A painter without the opportunity to paint and inspire other artists isn’t the kind of artist Andrew Kusmin wants to be.
Kusmin wants his friends, students and clients to know that the “For Rent” notice on the window of the Kusmin Art Gallery at 9 Court St. in downtown Plymouth isn’t a negative sign, it’s a positive one.
The economic climate and his tenant’s expired lease gave Kusmin pause to consider his priorities, and he has decided to move his business back into his original gallery and studio space in property he owns at 1 North Green St., facing Sandwich Street.
“What I was finding was that by representing other artists and taking the large storefront approach, I was spending way too much of my time being a retail operator,” he said. “It’s a positive thing for me because my passion is doing art and teaching.”
In addition to giving him more time to paint, and a space where customers are welcome to watch him create, Kusmin also wants to be able to devote even more time to the Plymouth Center for the Arts on North Street as it continues to grow. He serves as president of the Plymouth Guild for the Arts and enjoys teaching at the arts center and elsewhere.
The downtown area has seen a growth in the number of art galleries since Kusmin set up shop, and he has fully embraced his fellow gallery owners. He said they work as a team to make downtown Plymouth a destination for art lovers and Plymouth’s visitors. There’s just three-tenths of a mile between the two locations, and he plans to continue to help Plymouth grow as an arts community.
Kusmin expects to complete the move to 1 North St. by July 1 and he’s excited to have more time to paint watercolors again.
