Brigantine’s Dunes Art Gallery Brings a Fresh Wave of Creativity
When much of the world seemed frozen in time as the pandemic blanketed the globe in 2020, there was a renaissance of sorts taking hold in Brigantine. People were flocking to the island, drawn not only by its seaside charm and open spaces, but by the burgeoning development that had started after Hurricane Sandy tore through town eight years prior.
As with any great renaissance, Brigantine's cultural landscape was changing, too, and Charles Barbin and Randi Meekins took notice.
"How could we not take advantage of that," Randi said, "and be the gallery that influenced Brigantine?"
Dunes Art Gallery opened its doors in the heart of Brigantine on July 4 weekend that year, carefully welcoming art enthusiasts and art-curious guests amid strict social distancing guidelines.
But despite this necessary caution, it didn't take long for Charles and Randi to realize they had something special.
"The initial plan was to just do this as a season or two," Randi said.
"But those two summers went by, and there was no doubt to keep it rolling," Charles added.
Charles, a Brigantine native, was a Philadelphia-based artist when he moved to his uncle's condo on the island during the early days of the lockdown. When he started making plans for an art gallery in Brigantine, he needed someone to help with his vision. This is how Randi, a self-taught artist who grew up in Mays Landing, got involved, having known Charles casually over the years through the art scene.
The pair clicked professionally, both with a desire to bring something new and novel to Brigantine. And the pair clicked personally, too, getting married at Lucy the Elephant in nearby Margate in September 2023.
"We had the same visual, creative sense," Randi said, as Charles added. "The same passion, flow, work ethic."
Dunes Art Gallery is an intimate space filled with vibrant, coastal contemporary artwork that breaks from the "beach art" norm. While some art is more traditional, much of the work is abstract, featuring bright, splashy colors, playing with shape and space in fun, unexpected ways.
"We didn't want to go completely against the grain or reinvent the wheel, having a gallery in a shore town," Charles said, "but we wanted to have a place that expanded people's minds."
Dunes also beautifies Brigantine and beyond with the mural side of the business, including three at Brigantine Community School and the butterfly mural project in partnership with the city's Green Team and Garden Club. They use a parachute cloth technique for their murals, a process in which artists first paint their design onto the cloth before permanently adhering it to a wall. The concept was novel to the area when Charles started creating murals in Atlantic City in the years before opening Dunes.
"It has enhanced the mural scene around here, Randi said.
As a dual studio/gallery, Dunes welcomes artists to come in and create - and not just in visual mediums, but by playing the in-house piano or by bringing their own instruments. Charles and Randi feel this makes it a more welcoming atmosphere for visitors, too.
"We've heard that art galleries can be intimidating. We try to make it a lot more inviting," Randi said. "And even if the person isn't here to necessarily purchase the art, they have the experience they can take with them and tell someone else and come back. That means just as much to me as someone buying a piece of art."
Last summer, Dunes hosted events every other weekend, showcasing two or three artists. This year they plan to space the events out more, perhaps pairing a local artist with an out-of-state artist for shows. They also want to host small music-based shows.
"I want the destination, when people cross over that bridge, to be Dunes. Not Brigantine, but they're going to drive all the way just to see Dunes," Randi says. "Brigantine is the plus, the cherry on top."
