The Coleman Burke Gallery debuted its first solo paint show last week, featuring the work of Maine artist Arlee Woodworth. According to the gallery’s press release, the collection “blends the essence of abstraction with [Woodworth’s] passion for the natural environment that she grew up in.” 

Woodworth works primarily with oil paints and collage, often on wood. Her art is composed of organic, abstract figures and forms, mixing striking colors with subtle relationships.

The gallery opened in 2006, when John Bisbee, Bowdoin’s sculptor-in-residence, was approached about some availible space in Fort Andross.

“Waterfront Maine—the management office for Fort Andross—mentioned to me that they wanted to open a gallery, and I volunteered to run it for them,” said Bisbee.

Named after the owner of Fort Andross, the gallery focuses on site-specific projects, “artworks that are expressly designed for and made in response to the space, its history, [and] its location,” wrote Wethli in an email to the Orient. 

“There weren’t any other spaces in Maine that offered artists and the public this kind of opportunity,” Wethli wrote.

In addition to the Fort Andross space, Bisbee and Wethli opened branches of the gallery in Portland and New York City. Although the Manhattan location was successful, the pair ultimately decided to close the gallery in order to focus on other projects.

The New York location exhibited established and emerging artists, but the Maine Coleman Burke galleries are dedicated to continuing to exhibit “site-specific” art. The Brunswick location accommodates large-scale art while the Portland gallery is a smaller, all-window storefront space.

The Brunswick location is also unique in that it is often unattended and open to the public.

“In order to keep the gallery open as much as possible, and since we have no budget to pay a gallery attendant, we do without one and trust that visitors will enjoy and respect the work on their own,” wrote Wethli. 

“It also helps that we generally present work that’s too large or unwieldy for people to think about taking them,” he added.

The Coleman Burke Gallery is located at 14 Maine Street in the Fort Andross Mill, outside Frontier Café. The gallery is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.



The Coleman Burke Gallery debuted its first solo paint show last week, featuring the work of Maine artist Arlee Woodworth. According to the gallery’s press release, the collection “blends the essence of abstraction with [Woodworth’s] passion for the natural environment that she grew up in.” 
Woodworth works primarily with oil paints and collage, often on wood. Her art is composed of organic, abstract figures and forms, mixing striking colors with subtle relationships.
The gallery opened in 2006, when John Bisbee, Bowdoin’s sculptor-in-residence, was approached about some availible space in Fort Andross.
“Waterfront Maine—the management office for Fort Andross—mentioned to me that they wanted to open a gallery, and I volunteered to run it for them,” said Bisbee.
Named after the owner of Fort Andross, the gallery focuses on site-specific projects, “artworks that are expressly designed for and made in response to the space, its history, [and] its location,” wrote Wethli in an email to the Orient. 
“There weren’t any other spaces in Maine that offered artists and the public this kind of opportunity,” Wethli wrote.
In addition to the Fort Andross space, Bisbee and Wethli opened branches of the gallery in Portland and New York City. Although the Manhattan location was successful, the pair ultimately decided to close the gallery in order to focus on other projects.
The New York location exhibited established and emerging artists, but the Maine Coleman Burke galleries are dedicated to continuing to exhibit “site-specific” art. The Brunswick location accommodates large-scale art while the Portland gallery is a smaller, all-window storefront space.
The Brunswick location is also unique in that it is often unattended and open to the public.
“In order to keep the gallery open as much as possible, and since we have no budget to pay a gallery attendant, we do without one and trust that visitors will enjoy and respect the work on their own,” wrote Wethli. 
“It also helps that we generally present work that’s too large or unwieldy for people to think about taking them,” he added.

The Coleman Burke Gallery is located at 14 Maine Street in the Fort Andross Mill, outside Frontier Café. The gallery is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.