The Traveling Wheelchair

38 Centre Street
Middleborough, MA 02346
Phone: 508-947-1228
http://www.themiddleboroughartgallery.com/

Wednesday, my mom, Ric, Amanda and I visited The Middleborough Art Gallery and were pleased to find it very wheelchair friendly and accessible. The Middleborough Art Gallery is located on Centre Street in downtown Middleborough. The gallery is open Wednesday-Sunday 11am-6pm.

The Middleborough Art Gallery was opened in the fall of 2006 by Peter and Jennifer Damon. We remembered reading a 2007 article ‘Accidental artist’ By Anna Badkhen / Boston Globe / November 5, 2007 which is an inspiring story about Peter Damon, a former Sergeant in the Massachusetts Army National Guard who tragically lost both hands in the Iraq War in 2003; Peter went on and found a new passion for painting. Jennifer, his wife is a photographer and her work is displayed in the gallery as well as work from local area artists.

There is a handicap parking space located on Centre Street close to the entrance of The Middleborough Art Gallery. The wheelchair access to the sidewalk is conveniently close to the parking space. The single entry door is not automatic yet is plenty wide enough to fit my chair through with ease. The floor inside the doorway has a slight slope so wheelchair access is easy.

Fine Art & Crafts from over 40 area artists are on display ranging from Original Paintings, Prints, Photography, Pottery, Hand-woven Baskets, Handmade Jewelry and Unique Wall Hangings. The Art Gallery is spacious with plenty of room to maneuver your chair around the display tables; all display tables are of an accessible height and easy to view all art work; all art work hanging on the wall are easy to view as well.

We were kindly greeted by Jennifer Damon who is very gracious and warm. We explained that we do wheelchair accessibility reviews and she kindly let us take some pictures. We asked if any paintings Peter, her husband did were on display. Jennifer told us his paintings sell quickly and pointed to one beautiful pastel he painted that was hanging on the wall.

Adjacent to the beautiful pastel painting by Peter Damon are 3 photos of Peter Damon with the late Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator John Kerry and President George Bush; all were standing by Peter Damon’s artwork which was on display in our nation’s capitol. These photographs are not for sale but it is nice to see that our government officials paid due respect and honor to an injured war veteran who has inspired many.



I give The Middleborough Art Gallery FOUR STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the Fifth Star they would need to install an automatic entry door so customers in wheelchairs can enter and exit independently. Peter Damon earns FIVE PLUS STARS for his Courage, Strength, Human Spirit, Inspiration and Helpfulness to Others.