The first and most important art piece placed in a new gallery, opening later this month in Houlton, is a self portrait of the curator’s late father, Summer Dulinsky said.
By mid-morning Thursday, the Mustard Seed Trading Co. a curated gallery store and art gallery, was buzzing with a steady stream of artists and well wishers, as curator Dulinsky hung the final pieces for a preview show on Friday, Nov. 13.
Her father, Fred Hachtmeyer, who passed nine years ago, was an artist and an inspiration for Dulinksy’s first show in her gallery located on Houlton’s historic Market Square. But just as she lovingly points to her father’s piece, she does the same for the 11 other artists in this first show that she describes as a year of art, taking the viewer through northern Maine’s seasonal changes.
“There are so many crazy-talented people here,” she said.
This New Mexico transplant, who has worked as a creative consultant to many budding entrepreneurs since she came to Houlton in 2018, first opened the Mustard Seed space next door to the new gallery as a birthplace for creative exploration and the telling of artistic tales.
Her latest invention with its historic exposed brick wall and massively high ceilings is a place to honor and highlight created works from paintings, photography, wood, sculpture and textiles to pottery, restored vintage furniture and more, she said.
As a creative consultant who loves home decor, Dulinsky initially thought the trading company gallery would be more home decor items with a smaller art gallery in the rear of the elongated 640-square-foot space.
But she flipped her focus onto showing more art in the larger part of the gallery which can accommodate massive paintings. Not to mention a long line of artists hoping to get a chance to show their works in this hip gallery, reminiscent of those historic enclaves in New York City’s Greenwich Village.
The thought process behind it is: living a beautiful life, living it well, Dulinsky said.
“You don’t always have to have a million things to do that, but maybe it is that one big splurge. But at the same time, I want it accessible,” she said. “I love the places that have a $1,600, or $2,000 painting, and there’s also a $20 print of something else.”
And that is how she has planned the space that will accommodate seasoned and emerging artists but also have other items often found in gallery shops, such as prints of the originals, greeting cards, perhaps even T-shirts or bags with the art on them.
“Maybe I come in and I only have 10 bucks or maybe I’m not even shopping,” she said. “But I deserve as much reverence from the person who works there and respect and care as someone who comes in and has tons of money.”
Jane Torres, executive director of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce, worked with the Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum in Houlton to put two large historic pieces on loan in the gallery, with one from A.H. Fogg dating to 1902. With the museum board’s approval, Melanie Bickford, co-owner of Petals and Pine in Ludlow, has been restoring the giant wood pieces for the gallery.
On Thursday, Dulinsky told the story of the first show that she said travels through the seasons with a vast array of works in varying styles, brushstrokes and hues, alongside very large black and white photographs of winter.
“It’s all about living a beautiful life,” she said, adding that she wants everyone to feel welcome and to come into the gallery to look at all the art pieces and other artisans’ works. “Not everyone can pay $650 for painting, but man, it’d make an incredible T-shirt or tote bag.”
Famed Maine artist Frank Sullivan, known for his muted landscapes, has a special place for two of his works in the gallery for the opening and preview show. Sullivan will be the first solo artist exhibition in January.
“It’s January 16th. I think around three in the afternoon or so, he’s going to be here to sign and talk about his book, ‘Drawing is Everything’,” she said. “And he’s going to actually have those drawings that people almost never see. He’s gonna have them here, I do believe, on exhibit.”
For the Friday preview show, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 37 Market Square, the artists will be available to talk about their works and there will be hors d’oeuvres and a celebratory toast, and a first glimpse of what’s to come, Dulinsky said.
During the upcoming holidays, the gallery will be open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.
