About Arts in OB
ARTS IN OB is an exciting, vibrant collaborative of art galleries located in the town of Oak Bluffs, on the island of Martha's Vineyard. We're proud to host some of the island’s most unique and diverse art, events, and classes. We’re in three locations: Arts District (Dukes County Avenue); Circuit Avenue (downtown Oak Bluffs); and Barnes Road (2.5 miles out of town).
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Arts District
DUKES COUNTY AVENUE
Home of four galleries and several artist studios, the Arts District is especially vibrant during our summer Strolls. From 4-7pm on the first Saturdays of July, August, and September, we put on our best show. Live music, food and drink, and lots of fine art, crafts, and fun.
Alison Shaw Gallery
Located in a former one-engine firehouse built in 1923, Alison Shaw Gallery features the signature photography of Alison Shaw. Her work, including classic black & whites and color seascapes, spans over 40 years. Alison has taught photography workshops since 1985, and co-teaches Mentorship programs with her wife Sue, who manages the gallery.
Gallery Hours
MAY 27 THRU JUNE
Tues-Sat 11-4, Sun 1-4, Mon by appt
JULY, AUGUST
Tues-Sat 11-5, Sun 1-5, Mon by appt
SEPT 1-28
Tues-Sat 11-4, Sun 1-4, Mon by appt
OFF-SEASON
By chance or appt - please call
88 Dukes County Avenue
Oak Bluffs
508-696-7429
Galaxy Gallery
The Galaxy Gallery is located in the heart of the Oak Bluffs Arts District. The gallery features new and established exciting Island Artists working in many different mediums. Open from May 26th through October 10th, with new themed shows every two weeks and artist receptions on every other Saturday from 4 to 6pm. For complete information on each show visit Galaxygallerymv.org
The Galaxy gallery is supported by the Martha's Vineyard Center for the Visual Arts, a non-profit supporting Island artists for over 30 years.
Gallery Hours
SPRING
Fri-Sun 11-5
JUNE 24 THRU SEPTEMBER 14
Every day 11-5
FALL
Fri-Sun 11-5
99 Dukes County Avenue
Oak Bluffs
508 684-8551
Knowhere Art Gallery
91 Dukes County Avenue
Oak Bluffs, MA 02557
Knowhere Art Gallery
Knowhere Art Gallery launched in 2019 with a mission to create space that offers artists and art enthusiasts the opportunity to explore the world through art. In 2020 the gallery expanded, launching the Center of Knowhere further cementing our place as a contemporary fine arts gallery. The two locations have one mission focused on widening access to emerging and mid-career artists. The platform presents a diverse intergenerational presentation of artists and art that attracts seekers of knowledge, purpose, and truth. Hence, the word “Know” in our name. We want people who came from somewhere, to leave our establishment feeling enlightened because they have experienced Knowhere.
Gallery Hours
MAY 27 THRU JUNE
By appointment
JULY, AUGUST
Wed-Sun 11-5
SEPTEMBER THRU OCTOBER xx
Fri-Sun 11-5
OFF-SEASON
By Appointment
93 Dukes County Avenue
Oak Bluffs
617-448-3934
The Crossroads Gallery came to life in May 2017. In the Spring of 2019 I moved from my Circuit Ave location in Oak Bluffs to our new home at 93 Dukes County Avenue. My gallery concept has transformed into a meeting place. My two books "Fighting for My Life" and "Through A Sober Lens" have won international awards, and tell my story of recovery from addiction using photography as a means of connection. Folks from my social media fanbases have come by to talk about healing from addiction and other of life’s challenges. We share stories, hug, laugh and cry. In addition to selling art, it has become a spiritual place for me. My gallery was named Best Gallery on Martha's Vineyard in 2020, and runner up in 2021, by Martha's Vineyard Magazine. Hope to see you.
Gallery Hours
MAY 25 THRU SEPTEMBER 3
Wed-Sat 10-5, Sun 11-4
SEPTEMBER 4 THRU COLUMBUS DAY
Fri-Sat 10-5, Sun 11-4
OFF-SEASON
By appointment
Cousen Rose Gallery (CRG) represents emerging and nationally known artists working in a variety of media, including paintings, sculpture, photography, collages and encaustics. Since its opening in 1980, entrepreneur, owner, and curator Zita Cousens has strived to make a permanent home for fine art. Housed in a gingerbread-Gothic style building, typical of the adjacent historic Camp Ground Association, Cousen Rose Gallery features new exhibits weekly. During July and August, Saturday receptions present artists and authors to the backdrop of live music, a tradition in Oak Bluffs.
Historian and Island resident, the late Robert Hayden, stated “Cousen Rose Gallery is a significant part of the cultural life on Martha’s Vineyard. The gallery reflects a global perspective appealing to the Vineyard’s diverse population. As the longest running gallery in Oak Bluffs, it is a must see when visiting Martha’s Vineyard.”
CRG, “It is more than just a gallery!”
71 Circuit Avenue
Oak Bluffs, MA
508-693-6656
Zita Cousens, depicted in an oil portrait by Glenn Tunstull. The portrait was installed in the Martha’s Vineyard Museum in 2019 as part of the permanent collection exhibiting Island Entrepreneurs.
