea Light Candle Co, Port Road, Kennebunk also across from Pedros.
River Tree Arts, 35 Western Avenue, Kennebunk, 207-967-9120, a nonprofit community arts organization offering music lessons, preschool art and music classes, after school enrichment…
Brick Store Museum, 117 Main Street, Kennebunk, 207-985-4802
Destination KennebunkART l Friday Art Walks
