Have you been to see the 2024 Art in the Square at Boothbay Region Art Foundation? My advice: Get there for yourself and any art lovers on your holiday, birthday, or "just because" lists. Fifty-five artists have created mini-masterpieces on the 12" x 12" canvases that are $125 each. Mixed media, oil, acrylic, photography, collage; scenics, abstracts, still life and more … a medium and subject to tickle the imaginations of all.

Check out some of the artists: Roger Milinowski, Linda Osborn, Sandra Dunn, Andre Benoit, Wendy Clayton, Ann Hedgecock, Andie Elwell, Marjorie deGarmo, Virginia Forrest, John Sawyer, Bruce MacDonald, Sandra Chase Morrissey, Jean Kigel, Star Perkins, Irene Plummer and Cally Pearce, to name a few.

I’ve got to start with Andre Benoit's wooden assemblages. Who doesn’t dig his work and sense of humor? You can almost see his imagination ignited by the materials as he spies a uniquely shaped discarded piece of wood, an interesting drawer pull, a drawer, knoll posts, handles, driftwood … the list is endless, right? A couple are among my favorites in this show: "Supermoon Night Diver" and "Ask Hilary if it's edible." The first has a figure illuminated by the last full supermoon of the year (btw, the next one won't be until October 2025) lighting her way with the sea below ... a perfect gift for the moon lover or cold plungers out there. The second, with large, plump mushrooms, is perfect for the forager on your list. In case you’re wondering, the “Hilary” Andre refers to is artist/author Hilary Bartlett who’s latest, well researched book is “Mushroom Mania.” I bet (but not a lot) Hilary would say something Liverpudlian like, “That ‘scran’ is definitely not edible …” punctuated by laughter.

I really love Jean Kigel's "A Bump in the Road Marshall Point, Friendship" done in cold wax and oil. It's as though you're looking at and in the boulders and trees. The depth is fantastic. And, in this case, you can see the forest through the trees.

There are several collage/mixed media works that are absolute knockouts. For me, Linda Osborn’s “Funky Sunset” composed of sea glass, beach stones, oak moss, seaweed, a tree branch and oil paint is gorgeous and fanciful. An original take on a favorite view for all of us – the sea. The lone tree on the knoll above of seaweed and oak moss leaves on branches extending beyond the 12” x 12” canvas (a bit Tim Burton-ish, really), the sea glass and stone-filled beach hits all the right notes for fantasy lovers out there.

Andie Elwell, BRAF board member and artist, said work came from everywhere between Freeport and Washington (Maine, that is).

There’s a special fundraiser happening during this year’s Art in the Square: smaller square painting tree ornaments by Ann Hedgecock that are just $20 each. The tree stands in the left front window of the gallery.

And, train fans won’t want to miss turning on the model train in the right front window. BYOH – bring your own hat.

The Art in the Square show is also a fundraiser: $25 of each sale goes toward the gallery’s scholarship fund and sponsorship of the annual K-12 Student Art Show.

Boothbay Region Art Foundation is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday – Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Upcoming exception: BRAF will be open at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, the day of the Early Bird Sale & Pajama Party!