đź“°BIDDEFORD | More Than an Art Show: Why Artists By The Sea Matters to Biddeford Pool
- Jul 30
- 4 min read
By Sean Mckenna, Local Artist and Biddeford Resident
"Events like Artists By The Sea remind us that culture doesn't only exist in large cities or famous museums. It exists here— in small coastal villages, community centers, local galleries, and in the hands of people who simply love creating."
July 30, 2026, Every summer, as the salt air drifts across Biddeford Pool and the peninsula fills with visitors and lifelong residents alike, something special happens inside the Biddeford Pool Community Center. Walls come alive with color. Conversations begin between strangers. Paintings tell stories of rocky shores, working harbors, wildlife, and the enduring beauty of Maine.
This is Artists By The Sea— an annual exhibition that has quietly become one of Biddeford Pool's treasured traditions.
More than an art show, it is a celebration of community.
The nonprofit collective brings together more than twenty talented Maine artists, each with a unique voice and style, yet all sharing one common goal: creating meaningful work while giving something back to the place that inspires it. In a time when so much of our shopping happens online and so much of our attention is pulled toward mass produced products, stepping into this gallery is a reminder that art still has a heartbeat— and it often lives just down the road. A portion of every sale directly benefits the Biddeford Pool Community Center, ensuring the event supports not only artists, but the community itself.
This year's event will include a free opening reception from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 31 at the Biddeford Community Center (2 Yates Street). Exhibition hours to view art will be Saturday, August 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, August 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
What makes Artists By The Sea remarkable isn't simply the quality of the artwork— although visitors will find exceptional paintings mixed media, and more. It's the people behind the work.
Each artist has spent countless hours transforming blank canvases into something that captures emotion, memory, and place. Some paint the crashing surf against Maine's granite ledges. Others celebrate its wildlife, forests, fishing heritage, or quiet moments that many of us pass without noticing. Every piece represents years of learning, experimentation, failure, perseverance, and ultimately, creation.
Buying a piece from a local artist means far more than decorating a wall.
It means supporting someone who likely painted after work, stayed up late refining details, invested their own money into supplies, and chose to continue creating despite the uncertainty every artist knows. It means encouraging creativity to remain a living part of our community rather than something we simply admire from afar.
Communities thrive when artists thrive.
Art gives towns their personality. It tells future generations what mattered to us. It preserves landscapes before they change. It inspires conversations between neighbors who may have never met otherwise. It encourages children to pick up a brush instead of another screen.
Events like Artists By The Sea remind us that culture doesn't only exist in large cities or famous museums. It exists here— in small coastal villages, community centers, local galleries, and in the hands of people who simply love creating.
This year's exhibition showcases an outstanding collection of Maine artists, each bringing their own perspective to the coast we all cherish. Visitors will find traditional realism beside bold contemporary work, vibrant color next to quiet subtlety, and subjects ranging from familiar lighthouses to imaginative interpretations of the natural world. That diversity is one of the exhibition's greatest strengths. There truly is something for everyone.
Whether you leave with an original painting, a print, or simply a renewed appreciation for the talent that surrounds us, your visit matters.
Supporting local artists isn't charity.
It's an investment.
It's an investment in our local economy, in creative expression, in preserving Maine's culture, and in ensuring future generations continue to believe that making beautiful things has value.
So this weekend, wander through the gallery. Meet the artists. Ask about their inspiration. Listen to their stories. You may discover a painting that reminds you of your favorite beach, your childhood, or the feeling of standing beside the Atlantic on a quiet morning.
And even if you don't leave carrying a painting, you'll leave carrying something just as valuable: a deeper appreciation for the extraordinary creativity that exists right here in our own backyard.
Because when we support local artists, we're not just buying art.
We're helping preserve the soul of our community.
Exhibition hours are Saturday, August 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, August 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
For more information, visit www.artistsbythesea.net
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sean Mckenna, often referred to by his art name of "Goonie", is a Maine based professional artist currently residing in Biddeford Maine.
In addition to Sean's painted artwork, he is a music producer, photographer, videographer, and ocean conservationist.
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