Cousen Rose: Say the name and anyone who knows the Vineyard will conjure an image of the eclectic art gallery and gathering place at 71 Circuit Avenue in downtown Oak Bluffs. The recognition is a testament to Zita Cousens, the radiant, energetic driving force behind Cousen Rose gallery.
Owner Zita Cousens welcomes guests to her eclectic gallery on Circuit Avenue. Photo by Ralph Stewart
Ms. Cousens has poured her heart and soul into her uniquely Vineyard enterprise for what will be 30 years this summer. Oak Bluffs resident Bob Hayden, a noted African-American historian and author, calls the gallery "an institution."
"I'm awed that people think of the gallery that way," Ms. Cousens says. "It's all I think about from June through early September. I live it, and it's just what I do."
Each summer she fills Cousen Rose with original art and one-of-a-kind jewelry, hosts book signings by both acclaimed and budding authors, and fosters a love for art in children through intimate classes in her courtyard.
The gallery, which started off as a partnership between Ms. Cousens and friend Stephen Rose, a landscape painter from Falmouth, has evolved into her singular vision. After three years of sharing the business, Mr. Rose left to focus his energies on his own painting.
A unique feature of Cousen Rose gallery is the charm of its location and the carpenter gothic house.
"Running the gallery interfered too much with my artwork," Mr. Rose says with a chuckle, "and Zita was much more organized. But it was a wonderful connection - one that continues to this day." Ms. Cousens has represented Mr. Rose's work each summer since the gallery first opened.
While Ms. Cousens is loyal to her cadre of long-time artists, she keeps an eye out for the up-and-coming. This summer she will show paintings by two new artists. Opening on July 11 is a show featuring Donna Straw's precise yet somewhat abstract depictions of Campground cottages and more fluid Island landscapes. And starting August 1, Randy Coleman's bold geometric abstracts will be showcased.
The gallery will host Stephen L. Carter, the Yale University law professor, whose first novel, "The Emperor of Ocean Park," spent 11 weeks on The New York Times' bestseller list early in the decade. His fourth novel, "Jericho's Fall," is scheduled for release July 14, and he will be presenting for an informal evening at the gallery on August 15.
A new author, Stephanie Duckworth-Elliott, will appear on August 19, to promote her children's book, "Poneasequa, Goddess of the Waters," inspired by her Wampanoag roots.
While friends and artists credit the gallery's success and longevity to Ms. Cousens's fortitude, business acumen, and aesthetic sense, she is quick to laud her artists' skills. "I provide the space, they bring their fantastic talents," she says. She chooses her artists for their professionalism, passion, and the diversity their work provides.
"When people walk through the door I want them to find something they can respond to," Ms. Cousens says. "The gallery should invite them to take their time, to explore the nooks and crannies."
Her signature mixture of paintings, photography, prints, books, jewelry and pottery offers a glimpse into Ms. Cousens's own eclectic passions. Gallery proprietress by summer, counselor at Boston Latin School the rest of the year, she is an avid skier, traveler, and self-professed "foodie." She acknowledges that her dual career is a necessity to engage her mercurial nature. "I have enormous energy, but I get bored easily. Having two careers and living in the Boston area and on the Vineyard provides a constant challenge."
Now in her third location on Circuit Avenue, Ms. Cousens seems to have found her niche. She bought the gingerbread building that houses the gallery 15 years ago, and says its location just beyond the thick of the summer throngs is ideal. Nearly every week, on Saturday evenings throughout the season, she unveils a new exhibition.
In the years since she first opened Cousen Rose, Ms. Cousens and her artists have watched many neighboring businesses come and go. John Breckenridge, whose award-winning black-and-white photographs have been displayed in the gallery for 15 years, claims the longevity is a tribute to the owner's personal style. "Zita has a way of making everyone who enters feel as though they're the only person on the Island," he says. "She combines her personal touch with a wonderful eye for art and an ability to challenge her artists to keep going, to explore new avenues."
Once again, Zita Cousens will spend the summer doing what she does best: welcoming Vineyard residents, visitors, and artists into her vibrant, colorful world.
Cousen Rose Gallery, Saturday, June 20, 6-8 pm, Oak Bluffs. Summer Solstice Celebration Wine Sip, featuring photography by Debra Gaines, acrylics by Louise Minks, watercolors by Bob Fitzgerald. Music by Peter MacLean. 508-693-6656.
Karla Araujo is a regular contributor to The Times.
