'More than Words' Cynthia Ahlstrin
Many words are ephemeral but others thrive endlessly - I have a fascination with the
latter. My interest is held when certain groups of printed words on a page have the
ability to “jump” off that page, grab my attention and influence my visual process. I am
also interested in why particular adages are passed down from generation to
generation. Both of these phenomena have helped me to create a diverse body of work
where these words, my thoughts on women’s issues, 1950’s commercial art and fashion
meet at an interesting four-way intersection within my mind.
When making altered books I always repurpose discarded novels. During the process
of cutting pages away from the book block to create future “fabric”, I found that certain
words fearlessly jumped out and focused my attention on the violence perpetrated
against female characters. My thoughts on the prevalence of this violence have been
translated into a series of work fashioned to emulate 1950’s and 1960’s foundation wear
and boudoir apparel. This fashion genre is as beautiful as it is cage-like. Each piece
invites the viewer to find selected sentences or words illuminating this troubling pattern.
I have utilized the beauty of the structure to create a juxtaposition to the violence
expressed in the printed word. My hope is for the viewer to consider what issues
women experience in our current society.
My mixed media work takes on a lighter, more humorous tone when working with the
antiquated poem “Days of the Week”. Each of these pieces have been influenced in
some way by imagery popularized in 1950’s atomic art, women’s dress pattern
illustrations and commercial illustrations for the domestic arena. The solutions to each
day’s “domestic rule” are positive, comedic and purely from a woman’s point of view.
The illustrations on my “company aprons” represent just a few of my visual
interpretations of adages handed down from one generation of women in my family to
another.
latter. My interest is held when certain groups of printed words on a page have the
ability to “jump” off that page, grab my attention and influence my visual process. I am
also interested in why particular adages are passed down from generation to
generation. Both of these phenomena have helped me to create a diverse body of work
where these words, my thoughts on women’s issues, 1950’s commercial art and fashion
meet at an interesting four-way intersection within my mind.
When making altered books I always repurpose discarded novels. During the process
of cutting pages away from the book block to create future “fabric”, I found that certain
words fearlessly jumped out and focused my attention on the violence perpetrated
against female characters. My thoughts on the prevalence of this violence have been
translated into a series of work fashioned to emulate 1950’s and 1960’s foundation wear
and boudoir apparel. This fashion genre is as beautiful as it is cage-like. Each piece
invites the viewer to find selected sentences or words illuminating this troubling pattern.
I have utilized the beauty of the structure to create a juxtaposition to the violence
expressed in the printed word. My hope is for the viewer to consider what issues
women experience in our current society.
My mixed media work takes on a lighter, more humorous tone when working with the
antiquated poem “Days of the Week”. Each of these pieces have been influenced in
some way by imagery popularized in 1950’s atomic art, women’s dress pattern
illustrations and commercial illustrations for the domestic arena. The solutions to each
day’s “domestic rule” are positive, comedic and purely from a woman’s point of view.
The illustrations on my “company aprons” represent just a few of my visual
interpretations of adages handed down from one generation of women in my family to
another.
Martha Miller WOMEN OF COLOR Portrait Project
August1st-31st
August1st-31st
Just a sampling on the website. There are 50 portraits all in all hanging in this exhibit
Artist statement
I dreamt that I was nursing a tiny, dark newborn baby. The baby latched
right on.
(Excerpt from my Dream Journal, February, 2021)
George Floyd’s murder and the rise of the BLM movement ignited in me a
deep desire to contribute somehow to this crucial cause. What could I, a
privileged middle class white woman, do about this? I prayed about it, using
one of Julia Cameron’s mantras:
“I am willing to let God create through me.”
(Cameron is the author of The Artists Way).
One of my gifts is drawing portraits. In making a portrait I lift an individual
up into the light to be recognized, to be seen. When Amanda Gorman
walked onto the Inaugural stage with her brilliant yellow coat and ballet
hands, I knew I had to draw her, and in so doing, she unlocked my prayer: I
knew what I could do. Her portrait was the beginning of this new series of
portraits, The Women of Color Project. I started creating a portrait a day in
late January, throughout February, which is Black History Month, and into
March, Women’s History Month.
I felt called to make this series. Typically I draw from life, but many of my
subjects are deceased or were not accessible. Even if I could have
travelled and had some of my subjects sit for me, Covid 19 made that
option prohibitive. I had to use photographs. I found photos of WOC to
work from on line; photos of living WOC like Amanda Gorman, and photos
of WOC who are now deceased. From these photos I worked in mixed
media to create 46 larger than life portraits of WOC artists, politicians,
abolitionists, musicians, poets, writers, actors and dancers, many of whom
are well known and many whom I’d never heard of. I posted the portraits
daily on my Instagram account along with information about each individual
that I’d garnered from my research. I wanted to amplify these beautiful,
brave, women’s voices. While working on the portraits, I often felt the
presence of each woman, as if I was channeling her spirit. I listened and
learned something powerful from my “sitters”, and it is my hope that their
voices will ring out and be heard by all who view their portraits.
