The Godmother of DeBlois was artist Edith Bozyan (1907-1993),
from a Newport family. Edith was an abstract artist who studied
and lived in New York City in the same New York orbit as Alfred
Stieglitz and Georgia O'Keeffe. Yes, some of the O'Keeffes were
Newporters! A student of John Howard Benson and Jackson Pollack,
and reputed to have been romantically involved with Paul Klee,
Edith returned to Newport in 1950 to help her father with his
antique store.
Although a member and teacher at the Art Association next door
(later, the Newport Art Museum), Edith saw a need for space "to
show local talent in the City of Newport". So she opened the
southern part of her building on DeBlois Alley and invited her
artist friends to form a co-op gallery and exhibit their work
once or twice a month. And show, they did. Hundreds of people
filled the alley parking lot on opening nights. Art was
vigorously discussed and argued about, and sold at healthy
prices. When, some years later, Edith closed the antique shop,
DeBlois Gallery moved around the corner to take over the
Bellevue Avenue space.
Edith Bozyan created a solid foundation, but the continued
strength of the gallery came from the dedication of its members,
a cooperative of 10 to 18 artists who kept the place afloat with
dues or a small commission from their sales, and later gained
non-profit status. Mindfully fulfilling the community outreach
required by that status, DeBlois has offered free presentations
of poetry, music sessions, readings, and classes for the local
community, while regularly exhibiting the art of members and
guest artists. The gallery sponsors non-juried open shows
yearly, and themed shows on timely subjects. It is also host to
the annual Aquidneck Island High School Art Show, featuring work
by island high school art students.
Come celebrate with us now, and THANK YOU, friends of the
gallery!
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