Gleason Fine Art was named Best Art Gallery in Maine in Down East magazine's annual Best of Maine issue (the September issue, now on the stands). In mid-spring, Down East asked its readers to pick their own favorites in each of dozens of categories, ranging from art galleries to architects and hotels to hardware stores.

The Down East editors then organized all of the suggestions by numbers of reader-votes. In each category, such as "Best Art Gallery," the 5 entries that received the most votes were named finalists, and readers were asked to make their picks of Best in Maine from among these five. Winners of the "Best of Maine" awards were selected from these votes. This year, the magazine was inundated with thousands of replies.

Gleason Fine Art, located at 31 Townsend Ave., in the center of Boothbay Harbor, is owned by the Gleason family - Dennis, Marty, and their son Andrew. The Gleasons are known for the diversity of their collection as well as the depth of their knowledge about the artworks on offer.

Gallery owner Dennis Gleason says, "There's been a Gleason Fine Art in Boothbay Harbor for over 30 years, but if Bud Logan [beloved former owner of the nearly century-old House of Logan clothing store] were still alive, he'd be quick to remind us that we're still the 'new' business in town!"

We at Gleason Fine Art would like thank all of our dedicated and talented artists as well as our enthusiastic clientele for making this very special honor happen. "We would not have survived five years, let alone nearly 40, without all of them," says co-owner Marty Gleason.