Last Friday, Brunswick’s Maine Street bustled with creativity as art stands dappled its sidewalks. A multitude of artists from Maine put their art up for sale for the fourth and final ArtWalk organized by the Brunswick Downtown Association. The Brunswick ArtWalk was one of many across the state of Maine this summer, as Portland, Biddeford, Saco, Bangor and Camden all opened up their streets to artists seeking an audience for their work.

In the Maine ArtWalk series, artists could visit a different town each Friday of the week, exploring coastal Maine while simultaneously expanding their network of fellow artists and customers.

In Brunswick, town residents and visitors enjoyed their meals in outdoor seating while looking at the colorful displays set up on the adjacent sidewalk. The ArtWalk displayed no shortage of mediums: photography, collage, children’s books, wood sculpture and jewelry all adorned Maine Street.

Holly Swanson, an ArtWalk participant and creator of “Holly’s Homemade Tidal Treasures,” said that there are many pleasures that come with displaying one’s art on the street.

“[The street] is such an open venue. You meet so many people and other vendors. I can bring my puppy, Mushu—who is the favored attraction—and I enjoy the positive comments about my artwork,” Swanson said.  “It’s always nice to sell a few things. I’ll never make a living from it, but it is a pleasant way to spend a few hours. I am proud to think of a piece of my art adorning somebody’s house.”

The ArtWalk attracted a variety of visitors, from Brunswick locals to tourists passing by. The demographic of the street exhibition painted a classic picture of Brunswick summertime.

“I’ve run into people that I’ve grown up with in Brunswick 50 years ago. I run into tourists, especially in the summertime,” Swanson said. “In the fall, I get to meet some Bowdoin students and ask about their backgrounds.”

Artists that present their work in such close vicinity to each other develop a certain camaraderie.  Whether it is bonding over the weather or complementing each other’s work, conversation does not fall short at the ArtWalks.

“We admire each other’s work, exchange ideas, bemoan the weather on a bad day and praise it on a good day,” Swanson said. “I often spend what I make on other artists’ work.”

Jennifer Merz, an artist, illustrator and author who sold collage artwork and children’s books at the ArtWalk, highlighted some of the challenges that came with displaying art on the street.

She explained that because of the construction happening on Maine Street, artists had to change the locations of their stands each Friday depending on which part of the street the construction had reached—this small obstacle, however, did not prevent people from setting up shop around construction areas.

As Maine’s artistic community continues to blossom, ArtWalks have become a welcoming space for both professional and amateur artists seeking a source of community and audience for their work.

“I hope to participate in more art walks if I can make the time,” Swanson said. “I love making my driftwood art, earring trees and sea glass barrettes. I love the natural world and art depicting it. It’s a great way to incorporate my own creativity, meet people and make a little bit of spending cash.”