The York Art Association typically closes the gallery after its fall exhibit, but this year it will remain open through the winter.
The number of people who attended the opening reception of the fall art show on Friday, Sept. 12, justified its commitment to staying open year round with more exhibits and other community events. Diane Servis, the Association’s secretary, said art and writing workshops and performances are planned. “It’s going to fly,” she said. 

The fall show opened in conjunction with Art in the Park, directly across from the gallery on Route 1A at Moulton Park in York Harbor, Maine. The one-day event happened on Sept. 13, but the fall show will run through Oct. 5, featuring paintings, photos, pottery and jewelry.

There are about 180 members in the York Art Association, accounting for a diverse show. It was judged by Mary Harding, curator of the George Marshall Store Gallery, part of the Museums of Old York. First place went to Donna Sabaka for a watercolor called “Long Sands.” She used a delicate and precise hand to paint the rocky shoreline in cool blues and gray.

Other highlights include oil paintings by Barbara Heintz. The scenes are typical of painting en plein air on the Seacoast, but the bright colors and modern approach are unique. She successfully integrates colors such as the red outlines in “Nubble Lighthouse” and sunset shades into a palette of pastel blues and greens in her award-winning “Victorian Watch, Stonington.” Heintz said her use of “happy colors” sets her apart. She is influenced by American painter Edward Hopper, and her work is reminiscent of some of his, including “The Lighthouse at Two Lights.”

The award-winning pastel drawing by Ellen Robert, “Fall on the Cathane River,” is a large and meticulous rendering of fall foliage with its reflection in water. While the pastel is appropriate for a fall show, it contrasts greatly with a nearby Jackson Pollock-style acrylic painting by Paul Fowler. The hip painting, called “A Little Piece of Heaven,” perhaps because it looks like a nebula in space, has splashes of fluorescent green and an air-brushed look underneath the textured layers.

“York Harbor Evening,” a pastel by Wolfgang Ertl, is a familiar setting for many area residents, but was drawn just after sunset when most people had left the beach. “Harbor Vision,” an appliqué fabric collage by Carol A. Powley that won a merit award, looks like it would be a warm and romantic blanket to wrap up in and watch that sunset. The glittery threadwork is interestingly patterned, sometimes like a topographic map.

Leslie Doherty’s oil painting, “Low Tide at St. George,” stands out for its realistic, fine detail and glowing color that doesn’t suspend belief. Other quiet scenes include the small pastels by Ellen Pelletier that follow a bend in a stream. The woodcut collograph by Hara Harding called “Windows” is from an inside perspective looking out at the shadows or silhouette of branches. The view through the window is the only color on the paper, leaving white space where the corner of the room would be. 

Association members also show an artistic eye for photography. Nora Ordway’s crisp photograph, “Loggers Coffee Pot,” is actually of three pots in the grass and feels like camping. “Cape Neddick Fog,” by Audrey Gottlieb, has a focal point of a child in red swim shorts on the beach, while the distance is all a blur. The most captivating, though, is probably “Morning on Echo Lake,” by Scott Gasperin. It looks like a nostalgic, antique postcard from the White Mountains and is ideally framed in silver.  

Third place, somewhat surprisingly, went to Barry Tarr for “The State of Maine.” This ambiguous and mysterious photo appears to be a stark detail of a white, iron ship with curtains in the windows. Tarr’s “Water Worlds” is a close-up of beaded water that magnifies a carbon fiber pattern.

Functional and fairly affordable pottery graces the gallery’s shelves. Christopher Flynn of Raku Pottery has two well-shaped vases in the window with an effervescent glaze over earthy tones. The “Lobster Dory and Six Butter Boats,” by Al Pelletier, could be particularly useful in this part of Maine. A couple of rubber lobsters, which are not for sale, relax in the finely crafted watercraft in subtle colors of the coast. A merit award was presented to Pelletier for his elegant ceramic bowl in deep purples and greens, the shape resembling an outstretched bottle cap. 

Taking second place was jewelry by Barbara Hopkins in her “Ribbon Candy Connection” collection. These twirled charms are sweet and whimsical, but also refined in precious metals and versatile enough for daily wear. Anne Gately’s jewelry made of tiny beads is also fun. The “Silver, Pink and Black Chocker,” which is chained together, is particularly wearable. 

The gallery has planned a photography show to begin Oct. 10, a small painting show opening Nov. 14 and a holiday fine craft show for Dec. 12 and 13.

The gift shop, recently revitalized by Louise Gerstenblatt, is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. For sale is jewelry by Joy Raskin, Carolyn Williams, Barbara Hopkins and Gerstenblatt, pottery by Roger Galuska and Pelletier, Jenny Wren’s handmade bags and purses and Sue Wierzba’s hand-colored silk scarves. Her painting on silk won first prize in the 2008 Annual Show, and visitors to the fall art show are welcomed at the entrance by big and bright dyed silk by Wierzba called “Friends Come in All Colors.”

The York Art Association gallery and gift shop is at 394 York St. (Route 1A) in York Harbor, Maine, 207-363-4049.