Bethany Arts & Antiques Gallery

“What Is Our Story?”

Welcome!

Here you are invited to read the stories others have written, write your own, or do both.

Every portrait holds a mystery and every visitor is welcome to imagine a life behind the face.

This collection comes from many places:

some portraits were donated,

some were found in antique shops,

and others were created by artists.

A few may reflect real people and real histories, but many are still unknown. GO ART! does not guarantee the authenticity of any submitted story.

If you know the true history behind any portrait and can provide supporting documentation, please contact us directly. We would be honored to help preserve it.

How to Participate

Choose a portrait by number.

Write the story you believe belongs to them; a memory, a life, a secret, a dream, a truth, or a fiction. Your submission will be reviewed by GO ART! staff, and some stories will be published on our website for the community to enjoy.

Submission Guidelines

To keep this project meaningful, welcoming, and inclusive for everyone:

Respect is required.

Stories must not include hate speech, discrimination, or harmful stereotypes.

Acceptance is essential.

This is a space for creativity, curiosity, and empathy. Treat every portrait and every reader with care.

Profanity is not permitted.

Please keep your writing appropriate for a public, all-ages environment.

Creativity is encouraged.

Your story can be serious, funny, historical, speculative, or heartfelt, as long as it honors the humanity of the person in the photograph.

Thank You for Participating

By reading and writing these stories, you help breathe life into forgotten faces and preserve the imagination, compassion, and artistry that make our community vibrant.

Every story begins with a glance and grows when you choose to tell it.

BAA Gallery Submission

Portrait 1 –

Portrait 2 –

Portrait 3 –

Portrait 4 –

Portrait 5 –

Portrait 6 –

Portrait 7 - Our love was never allowed. We were kept in secret. Late nights staring at the stars while the snores from the villagers kept us sane. Never able to relax or let our guard down. Eventually we turned 18 and had to marry. We knew we could never truly be together but it was more heartbreaking than we could ever imagine. We had arranged marriages. We were torn apart. We didn’t hear from each other for two more decades. We met again at our funerals. Killed for our love. Yet we’re together now. Finally. ~Anna B.

Portrait 8 –

Portrait 9 - Martin "Bud" Salway was born in Batavia. In high school he was known for how great of a swimmer he was. He first learned to swim during summers spent at Godfrey's pond.  After high school he worked at the Atlantic gas station located where the Golden Coin is currently. He ended up becoming the owner of station.  In 1943 he married his long time love and soon after sold the station and went to Texas to join the Air Force. Soon after he co-piloted a B-52 over to England to join the war effort only to crash into a mountain in Scotland.  R.I.P. uncle Bud!! ~Russ S.

Portrait 10 –

Portrait 11 –

Portrait 12 –

Portrait 13 –

Portrait 14 –

Bethany Arts & Antiques Gallery