A new space for fine art By Maegan Clearwood Student intern | Posted: Thursday, July 5, 2012 2:33 pm CHESTERTOWN Tucked away in a narrow building on Cross Street, The Collection doesn't look like the place to find art of metropolitan distinction and variety, at least from the outside. But that's just what Chestertown's newest art gallery has to offer: Big city taste with a small town feel. "I hope it broadens people's world and allows them to see and appreciate things that they might have had to go to D.C. or New York to see otherwise. It brings a big city gallery into an intimate place," said coowner and local artist Susan Kerns.
The Collection gallery Doug Cutter is coowner of The Collection.
Kerns and her partner, Doug Cutter, have strong backgrounds in art collecting and exhibition, and this dual business venture gave them the opportunity to share their passions with the local community. "Every piece has its own history and its own story," Cutter said. "Everything in here is important in its own way. Instead of just providing objects, we research them, their history." Cutter has been collecting art for more than 25 years and ran his own art gallery before moving to Maryland 12 years ago. Kerns, previous owner of the Kerns Collection and a successful interior design studio, has some of her own work featured in the gallery. Together, the two friends were determined to turn their love for art and display into a business. Samplings from Cutter's extensive personal collection are on display, and include fine art, decorative art and antiques. "We try to provide a nice variety," Cutter said. "When I'm selecting pieces, one of the first things I have in mind is the variety, in style, period and price point. I also take into account the quality and design." Pieces span centuries of art history, come from as far as Japan and Italy, and encompass a wide array of mediums. Some of the gallery's most notable pieces include: a set of 18th century Chippendale chairs; a James Grashow woodcut of the Statue of Liberty, 1986; etchings by famous American artist Thomas Moran; "Mimosa," the only weaving ever authorized by Henri Matisse, 1951; rare 19th century Persian rugs; and a centerpiece display of glass art, one of Cutter's specialties. The gallery opened its doors for June's First Friday celebration after about two months of preparation, which included electrical work, redecorating the building's interior, and constructing the glass display cabinet. According to Kerns, readying the gallery's design and feel was a crucial step. "I do love the art of display," she said. "How things are presented and displayed adds to the appeal of the object. If an object doesn't have the proper light or contrast to bring out the best qualities, you could miss some of the great detail. "A philosophy that we both have is restraint in display. We don't want things so overcrowded that you can't read the object." Between Kerns' expertise in design and Cutter's vast art collection, the gallery's grand opening was a success. Cutter said there was "a lot of interest, and we made some sales."
"We work well together," Kerns said. "It's a good give and take." For the July 6 First Friday, The Collection will open what the owners hope will be the first of many featured exhibits. The theme for the month of July is the art of Murano: Italian glass from 18701979. In the future, Cutter said he and Kerns plan to host art lectures, and a website with background on featured objects is on its way. Along with the gallery, which is open Thursdays through Saturdays, The Collection offers art and object restoration; appraisals; and hand washing and repair of oriental rugs. Although the gallery is only open part of the week for now, Cutter said, "there is always work to be done," whether it's research, repair or acquiring new art. "The most challenging part is to get it up and running, to get past your love of the things and make it successful financially. "We're well aware of the problem of sustaining businesses, but we're still optimistic," he said. "We're in it for the long run, and we hope we're able to add something of value to the community." The art community, specifically, is one area the owners said they hope to see flourish. "I'd like to see Chestertown grow in terms of galleries and the arts," Kerns said. "We think it's a fertile ground for art galleries, and hopefully it will become a hub for arts in the area."