An Exhibition by Andrea Sawyer

Jul 6

I was finally convinced to visit Provincetown for the first time in 1995 by a friend who had long owned a tiny condo at 539 Commercial St., over what was then Pucci’s, now Fanizzi’s. That first visit began not only my enduring love affair with this little sand spit, but my career as a real artist. I was gobsmacked by the place, the light, the creativity. Honestly, I still am. After visiting every art gallery in town - and making friendships that still thrive - I returned inspired to my southern Maine home and started painting seriously.

Likely driven by my 23 years as a Realtor, then, as now, many of my subjects were houses and iconic commercial buildings in town, I’m fascinated by architecture. I’m no Edward Hopper, but there’s something wonderful about painting the light on the side of a house.

After years of visiting, I eventually retired and moved here in 2012 to paint full time, living in that little condo I refer to as “the garret”, painting in the minuscule kitchen and later at my Hensche Lane studio.

By then, represented by galleries here and in Maine, I enjoyed a growing collector base and spent as much time as possible with a brush in my hand, experimenting and learning.

Life happened, both me my work moved around, and widowed, I eventually remarried and gained not only my marvelous husband, Dr. Brian O’Malley, but a home studio as well.

Fast forward to 2024 and the opportunity to do a two-week gallery pop-up at a small space in my beloved East End gallery district. At the end of my surprisingly well-received show, I was offered the space to run as my own gallery. As Brian said when I asked him if I should, “If you don’t do it now you never will.” So at 76 years old, Brian and I opened Cad Red Studio at 437 Commercial St.

Our second season is well underway, featuring my “serious” oil paintings and things I do for fun, Brian’s Provincetown-centric photographic art (he learned darkroom arts as a schoolboy), and the sculptural works of Sandie Roberts and NJ Wheelock.

Yet “The Wall” is Cad Red’s signature focus, an opportunity for us to curate shows by artists with ties to Provincetown who aren’t being locally shown. Facing the street through our French doors and illuminated 24/7, work on The Wall changes every two weeks, with Gallery Stroll openings for our artists every Friday evening from 7-9.

It’s gratifying to work with such an array of creative people, expanding our personal artistic community and helping to further others’ careers - a win-win.

I owe a debt of gratitude to Provincetown, this is one way I can attempt to pay it back.