FACes & PlaceS
LOCAL COLOR Feb 2005

Grace Croteau
by Marilyn Bullock

Until I interviewed her, I had never seen Grace Croteau laugh, although I did see her smile once.

Grace is what I would consider a wonderful example of New Hope/Lambertville Local Color because she is one of the rare individuals who recognize the value of the New Hope/Lambertville cross-over communities. She lives it every day – she makes her home in New Hope and owns and runs an Art Gallery in Lambertville.

Grace was born in Linden, NJ. Throughout her early school years her father’s job required the family to move often. She lived, among other places, in York and Lancaster, PA; Philipsburg, NJ; and Rochester, NY.

Grace became interested in art as a result of an auspicious day with her English high school teacher, Miss McCormack . Miss McCormack called upon Grace in class to have her talk about the first two chapters of a book that had been assigned. Grace announced that she had read the entire book so she could talk about the book as a whole but not just the first two chapters. After class, the teacher pulled Grace aside and suggested that she should be reading the New York Times Book Review section.

After that, Grace became a regular reader of the Times – buying it on her own as it was not a regular part of her family’s Sunday regimen. At school, Grace and Miss McCormack often discussed current book reviews. At home, Grace added the Arts & Leisure section of the Times to her Sunday reading - the beginning of her education in the art world.

After graduation, Grace attended a secretarial school and then worked in various office situations until she met and married an artist – the cousin of a friend. They opened a frame shop in Flemington, NJ and had 4 children.

After the marriage ended, Grace’s interest in art blossomed. She lived in New Hope from 1975 – 1980 and made her living as a stained glass artist. In the 80s Grace lived in Vermont and worked for a frame company there. When her daughter told her that the Lambertville based Avanti Art Gallery was looking for a picture framer, Grace jumped at the chance to move back to the area and has been here ever since. When Avanti opened its New York location, Grace became the Gallery Director of the Lambertville gallery.

Grace then went to work for the Genest Gallery (where the Reinboth Gallery is now) for about a year before opening her own gallery, the Riverrun Gallery, in Lambertville at the old laceworks factory. As owner and curator of the Riverrun Gallery, Grace takes chances on art that is not mainstream. Unlike other art galleries, the artwork at Riverrun is not always “pretty” and is often controversial. When asked why, Grace says, “I want to continue to learn – that’s why I show it.” When judging artistic work, Grace says, “I tend to be tough. I want the best and look for ‘a compelling something” that says, ‘Look at me!’” At Riverrun framing is what pays the bills. She has three part-time framers who work for her, including “Mark from Quakertown,” who is the backbone of her framing business.

Grace was one of the founding members of Artsbridge, a local artist run art organization. It was actually based in her gallery for the first seven years before it moved to its own location. Grace stays involved in the art world by attending local art openings and by occasionally visiting museums on her only day off – Tuesday. She takes ceramics classes from Elaine Daniels. If there is anything she would change about her life, it would be to have been a “great” artist.

You’ve been wondering when it was that I saw Grace laugh. Ah, it was when we started talking about her adorable dog, Barney, a Lakeland Terrier. She brought out the family photos of Barney and told me that “Barney is four years old and he barks too much.” He is probably also quite spoiled! Laugh, Grace, laugh!

The Riverrun Gallery is open from 10-5 on Monday, and Wednesday through Saturday, and from 12-5 on Sundays.