Gallery Hours
MAY 28 - 30
Sat 11-5, Sun-Mon 11-4
JUNE
Sat 11-5, Sun 11-3
JULY - AUGUST
Mon-Fri 10-5, Sat 10-9, Sun 11-5
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 8
Check www.cousenrose.com
Craftworks Gallery
Craftworks is a colorful, whimsical, and wonderful gallery representing hundreds of American Craft artists as well as local island Artists. You will find award-winning jewelry, pottery, metal sculpture, wood, hand-blown glass, floorcloths, fine art and fiber art. The Gallery is a feast for the eyes, and everything changes often. Craftworks was Opened by Paula Catanese and Helen Cuff May of 1991, and is right in the center of town. Easy to find and a delight to visit. Stop in and explore!
Gallery Hours
SPRING & FALL
Open every day
JULY, AUGUST
Open Every day, plus evenings Thurs-Sat
JANUARY, FEBRUARY
Closed
42 Circuit Ave
Oak Bluffs, Ma 02557
508-693-7463
Center of Knowhere
Center of Knowhere launched in 2020, joining a vibrant art community in Oak Bluffs located on Circuit Avenue. Center of Knowhere has expanded the footprint of Knowhere Art Gallery, which is located in The Arts District. Guided by the same mission, Center of Knowhere exhibits highly curated, multi-mediums of fine art created by artists with diverse backgrounds who enrich the creative stories told through the arts. Stop in to visit and explore the world through art!
Gallery Hours
MAY 27 THRU JUNE
By appointment
JULY, AUGUST
Wed-Sun 11-5
SEPTEMBER THRU mid-OCTOBER
Fri-Sun 11-5
OFF-SEASON
By Appointment
Center of Knowhere
73 Circuit Avenue
Oak Bluffs, MA 02557
917-960-9344
Circuit Avenue
DOWNTOWN OAK BLUFFS
Three galleries add to the lively mix of shops, restaurants, and fun on Circuit Avenue, the main street in the center of town. Walkable from all OB ferries, and bordering the colorful gingerbread cottages of the MV Camp Meeting Association (a national historic landmark), Circuit Ave is the most vibrant part of town.
Barnes Road
2.5 MILES OUT OF TOWN
Featherstone Center for the Arts is in a category all its own. Located in a rural setting, with cows grazing in the field next-door, Featherstone is a creative home for all ages. Truly an island gem, it's well worth a visit.
Featherstone Center For The Arts
Featherstone Center for the Arts is a vibrant community art center offering year-round arts education and experiences for all ages and abilities on Martha's Vineyard. Galleries, studios and outdoor spaces provide creative outlets for visitors, students and artists. Through our wide-range of programming and collaborations we strive to make art accessible to all.
Please visit our site for program information.
Francine Kelly Gallery Hours
YEAR-ROUND
Daily 12-4 during shows
(check website for schedule)
Art Center Hours
YEAR-ROUND
Please check website for class, workshop, and event schedules
30 Featherstone Lane (off Barnes Road)
Oak Bluffs
508-693-1850
Arts In OB Events
LOTS TO DO AND SEE
For an overview of Arts in OB events, just check the calendar below. Each gallery has more detailed event info on our individual websites. Galleries are open according to the hours listed for each, so even on event-free days, please come see us!
Arts In OB News
APRIL 20, 2022
Welcome to our site featuring some of the best artists on Martha's Vineyard. Oak Bluffs is a vibrant town and the most populated on the Island. Known for its restaurants, amusements and shops, relatively little has been written about the arts community and the locations of the many galleries and studios. This site plans to change that! We are starting with the visual arts. Most of the galleries on this page are clustered in the downtown area of Oak Bluffs with the exception of the Featherstone Center For The Arts several miles away. We plan to collaborate, inform, and have events to highlight and showcase the locations, and art offered by each gallery in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, just click on the gallery names above to be linked to the individual gallery web sites. You can find us on Facebook and Instagram with the links in the "About" section of this page. Thanks for joining us and stay tuned for future posts.
2021
Arts in OB has a lovely origin story. In 2021, MV Arts & Ideas magazine published a story about three of our group members. Ann, Zita, and Val had been meeting regularly via zoom, during the uncertainty of the covid pandemic. As Val put it, “When we started coming together, it became this really safe, warm, comforting space, and a place for us to exchange on so many levels; to be able to have a sounding board.” Arts in OB exists because these three entrepreneurs saw the potential for broadening their collaborative, and supporting the arts in our town. It‘s important to mention that all three are Black, all three are female, and they all care deeply about diversity, creative expression, and connection. But that‘s only part of their story.
JUNE 1, 2022
The MV Times published a lovely story by Gwyn McAllister, about Arts in OB. Michael took a group photo of us in front of the gazebo in Ocean Park yesterday morning (below). It was quite a feat to get us all there, as our galleries are open for the season. Zita surprised us with a basket of homemade muffins. Such a wonderful group!
From left:
Holly Alaimo (Galaxy Gallery), Zita Cousens (Cousen Rose Gallery), Renee Balter (Galaxy Gallery), Alison Shaw & Sue Dawson (Alison Shaw Gallery), Ann Smith (Featherstone), Paula Catanese (Craftworks), Val Francis (Knowhere Galleries), Michael Blanchard (Crossroads Gallery)
JUNE 9, 2022
The Vineyard Gazette published a gallery round-up, featuring our galleries, a mention of Arts in OB, and some really nice photos by Ray Ewing.
