Wednesday, September 24, 2025 - DUXBURY CLIPPER
We all love crossing things off our to-do list. Knocking off two at once is even better. And doing something that expands our minds too? That's a winning trifecta. If you're looking for that kind of dopamine, come explore the Helen Bumpus Gallery, the independent art gallery located within the Duxbury Free Library that has been helping residents maximize their exposure to the arts since 1968.
Think of it as two-for-one creativity: Come see colorful garden abstracts by a talented local painter and get a book on gardening on your way out. Or pick up a telescope from the Library of Things and spend a few minutes immersed in watercolors of local sites.
Bumpus endowed the creation of the gallery to encourage the development of art in the community. Over the course of its 57 years, some 350 artists have displayed their work on its walls. A wide range of media have been represented, from photography to traditional watercolors to free hooking.
And while the gallery might be modest in square footage, it's big on talent. Well-known author and illustrator Brian Lies displayed his work in 2024. All his pieces sold, most on the first day. The late Jane Collins, a nationally known, Emmy Award-winning courtroom artist, exhibited her work in 2010, featuring acrylics and watercolors instead of felons and attorneys.
Members of the gallery's board of directors attend local art shows to identify potential exhibitors. "From what we're hearing from the artists we work with, it's considered an honor to display work at the Bumpus Gallery," said Joan Collins, the board's executive director. "The artists really like the community involvement and the community response to their work."
The gallery operates on an endowment created by Bumpus as well as donations from the community. "We're grateful to our private donors, whose numbers are growing exponentially. Their contributions are invaluable and enable us to continue doing the work we're doing to bring fine art to Duxbury," she said. The board hosts opening receptions for new exhibits "to provide another way for people in the community to engage with local art and artists," she added.
"The Duxbury community is fortunate to have this gallery space, fully run by artists and art lovers, bringing curated exhibits to town," said Library Director Denise Garvin. "Sometimes people come to the library and discover the gallery, and other times gallery visitors stick around to explore the library. It's a win-win for everyone."
So put this on your to-do list: Stop in soon to see the work of Barbara Chaisson, an award-winning acrylic painter and mixed media artist who lives on the South Shore. And set aside some time in November and December to see Kerry Buckley's work. The academic-trained artist will be displaying a series of evocative neorealist still-lifes.
More information on artists and upcoming exhibits can be found at the gallery's website at helenbumpusgallery.com and on Instagram and Facebook.
