A gallery reimagined as a 'bridge'
The children's section. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Some of the art. 
Ceramic pieces in the back section. 
Colorful artwork. 
Hand made soaps available at the front. 
Crowds gathering outside The Bridge Gallery. 
The crowd enjoying the outdoor space.
The children's section. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Some of the art.
Ceramic pieces in the back section.
Colorful artwork.
Hand made soaps available at the front.
Crowds gathering outside The Bridge Gallery.
The crowd enjoying the outdoor space.
Bridge Gallery is not a new gallery, but a transformation of the Sixth Street Gallery in Padanarm.
Caroline Ballou has had the gallery for 12 years, and decided she wanted to make it a newer place, bridging the multiple generations involved in the gallery.
The gallery now has a children’s corner with art made for kids, and an outdoor area with garden boxes and chairs for guests to enjoy.
“There’s so many moms and so many grandmoms around in this particular town that it just made sense to pay attention to them and then also capture the next generation,” said Ballou.
During the opening on Sunday, July 12, patrons enjoyed wine and snacks in the outdoor area.
Ballou created the outdoor space with the idea that those shopping in the area can relax at the gallery. There are many types of art, with something for everyone to enjoy.
The name “Bridge Gallery” was chosen for a number of reasons; bridging the generation gap in the art world, bringing patrons and artists together and for the fact that that gallery is on Bridge Street next to the Padanaram Bridge.
“The inspiration to bridge more experienced artists with the undiscovered artists to create a space where people could really actually go treat it like a gallery,” said Ballou.
She loved the shape of the building, with the ability to walk in the door and see the art from the front to the back.
In the spirit of bridging, she hopes to hand the business off to the next generation someday.
“People helped me get this gallery up and running, and I couldn’t have run without them,” said Ballou.
Ballou comes from a family of artists, being a fifth generation jeweler. Her daughter Georgia is also an artist.
The logo, five stones with a band through them, is inspired by her family. Ballou sees these stones as lucky stones, which is a common thought with others seeing them as wishing stones. When her son returned from a trip to Europe, he brought home a lucky stone.
“It’s been a tradition for a long time,” Ballou said, “The five stones in the Bridge represent my family, and it’s just a place for people to recognize everybody has their own interpretation. So it seems to bring … art together in a commonplace.”
The gallery is located at 6 1/2 Bridge Street in Padanaram.
