Cape Artists’ Gallery to frame its future in new Lewes location

The Cape Artists’ Gallery has been tucked into a small building at 110 W. Third St. in Lewes for about 27 years.

But now, the gallery is ready to frame its future in a new location in the downtown business district. The gallery will be moving to 107 W. Market St., the former home of Stepping Stone. The space is three times larger than the current gallery.

Sandy Phalen, who owned Stepping Stone for 20 years, recently closed the store and retired. That left a blank canvas for somebody to paint a new vision.

George Farrah, one of the Cape Artists, said the move is all about location, location, location.

“It’s just so much more convenient for people to walk by and come in, but the catalyst for moving is that they’re selling this building,” Farrah said.

The Cape Artists’ Gallery’s last day on West Third Street will be Tuesday, Dec. 23.

Building owner Cindy DeEmedio said she and her husband, Tom, are downsizing and decided to put the W. Third Street building on the market and move on. It was built in 1900. It has a two-bedroom apartment above the retail space.

Farrah said over the next month, the Cape Artists will be renovating the Stepping Stone location – painting the walls and hanging up the artwork they bring over from Third Street. They will reopen around Feb. 1.

The Cape Artists are a group of Lewes residents who met for the first time in 1984, under the tutelage of renowned local painter Howard Schroeder. Members can be seen painting every year during the Lewes Garden Tour and other events.

The members said, despite the move, the Cape Artists group is staying together.

“This has really evolved nicely in Lewes,” said artist Bridget Dean-Pratt. “For a long time it was ladies in their shirtwaist dresses painting in watercolor only.”