This art and shopping guide is brought to you in partnership with the Manchester Business Association, connecting you with the businesses and experiences that make Manchester, Vermont, a premier adventure destination.
The dark iron ore exterior of Squirrel catches your eye before you even know what you're looking at. The building sits just off Manchester's main drag, its dark facade standing out against the trees like a lighthouse for art lovers. But here's what makes you stop: this isn't another predictable gift shop filled with mass-produced trinkets. Owner Catharine Sullivan has one ironclad rule - if she can find it on Amazon, it doesn't make the cut.
"I honestly search on Amazon now when I find things," Sullivan admits, straightening a piece of original artwork that caught the morning breeze. "If it's there, I don't want it. It's amazing how much ends up there."
The Amazon test wasn't born from marketing strategy - it grew from Sullivan's deep respect for things with genuine provenance. Her background in historic preservation, studying nights at the Boston Architectural College while working downtown, taught her to recognize when something has earned its place in the world.
The building itself proves the point. This late 1800s firehouse was physically moved to its current location, complete with a hose-drying tower that once hung cotton hoses to dry after fires. The tower's cap blew off in a hurricane years ago, leaving it chopped short, but Sullivan dreams of hosting a "capping party" with a crane to restore it to its original glory.
"I'm a bit of a serial renovator," she explains, running her hand along the original wood ceiling of the second floor that she left completely untouched. "I was fascinated by how new buildings talk to old buildings in Boston. When I saw this little firehouse, I knew it needed to go dark and have a different presence."
The Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore paint choice wasn't arbitrary. People ask about that color constantly, drawn to how it stands out while still feeling natural against the trees. Inside, industrial lighting and brick floors honor the building's working past while creating gallery-quality illumination for the art.
Sullivan's curation philosophy goes beyond avoiding Amazon. She sources through buyer shows, artisan fairs, and endless antiquing expeditions, always hunting for pieces that catch her eye in unexpected ways. At one show, she wandered into a tiny showroom that seemed completely outside her usual aesthetic - until she discovered hand-stitched leather pieces with whipstitching and unique detailing that somehow felt perfect for her clientele.
"My belief is there's something awesome in every store, no matter what it is," she says. "I have my own personal filter of things that I like and how I feel things go together."
More than half her featured artists are Vermont or New England based. Kate Longmaidfrom Shelburne captures still life florals with a gentle palette. Ken Russack from Burlington has been painting area locations for years, creating mood and feeling rather than just documentation. George Van Hook, just over the border in Cambridge, New York, with his country roads and fishing scenes embodying quintessential Vermont in ways that feel both timeless and immediate.
Even artists from elsewhere paint Vermont. Eva Cincotta from Massachusetts spends time in Dorset, creating pieces named for specific Vermont locations. Chris Firger making his first foray into a Vermont gallery, brought exclusively Vermont scenes to life with his stunning works.
The "littles" wall upstairs showcases Sullivan's commitment to accessibility. Every piece measures under 12 by 12 inches, creating an entry point for people who lack space or budget for major works. The wall mixes established artists with vintage finds and antique discoveries, all priced to let someone walk out with original art.
"If you don't have room for a 36 by 48 piece, or you can't afford it, you don't want it, you don't need it, you can come in here and leave with something," Sullivan explains. "Good art always finds a home."
An upcoming dog commission service builds on this philosophy. After testing the waters with a painting of Hazel - the gallery's tail-wagging greeter who's never met a visitor she didn't like - Sullivan plans to offer custom pet portraits, because everyone deserves a visual reminder of why their dog is the best.
Sullivan's retail instincts recognize that Manchester serves different audiences throughout the year. Winter brings Stratton skiers looking for mountain art and interior design pieces for their second homes. Summer residents return from Florida seeking hostess gifts and smaller works that travel well.
"I try to think about what each of those different audiences might want," she says, describing how she rotates skiing art for winter guests, then switches to lighter pieces and gift items for summer entertaining.
The approach extends beyond artwork. Hand-assembled journals and book boxes by a local artisan (who prefers to keep his craft as a hobby) provide unique gift options. Textile taxidermy deer heads covered in Pendleton fabrics offer a modern take on Vermont lodge aesthetics. Even the candle selection rotates constantly, ensuring regular customers always discover something new.
Sullivan originally envisioned a pure gallery but evolved into what she calls having "feet on two lily pads." The merchandise responds to customer demand while maintaining the same curation standards as the art.
"It's a small town," she explains. "You serve your clientele with what people want, and I love both, so it works out."
The result feels authentically Manchester - sophisticated enough for serious collectors, accessible enough for curious browsers, and personal enough that word-of-mouth drives much of the business. People come to "smell some pretty," as Sullivan and her friends put it, and discover pieces they didn't know they needed.
Squirrel sits at 345 Center Hill Road, tucked just behind the main commercial strip, but highly worth seeking out. The building's location means you might miss it from the corner, but that's part of its charm - like a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered.
Summer brings planned "Sip and Shop" events, and weather permitting, occasional pop-up tent sales during busy weekends. Follow their Instagram for surprise events and new arrival announcements.
The real draw isn't any single piece - it's Sullivan's eye for combining contemporary and traditional work in ways that feel both curated and effortless. Whether you're starting an art collection or adding to an established one, whether you need a thoughtful gift or want to treat yourself, Squirrel offers something you genuinely can't find anywhere else.
And that's exactly the point.
Squirrel Gallery
345 Center Hill Road Manchester, VT
Website: squirrelmanchester.com
This art and shopping guide is brought to you in partnership with the Manchester Business Association, connecting you with the businesses and experiences that make Manchester, Vermont, a premier adventure destination.
