SOUTH THOMASTON — On Saturday, Sept. 13 The Kelpie Gallery in the Weskeag Village of South Thomaston presented Wet Paint on the 'Weskeag!, a fundraiser for the Georges River Land Trust. Participating artists created works of art on lands surrounding the Weskeag River, which were auctioned off that evening.

The auction brought in over $5000, benefiting the Land Trust as well as the participating artists. The gallery is already planning to make this an annual event.

Gallery owners Lauren Lewis and Susan Lewis Baines approached the Georges River Land Trust in July about the event. "Part of our mission is to be able to support our local community. We are now one of three galleries in the Weskeag Village, and we wanted to raise awareness of the beautiful area surrounding the Weskeag River. Pairing with the Georges River Land Trust seemed to be a perfect way to support this goal," said Lewis.

The artists who participated were some of the most successful plein air painters in the area, many of whom also have strong connections to the Land Trust. Douglas Smith, Nancy Baker, Gwen Sylvester, Nancy Lovley, Scott Moore, Peter Yesis, Cali Veilleux, Jean Kigel, Deborah Winship, Julie Haskell, Jill Valliere, Anna B. McCoy, Maude Robin McCoy, Susan Van Campen, Kay Sullivan, Lydia Kaeyer, Jonathan Frost, and Bob Besaw created the 34 works that were auctioned Saturday night.

Scenes of the Weskeag Marsh, the reversing falls, the local church, and Weskeag Farms were featured in a variety of mediums including oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels and ink.

The Kelpie Gallery will show a selection of the works created that day at the gallery in November.

Other local businesses joined in supporting the Land Trust by sponsoring the event or donating items for the raffle. Sponsors included Bruce Gamage, auctioneer, Camden National Bank, Downeast Rehabilitation, Hannaford Supermarkets, Hartstone Inn & Hideaway, Monday Night Jazz Orchestra, Owls Head Transportation Museum, Pepper Hill Farm, Primrose Framing, Rock Harbor Pub and Brewery, Savage Oakes Vineyard and Winery, Spruce Head Fisherman's Co-op and Weskeag Farms.

The Kelpie Gallery is located at 81 Elm Street (Rt.73), South Thomaston. The hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 1, p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Sky's the Limit runs from July 1 through September 28.

Email TheKelpieGallery@gmail.com or call 207-691-3416 or 207-691-0392 for more information.