doors as owners have run into difficulties paying their rent.

And other problems have also surfaced such as the building going on next door to the Pitts Bay Road gallery, and the abundance of other art exhibitions taking place.

But in its last attempt to stay open the gallery will be holding two big exhibitions, one of which is this Friday.

The gallery, which is owned by the Bermuda Society of Arts, opened last October as a project for the members of the society to run it cooperatively.

However, only a few of the members volunteered their services and the society had to hire a person to run it.

President of the Bermuda Society of Arts Mr. Elmer Midgett said the gallery had done very well in the aspect of selling art, however, it was the $2,500 rent for the gallery's space that was the problem.

"People are buying lots of art. If we were allowed to pay a lower rent we would be in good shape,'' Mr. Midgett said.

He added that the society had sold more art from the Harbour Gallery than they had generally sold from the City Hall gallery. It has been very successful in that aspect.

"We hoped for a bigger success than we got, it has been difficult.'' Mr.

Midgett added: "We gave it a good try. Having to hire someone to run the gallery doubled our weekly or monthly outlay of money.

"We received a tremendous amount of support from a small group of people.'' Artist and vice-president of the society Mrs. Sheilagh Head said this week's exhibition will feature Tracy Williams who is best known for equestrian art.

However she will be displaying a different subject.

The other show will be in August and will feature Bob Robert Herr, who paints landscapes.

On the outcome of the gallery Mrs. Head said: "There has been a lot of building going on next door which has made it difficult.

"The other thing that has caused problems for the gallery is the fact that shortly after we announced that we were going to have monthly shows featuring young artists and take 30 percent commission, the Masterworks gallery announced that they were going to have bimonthly shows and take 15 percent commission which really hurt the gallery.

"When you have that number of openings people just get tired of them young artists.'' She added: "This is our last attempt to save he gallery.''