'Everything that we had ever dreamed of': New Bedford gallery to close after 20 years
NEW BEDFORD — A longtime iconic gallery in downtown New Bedford announced plans to close after 20 years in business.
"Arthur and I had a dream and we saw that dream come true. We're so blessed," said Cheryl Moniz, 75, owner of the Arthur Moniz Gallery on William St.
Moniz says the decision to close the gallery was a tough one, after being open in the city for over 20 years. "I'm getting older," she said. "I've got to simplify my life a little bit."
Moniz added she is also nervous about COVID-19. After closing the shop for several months in 2020, she said they couldn't afford to go through that again.
"The last thing I want to do is close that gallery," she said while trying to hold back tears. "That gallery was Arthur's and my dream whenever we walked in the door, from the first day, it was everything that we had ever dreamed of."
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Artist Arthur Moniz painted historic maritime coastal communities for over 35 years, until he died in 2018. In November, the gallery celebrated its 20th anniversary.
In a building located across from The Whaling Museum, Cheryl Moniz and her daughter Kerran Soares, who assists in the framing and bookkeeping operation, and son Brett Moniz, the gallery manager, operate the business together.
"It has always been a family related business. My children, my grandchildren... I would call them up and they're always there. My children are over the top," Moniz said.
"We could have never done this without them."
Honoring Arthur Moniz's legacy
Born in New Bedford, Arthur Moniz graduated New Bedford High School in 1962, and went on to study at the Massachusetts College of Art and the Museum School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
According to the gallery website, Moniz's style of painting was a combination of graphite drawing with transparent watercolor washes over the highly detailed renderings.
"I try to convey a feeling of quiet and calm in a world of noise and fast pace: a peacefulness that comes from being alone but not lonely," Moniz said in a quote on the website.
"I like the structures which seem to stand with dignity, the test of time, the textures of old wood, the bark of trees, rocks and such."
A section of Buttonwood Park is dedicated in the artist's memory. There is also an Arthur Moniz Scholarship Fund for rising artists attending New Bedford High School.
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Cheryl Moniz shared the news with customers in a Jan. 18 Facebook post. "This decision certainly does not come without great sadness and heavy emotion," she wrote in the post.
"The most difficult thing is not seeing my customers," Cheryl Moniz added. "They've collected Arthur's work for so many years and feel like they know him, he's their friend.
"It just surprises me how much they feel they connect to him."
While the brick-and-mortar gallery will be closing on Feb. 28, Moniz said the the website and Etsy page will continue to stay active.
"I can't say I haven't cried a lot of tears," she said. "I'm not as brave as I sound. I'm going to miss it because I love it."
Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Arthur Moniz Gallery to close after 20 years in New Bedford
