Salt & Sand Fine Art Gallery, a collective of nine artists nestled in the vibrant Kennebunk, Maine community, celebrates its second season with a wide variety of new art created by both emerging and award-winning artists living throughout Maine and New England. The Gallery is located at 2 Morning Walk Lane (#8A), in Kennebunk – just a short walk from Kennebunkport and Dock Square.
Salt & Sand Fine Art Gallery artists for the 2025 season include Acton artist Howard Wang. Says Wang, “Life should be a beautiful experience for us to perceive, record, and share. I have long been passionate about oil painting, both en plein air and in the studio. I paint in the classical impressionist style but with a modern flavor. If one of my artworks catches your eyes for a few moments, we may have been emotionally connected over one perception of life. That’s the beauty of art.”
According to Wang, he was lucky to have the exposure to fine art in early teenage years, but it wasn’t until later in life that he regularly trained with an established private art teacher. In the late ‘70s, Wang decided that being an engineer was a better choice (than being an artist) for young people to start their career. “So I chose what I like over what I love at the moment, without being fully aware of how much art had rooted in my heart,” he said.
For 40 years, Wang let the paint tubes dry up and worked on building his career in engineering. But during this time, he would visit art museums and enjoy and learn from viewing the works of Master Impressionists. He would also sketch whenever he could.
Then in the mid ‘2000s, life and/or fate took control as Wang’s former art teacher and mentor became an established artist in China and was invited to exhibit at the United Nations in New York. During this period, Wang worked with the Acton Memorial Library to bring his mentor’s art exhibit to the library in 2005.
Reunited with his former student, Wang’s art mentor encouraged him to resume his painting and continue with his earlier art tutoring sessions. Says Wang, “If something gets rooted in heart in childhood, it comes back amazingly easily and straightforwardly. I feel I have found my true self again and enjoy art, not as a hobby, but as something to explore and pursue.”
Howard Wang’s works can now be enjoyed at Salt & Sand Fine Art Gallery Wednesdays through Sundays (or by appointment). Please visit saltandsandfineart.com to preview current gallery art and learn more about upcoming events and workshops.
Mark Malinowski and Randy Pipkin are owners of the Salt & Sand Fine Art Gallery.