The Seacoast Artist Association is a group of artists and people interested in art, based in the seacoast area of New Hampshire. Our gallery, located at 130 Water Street in downtown Exeter, is open:
Wednesday-Saturday 10am – 5pm
Sunday 10am – 2pm
We offer new body of work and theme show exhibitions every month by local artists, public art receptions every second Friday evening, classes and demonstrations, and scholarship programs.
See About to learn more about our all-volunteer non-profit organization.
September Events
Second Sunday Demo
September 13, 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Rose Bryant
Unexpected Color:
Underpainting to Create Visual Excitement
Rose Bryant has always loved making, building, and exploring processes. To her, each paint mark is a process of creating something that fills her heart and makes magic in front of her eyes. Rose typically paints medium to large abstract acrylic paintings that sometimes include representational elements like trees, birds, water, and flowers; however, she also paints color and movement… just for the fun of watching what comes off the brush. To Rose, that’s what’s so fascinating, and she never tires of it.
Rose tells us: “Currently, I own and operate Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery, where artists rent studio space and present their work in the front gallery. We are celebrating 10 years this September 2026. I love the interactions with other artists here while they are in process….the giving and taking of ideas, asking advice, watching them and hearing their thoughts.”
When Rose arrives at SAA, she will have three canvases, each with a color underpainting that will be used for demonstration purposes. During the process, she will sketch out in paint a very loose, rough, and abstracted image…like trees, or a landscape, or a water scene. On those beginnings, Rose plans to add color as she would do when creating her work in my studio. The purpose of having three canvases is to explore how different colors “work” on different backgrounds. Rose sometimes finds that she can keep things simple (which offers great excitement!). Sometimes, though, she can add too much detail or too many specific representational elements that cause her anxiety. With a bit of luck, this process with three canvases keeps her from getting “locked in” or anxious, but it will be more of an abstract color experiment. We will see! Please come join Rose for an adventure in unexpected color, on September 13 from 2-3:30 pm.
Current Exhibitions
Body of Work Exhibit
September 2026
Ed Moran: Saltwater Stories
(Left:Lone Surfer)
The images in this display were made during an ongoing photography project documenting the surfing scene on the Northeast seacoast. They give context to the beauty of where surfing is centered and highlights the dramatic colors of the ocean and beaches and surrounding seacoast towns during sunrises and sunsets – through the warm, calm days of summer, and during the coldest days of winter, when storms drive the swells into formidable, cascading waves.
These images were photographed from the shore, from among the waves, and from above. They focus on the scenes that frame this story and on some of the moments where the surfers are not just part the beauty – but revel in the joy of being part of it.
Ed Moran is a former news and sportswriter who began a photography career after nearly 30-years at the Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer, covering breaking news, politics, and investigative projects around the world before switching to sports, covering a variety of topics including the business of sports, sports features and projects eventually becoming the hockey and winter Olympics beat writer, covering the NHL for 10 seasons.
Body of Work Exhibit
September 2026
Alien Encounters – A Group Exhibit
(Left:Run by David Blomquist)
In celebration of Exeter’s UFO Festival, this debut otherworldly show by gallery artists Ann Brown, Dave Turbide, Carol Poitras, Denise Brown, Laura King and David Blomquist is not to be missed! Included are watercolors, digital photography, oils and acrylic paintings.
The Exeter UFO Festival is based on the famous “Incident at Exeter,” which occurred on September 3rd, 1965 in nearby Kensington, New Hampshire – 60 years ago this Labor Day weekend. At that time, 18-year-old Norman Muscarello reported to the Exeter Police his sighting of an unidentified flying object behind a barn in Kensington.
As the police investigated the site, they too saw the object hovering where Muscarello had seen it. Headlines nationwide told the story. The rest became history as the police and investigators nationwide tried to determine what young Muscarello saw that night.
Come see the beautiful of assortment of UFO work by these creative artists in September!
Monthly Theme Show
September 2026
Nocturne
“I often think that night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.” – Vincent Van Gogh.
Van Gogh relied moreso on emotion than observation. Instead of blacks and grays, he used a patchwork of vibrant blues and yellows. Show us a composition inspired by, or evocative of, the night.
Monthly theme shows are open to both members and non-members! If you’d like to participate, please see our SAA 2026 Theme Show brochure (PDF) and entry form (PDF) for upcoming themes, important dates, and deadlines.
Second Friday Reception
September 11, 2026
5:00 – 7:00 pm
Carol Coronis, a long-time favorite at the SAA, has been firing up audiences in the Seacoast area for over two decades and is known for her exuberant performances as she segues between genres ranging from American Standards to Celtic and Middle Eastern and back to American Roots and Popular Music. She has two CDs to her credit, Carol Coronis, “Girl from Thessaly” and Sidewalk & Steelqueen, “Sweet Trudelane,” On Friday, she will be armed with her 10-string cittern performing both instrumentals and songs. Like the art for sale at the gallery, and Carol’s musical offerings, there’s something for everyone!
Donations are welcome, the parking is free, and we look forward to seeing you!
Classes and Workshops
Art Class: Doris Rice
Thursdays 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Each week features a new subject designed to teach both technique and topic – open to all levels. Visit dorisrice.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter for updates on classes and workshops. Cost: $35/class or $168 for a 6-class card. See Doris’ instructor profile on our Classes page.
Plein Air Opportunities: Carol Poitras
Times and locations vary
Are you a plein air painter? Or is creating art en plein air something you’d like to try? SAA member Carol Poitras organizes several plein air meet-ups in various locations around the seacoast area for artists who enjoy painting outdoors.
View our Plein Air Schedule for the dates, locations, and contact information for this summer’s offerings!