Blink Gallery history: A 20 year photo gallery project of photographer Alexander “Sandy” Nesbitt. With Blink he has always sought to showcase unique photography, painting and fine craft from a group of his local artist friends. The original location opened in August 2002 at 89 Thames Street and was partnered with Nesbitt’s working studio. After a foray on the waterfront inside the Aquidneck lobster company with a summer-only shop Nesbitt concluded Blink needed a high traffic, year-round location. The Gallery then had a home on both Spring Street and Lower Thames for several years. Today Blink Gallery’s home port is back on Upper Thames in Downtown Newport at 89 Thames Street alongside the Nesbitt’s working studio.
Nesbitt’s original inspiration for “Blink” as an art gallery name came from a German book of contemporary photography. The idea of a moment has always been central to photography. The title of the book was the German word for moment, the “blink of an eye.” One day, in a sidewise glance at the book, suddenly, the perfect name for a photography gallery name popped in his head.
Blink Gallery® is a vibrant Newport art gallery showcasing savvy world travel images and creative new photography of Newport by Nesbitt. Along with the photography there are carefully selected contemporary paintings by John and Pam Redick, Michael Carr, and Molly Sexton. In prints we carry graceful seaweed collages by Mary Chatowsky Jameson. We also carry Diana Hall’s original carbon fiber jewelry, ceramic works by David Allyn from Providence, and other smart gifts from our “Mini Art” collection. Visit us at Blink! It’s a unique space with a great feel.
Blink has been an integral part of the Newport arts scene for years and as a result has collected quite a trove of awards. In 2007 we were voted “Best Gallery” by Rhode Island Monthly. Then in 2011, 2012, and 2015 the Newport Mercury gave us the “love award” for best gallery. From 2012 through 2015 we were voted by the readers of Newport Life Magazine as “Best Art Gallery” – That’s 4 years running!
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