The Boothbay Region Art Foundation’s annual holiday event, Art in the Square, opens at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 24 (a.k.a. Black Friday).

Midcoast artists and others across the state, have created 12” x 12” masterpieces for this show and sale. Many artists paint several works on these mini-canvases, through the month of December.  Some reflect the holiday season, others are of landscapes (many birch tree and snow scenes - hey, there’s something about those trees!), still life, florals, abstracts, seascapes ... it’s all here. It’s all gorgeous.

Each square is $100. That’s right. $100! Last year these squares were flying off the walls — people were buying  two and three at a time by such well known artists as Corinne McIntyre, Tony van Hasselt, John Butke, Maria Boord (who’s often paints in threes), Sandra Leinonen Dunn, Ann Hedgecock, Jo Crary, June Campbell Rose, June Elderkin, Virginia Forrest, Sally G. Smith, Marcia Brandwein, Hilary E. Bartlett, Maria Doelp, Sarah Greenier, Nathan Campbell, Bob Rose and many, many more!

This year Andersen Studio & Design will have its classic ceramic sculptures, in the upstairs gallery. The Neil Andersen family is one of the founding families of the Art Foundation in 1965. Andersen Studio’s ceramic art is slip-cast and handcrafted from raw materials sourced in America. Andersen Studio, founded in 1952, is known for organic and original ceramic functional forms and the Andersen line of stoneware wildlife sculpture - a recognized American classic in the field of contemporary nature art.

A percentage of the proceeds raised from the sale of the 12” x 12” squares, during the show and sale supports BRAF’s scholarship program. Last year, Gabrielle Wenners, Ken Hicks, and Noah Sherburne received scholarships.

Find gifts, support art students, and support local artists  ... as June Campbell Rose once said, “It’s hip to be square!”

And, drum roll please ... the winner of the ARTinME People’s Choice Award will be announced at the opening reception for Art in the Square on Saturday, Dec. 2 during the Harbor Lights Festival. Last year, South Bristol artist Alice de Mauriac was the people’s choice for her moody acrylic painting, “Expectations.”

The Art in the Square show and sale continues through early January. The Boothbay Region Art Foundation is located at 1 Townsend Avenue in Boothbay Harbor. Gallery hours (after Black Friday) are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.