‘Last hurrah’ for Gallery Sitka: See the artists featured at the Cultural Center

A kaleidoscope of color, texture and vision has arrived at the Dartmouth Cultural Center. 

The latest exhibit, on view through July 12, features the work of more than 30 artists represented by Gallery Sitka, a woman-owned New England gallery.

Though its known for its emphasis on abstract art, Owner Tamar Russell says the Cultural Center show promises a “wild variety,” including realism, photography, sculptors and, of course, abstract works. Artists hail from all over, including right here in New England, New York, Brazil, France and Italy.

“She had quite a job on her hands because it was such a variety and it’s a lot of work,” Russell said of Cultural Center Gallery Director Jill Law, who set up the exhibit. “It’s a really packed show.”

Russell and Law’s professional connection has grown over the past three years, beginning with shows in Newport and built through ongoing collaboration and open calls.

“It's like a relationship that's been building with Jill, and so this is sort of the culmination of that relationship,” Russell said.

The exhibit includes local artist Beth Barry, a New Bedford resident whose brother lives in South Dartmouth. Barry and Russell connected over shared appreciation of the South Coast region during the Covid pandemic, when Russell and her husband would explore the area by car — discovering Padanaram for the first time.

Gallery Sitka has been staging pop-up exhibits throughout the Northeast since 2014, and while the gallery does not exclusively feature female artists, many of its represented creators are women. Russell noted that Gallery Sitka has worked frequently with the Boston chapter of the National Association of Women Artists, including collaborations at her gallery in Newport.

Now in its 11th year, the gallery is marking a turning point — its physical location in Newport will close at the end of July.

“So for me, this is also kind of an emotional show,” Russell said. “I'm going to stay in the art business. We've got an affordable art fair on our radar for the fall, but our physical space in Newport, we're going to close. So for me, this was sort of the last hurrah, and I've never done this — to have everybody in the show together.”

She highlighted some of the coastal works featured in the show such as an oceanscape-inspired abstract by Wes Wheeler and a blue-toned monoprint by New York printmaker Barbara Groh.

Russell encourages everyone to come check out these artists and the 30 others who are on display until mid-July. Additionally, she recommends people stop by the Newport space at 277 Spring Street before its doors close, after which Gallery Sitka will continue operating out of a tasting room at the Newport Wine Cellar and Gourmet.

“It's not like we're going away, but we just won't have the space that we've had for the last three years,” she said.

She also expressed gratitude to the Dartmouth Cultural Center and its supporters.

“I wanted to thank the Cultural Center and the Massachusetts Cultural Council and obviously Sail Loft who sponsored it,” Russell said. “I'm grateful and I'm honored to be part of what you guys have created there. I think you have a wonderful town, and I would hope that your residents realize what a gem they have in the center of their little town.”