About Turtle Gallery
One of the first galleries in the area, Turtle Gallery was established first by Elena Kubler, an artist herself, in a small storefront in Deer Isle village in 1982. The gallery represented regional artists and craftspeople, including Francis Merritt, Karl Schrag, Dan Hodermarsky, Stephen Pace, Howard Fussiner, Siri Beckman, Larry Moffet, and many others. All the work related in some way to the beautiful coastal surroundings.
In the mid-90s, the gallery moved up the hill to the historic Centennial House, first occupying the barn that had previously been the home of the galleries for the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and Deer Isle Artists Association. With the move, the gallery was able to add sculpture to its offerings, as well as larger and more varied shows in the new space. The gallery has also come to include some work from away that complements the evolving regional mix. In the last few years, and fully in 2006, the gallery expanded into the ground floor of the House, and in 2007 a second print room was added in a second floor room in the House. The expansion of the commitment to prints builds on the successful collaboration of the statewide Maine Print Project in 2006.
To celebrate its 26th year, Turtle Gallery mounts a schedule of four summer shows for the 2008 summer season with a broad range of work by new and emerging artists, and older established artists who have been with the gallery since the start. Each show will have an opening reception one Sunday afternoon, and a gallery talk the next Sunday afternoon. The gallery continues in the off season, and is open by appointment. Please contact us to speak with one of our staff members who will help answer your questions, and show you around the collection if you are in the area. We look forward to seeing you!
