Middletown’s DeBlois Gallery celebrated 40 years: Fortyssimo

Situated in a prime location right at the entrance into Newport, on Aquidneck Avenue near Easton’s Beach, the DeBlois Gallery just celebrated 40 years with champagne toasts and lots of great conversation among Aquidneck Island’s and Southern New England’s artists.

Previously located on Bellevue Avenue, DeBlois weathered the move to the accessible location next to Diego’s Barrio Cantina 10 years ago, a space that has conveniently provided plenty of parking for visitors and a fun stop along the way to the hustle and bustle of downtown Newport.

“We appreciate all the support that we’ve gotten from everyone over the years,” said Board member Meredith LeBlanc to the crowd gathered on Saturday, Aug. 3, while they raised glasses of champagne in celebration. “We’re thrilled that we are still in this location these past 10 years.”

To commemorate 40 years of showcasing the area’s local artists, DeBlois curated an exhibit to celebrate the breadth of works from current and past members of the gallery. On display were sculpture pieces, photography, mixed media works as well as several paintings of a diverse blend of modern and classical.

According to Valerie Debrule, the show coordinator of the August 2024 members’ exhibit, “The magic of this gallery’s continuity over the years depends on some luck, a lot of hard work, dedicated, cooperating, and collaborating artists, and, of course, good art in a variety of media.”

Originally conceived by abstract artist Edith Bozyan (1907-1993), a Turkish Armenian American who came from a Newport family, the DeBlois Gallery started out as an antique store with her father, when she returned to the City by the Sea in 1950. She had studied under John Howard Benson and Thomas Hart Benton while in New York City, and moved in the same circle as Alfred Stieglitz, Georgia O’Keeffe (the O’Keeffes have a Newport connection) and Jackson Pollock.

Bozyan became a member and teacher at the Art Association, which would later transform into the Newport Art Museum, housed in the historic John N.A. Griswold House on Bellevue. Named for its original location on DeBlois St (Alley), where Bozyan opened up the southern part of her building to invited artist friends twice a month, it metamorphosed into a makeshift co-op gallery, according to the history provided by Debrule.

The informal gallery became an art space facing Bellevue Ave, with artists renting the second floor for reasonable rates.

“I remember going there many times when I joined my mom, Karen Nash,” said LeBlanc about the original gallery space.

Since its salon inception, many artists have shown in the gallery. In addition to visual art mediums, the space has also hosted poetry and music sessions as well as public readings. As a bonus, the gallery has provided local artists with the guaranteed experience of being part of a non-juried show.

“I like to see my friends,” said longtime member Michael O’Donnell, who was inspired to join DeBlois after seeing a friend’s exhibit six years ago. “As a member, you constantly have work on display,” he added proudly.

Other memorable hosted events have included the Women’s Sacred Art Shows and the Annual Aquidneck Island High School Art Show in memory of Rosemary Day (former Middletown High School art teacher and Deblois member), which has provided high school art students with the opportunity to participate in a real gallery art show complete with an opening and awards.

“So my mom decided that she wanted to showcase students with a real show,” said Michael Day, now a DeBlois Board member who helps market the gallery. “She wanted the students to be represented as real artists,” he added about the annual show that takes place every February.

Day—who joined the gallery three years ago—also has exhibited at DeBlois himself, including the “Into the Mystic” show last month. “My mom was insistent that I have a show here, and I think she’d be happy if she knew that I was a member.”More recently, DeBlois Gallery has been part of the movement to resurrect Gallery Night on the second Thursday of the month in Newport, along with Curtis Speer from CUSP Gallery, who hosts an art salon series at the Brenton Hotel every Thursday. The next Art Trolley and Gallery Night at DeBlois will take place on Thursday, August 8. There will also be a Celebration of Life for Fran Leyenberger on Aug. 10, Artist Demonstrations on Aug. 17 and an Artists’ Roundtable on Aug. 22. The current 40^th Anniversary member exhibit will stay up through Sept. 1. Please check out the DeBlois website for more details on all these events.