When Block Island artist William Padien was asked why he was opening his new gallery, his answer was simple: there were no other galleries that showed larger works, so he had to open his own. Gallery Padien is located in Bridge Gate Square between The Old Post Office Bagel Shop and Washington Trust.
The first opening reception will take place on Thursday, July 15 from 4 to 7 p.m., featuring works by Padien and Sean Hartnett.Hartnett was born in rural upstate New York in 1941. He graduated from Stanford University in 1964 did graduate studies at Columbia and the University of Perugia, in Italy.He studied sculpture at the Woodstock School of Art in Woodstock, NY, and in 1969 he built a house and studio there. He helped Roman sculptor Raffaele Martini set up the Woodstock bronze foundry.
In 1970, Hartnett moved to Pietrasanta, Italy, and has maintained a studio there ever since, despite visits for work or teaching in Florence, Italy, Austin, Texas, and New Haven, Connecticut.
Since 1987 the sculptor has lived and worked in his studios in Peitrasanta and Block Island. He has shown extensively in Europe and the United States, and his sculptures are included
