New owner takes over The Palette & The Page

ELKTON — “The Palette & The Page is not closing.”

That was the announcement Wednesday from Chriztie Elliott, who purchased the iconic art gallery in August with business partner Cathy Guthrie. They found a new owner.

It was on March 19 that Elliott had announced The Palette & The Page would be closing March 29. On the store’s Facebook page, Elliott urged folks to stop in before the close.

“Thank you for all of the support you’ve given the gallery over the years, and especially me over the last seven months,” Elliott wrote. “The community has been wonderful and I’m sorry to leave it. I hope you can make it in to get that special last thing, and help me send the artists and authors off with a nice final commission check.”

Then Tatiana Bell entered the story.

“I am an artist and an educator and I’ve always dreamed of owning a gallery,” Bell said.

The Palette & The Page also affords work space and classrooms, which Bell also wanted.

Bell, an art instructor at Cecil College, is a painter, using water color and acrylics, but also works with fashion, graphic design and murals.

“I do a little bit of everything,” she said.

Patti Paulus, one of the original owners, is ecstatic that The Palette & The Page is not closing.

“I am absolutely thrilled the The Palette & The Page will live on. This is a good thing for the Downtown Elkton community, the surrounding areas, our local economy and the over 60 artists and authors combined that show their work at the Gallery,” Paulus said. “Tatiana Bell has jumped in with both feet, with eyes open, is very excited, organized and passionate about the arts and about community. I am excited to see where this leads!”

Bell plans to continue what The Palette & The Page began 15 years ago and had continued during Elliott and Guthrie’s direction.

“Everything will be the same,” Bell said, noting that the gallery at 120 East Main St. in Elkton, has a lot of history that would be preserved. It highlights local and regional artists, photographers, craftsmen, musicians and authors.

For Elliott, this ownership change means she can focus on The Art Den, her growing creative space now located on Cooper Avenue in Rising Sun.

“I need to be at The Art Den. The growth there is exponential,” she said. She moved from the South Queen Street location to the larger setting in October. It allowed her to offer more and larger programs.

Bell plans to hold an official grand opening in conjunction with Elkton’s First Friday May 3. Elliott expects Bell to find the same support as did she.

“I know the community is going to be as welcoming as they were to me,” Elliott said.

With the paperwork finalized, Bell simply said, “We are here to stay.”