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A new art gallery has opened on Main Street in Winterport. Its name, Selah Gallery, comes from a word appearing in several Bible passages that can mean “pause,” “reflect” and “consider.”
The gallery’s founder and curator, Abby D’Alessio, hopes her new space will offer exactly that: a place for guests to ground themselves while mindfully enjoying their surroundings.
“When people come in, or hear of a gallery, sometimes they assume that it’s a walk-through,” D’Alessio said. “And really, what we get people to do is to come in and to sit and pause and reflect, so that that’s what I think is the different vibe.”
D’Alessio and her husband, Josh, previously had leadership roles at the Bangor-based Health Equity Alliance, which operated a syringe exchange and other services meant to help people struggling with HIV, substance use disorder or homelessness.
But Abby D’Alessio stepped down from her role as HEAL’s harm reduction manager in December, several months before the organization shut down in April amid a period of financial turmoil.
Josh D’Alessio, who was HEAL’s executive director, is now a featured photographer at Selah. Abby D’Alessio also has visual works displayed there. Other members of the D’Alessios’ family are also featured artists.
Selah is taking over the space at 145 Main St. that formerly was Tea Maineia, a shop that closed in December. The new gallery sells a mix of skin care products, jewelry, accessories, artwork and more. Its art pieces range in price from a few hundred dollars to as much as $100,000.
In this new chapter, Abby D’Alessio hopes to give artistic people who have lacked easy access to established art galleries a place to display their work — whether it’s writing, painting or another medium — through what’s called the “Canvas of Courage” project.
“I would like to continue to care for people and love them without the nonprofit world, and that’s what Canvas of Courage is,” D’Alessio said. “I just want to help others to emerge into, maybe, being known.”
D’Alessio said that much of the inspiration for her art has come from people she’s worked with. She noted that she herself previously experienced homelessness, helping her to better recognize others who may be forgotten or overlooked.
The Canvas of Courage currently features the work of acrylic painter Ben Rasche, 45, who said that he has long struggled with substance use, schizoaffective disorder and suicidal ideation. Now, Rasche said his work provides a helpful outlet for working through his struggles.
“It’s taking care of the anxiety and a lot of the depressing thoughts,” Rasche said. “It’s made me more creative. There is inspiration from my struggle in my artwork, but it’s not conscious inspiration.”
The proceeds from the sale of art will go to the artists, D’Alessio said. She aims to find future artists to showcase primarily through networking.
