Edgewater Gallery, a dual-site gallery located in the heart of downtown Middlebury, is at the forefront of the town’s art scene. As visitors come from out of state to peruse the art collection, the gallery has become a draw for tourists in Addison County.
The Edgewater Gallery’s exhibition schedule over the past several months has remained full. Beginning in November and extending into 2026, the gallery has presented a range of works centered on impressions and small-scale pieces, featuring contributions from more than 12 artists based locally and throughout the region.
Several of the impressions shown at the exhibitions were made by three printmakers — Matt Brown, Daryl Storrs, and William Hays — at one of the two galleries. The artists can deliver multiple impression images, making their work more affordable and accessible than other artworks. At an opening reception on Nov. 8, the artists hosted a panel talk in which they discussed their techniques, each one unique in style and process. One of the gallery’s goals is to incorporate more interactive experiences into its programming, opening up dialogue with the artists.
Edgewater was founded in 2009 with the goal of continuing the legacy of Frog Hollow Craft Center, which relocated to Burlington, in promoting local art culture. It maintains relationships with many of the artists who produced artwork for the previous gallery, offering a space for art appreciation and experimentation.
Edgewater operates two galleries in Middlebury: Edgewater on the Green and Edgewater on the Falls.
The Mill Street location, where Edgewater on the Falls is located today, was purchased by the gallery’s owner, George Dorsey, in 2008 when Frog Hollow Craft Center relocated. The building had hosted a budding art community for three generations, with a community-based structure that included a ceramics display and a metal shop that attracted local artists.
Edgewater purchased its second location on Main Street in 2015, converting the former Ski haus into a new gallery which offered ample space to organize its collection. Recently, with a change in management, Edgewater has focused on emphasizing the aesthetic differences between the two locations and further curating and enriching its offerings.
Edgewater on the Green currently houses a variety of works, from bronze statues to oil canvases. Gallery director Shaena Neal aims to create an intuitive flow throughout the rooms, with each piece in dialogue with the next.
“It’s interesting finding out which artists work well together and pairing their works here in the gallery,” Neal said.
With the former gallery director, Theresa Harris, retiring last year, Neal has spent much of this year meeting with the long roster of artists affiliated with Edgewater and discussing how she can help further expand their representation in the collection. Neal, who previously ran a gallery in her home state of Kentucky, is eager to introduce new styles to the gallery that are not currently in the selection.
The process of selecting new artists is arduous, as Edgewater’s curators often find themselves forced to pick two or three artists from a pool of up to 200.
“[Picking artists is] sort of, one, who you believe in, but also the balancing act of who makes really wonderful work that also can sell in the market you’re in. Something that sells in New York City wouldn’t necessarily sell here,” Neal said.
Edgewater Gallery’s landscape pieces are among its most popular, with depictions of both local and national nature scenes. One piece, the gallery’s largest, depicts Montana’s vast, open scenery in an imposing frame. Neal aims to broaden the current market's palates.
“We are trying to push boundaries – we’ll always have landscapes, we’ll always have barns; you have to cater to the market, but someone might come in looking for a landscape and see something abstract and be surprised,” Neal said.
One of the gallery’s organizational goals is to promote local artists, many of whom have been providing works to Edgewater, and formerly the Frog Hollow Craft Center, for decades.
One such example is Rory Jackson, nephew of artist Woody Jackson, a Middlebury graduate who designed the Ben & Jerry’s logo. Since his relocation to Vermont, Rory Jackson has become one of the state’s most beloved artists. Edgewater has recently signed a deal with Jackson to exclusively showcase his art, with his pieces delivered from Montana for presentation in Middlebury.
One Martha’s Vineyard-based artist, Jay Lagemann, has his bronze statues on display at the gallery. Lagemann, who produces sculptures on display nationwide, adds a curious addition to the gallery, which contains a large number of nature-focused artworks.
Edgewater aims to add larger sculptures to its collection, but is constrained by its gallery space. Recently, they collaborated with Sunrise Orchards, a family-owned and operated apple farm in Cornwall, to put Lagemann’s larger pieces on display.
The gallery is currently working on its plan for 2026, which Neal hopes will incorporate more interactive experiences and programming modeled in their fall panel. According to its website, Edgewater on the Green accepted submissions until Jan. 15 for an upcoming exhibit titled “The Work of Paper.” Opening on Feb. 26, “The Work of Paper” invites artists to submit work that explores paper as a material or concept.
Heather Viens, a gallery assistant, emphasized that the gallery welcomes everyone to visit Edgewater and view its display.
“Showings are free and open to anyone,” Viens said. “Come by and learn something new.”