Martha Miller
June, 2021
Martha Miller
WOC Portrait Project
- Pisces Poet Queen/Amanda Gorman, 2021, pastel charcoal and gouache on paper, 22” x 30”
- Face of the Future/Madam Vice President/Kamala Harris, 2021, mixed media on paper, 22” x
30” - Queen of Soul/Aretha Franklin, 2021, mixed media on paper, 29” x 40”
- High Priestess of Soul/Nina Simone, 2021, charcoal on paper, 29” x 40”
- Unbossed and Unbought/Shirley Chisholm, 2021, mixed media on paper, 22” x 30’
- Ida B Wells, 2021, charcoal, pastel and ink on paper, 22” x 30”
- Ella Baker, 2021, charcoal, pastel, ink and acrylic on paper, 22” x 30”
- Pamela Coleman Smith, 2021, charcoal and pastel on paper, 22” x 30”
- Cicely Tyson, 2021, charcoal on paper, 22” x 30”
- Karen Robinson, 2021, pastel and charcoal on paper, 30” x 22”
- Okwui Okpokwasili, 2021, mixed media on paper, 22” x 30”
- Maxine Waters, 2021, mixed media on paper, 22” x 30”
- Alice Walker, 2021, pastel and ink on paper, 22” x 30”
- Joy Reid, 2021, mixed media on paper, 30” x 22”
- The Funeral/Coretta Scott King, 2021, charcoal, pastel and ink on paper, 40” x 29”
- Lady Day/Billie Holiday, 2021, charcoal on paper, 29” x 40”
- Phoebe Snow, 2021, charcoal and white chalk on paper, 29” x 40”
- Kay Brown, 2021, pastel and acrylic on paper, 29” x 40”
- Etta James, 2021, pastel and acrylic on paper, 40” x 29”
- Nina Chanel Abney, 2021, mixed media on paper, 40” x 29”
- Andrea Jenkins, 2021, mixed media on paper, 29” x 40”
- Neesha Nichols as Lieutenant Uhura, 2021, mixed media on paper, 29” x 40”
- Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons/When We Gather, mixed media on paper, 29” x 40”
- Angela Davis, 2021, charcoal and pastel on paper, 22” x 30”
- Harriet Tubman, 2021, charcoal and pastel on paper, 22” x 30”
- Josephine Baker, 2021, charcoal, pastel and gouache on paper, 22” x 30”
- Audre Lorde, 2021, charcoal on paper, 22” x 30”
- First Day of School/Dorothy Counts, 2021, charcoal, ink, pastel and acrylic on paper, 29” x 40”
- Maya Angelou, 2021, charcoal and pastel on paper, 29” x 40”
- Coretta Scott King, 2021, charcoal and pastel on paper, 40” x 29”
- Zitkala-Sa, 2021, charcoal on paper, 29” x 40’
- Rosa Parks, 2021, charcoal and acrylic on paper, 29” x 40”
- Eartha Kitt, 2021, charcoal on paper, 29” x 40”
- Elizabeth Catlett, 2021, pastel, charcoal and acrylic on paper, 40” x 29”
- Emma Amos on Her Birthday, 2021, pastel and charcoal on paper, 29” x 40”
- Toyin Ojih Odutola, 2021, pastel and charcoal on paper, 29” x 40”
- Veronica Parker, 2021, pastel, charcoal and ink on paper, 40” x 2
- . Mary Wilson, 2021, mixed media on paper, 40” x 29”
40. Alva Rogers, 2021, charcoal, pastel and ink on paper, 40” x 29”
41. Ayanna Pressley, 2021, mixed media on paper, 22” x 30”
42. Aquarius Queen/Oprah Winfrey, 2021, mixed media on paper, 22” x 30”
43. First Lady/Michelle Obama, 2021, mixed media on paper, 22” x 30”
44. Miracle Worker/Stacey Abrams, 2021, mixed media on paper, 30” x 22”
45. Stacey Plaskett, 2021, pastel on paper, 30” x 22”
46. Fannie Lou Hamer, 2021, mixed media on paper, 30” x 22”
47. Pauli Murray, 2021, pastel and charcoal on paper, 22” x 30”
48. Nannie Helen Burroughs, 2021, charcoal, pastel and acrylic on paper, 22” x 30”
Past exhibitions
Camille Davidson 'Chance Illuminations'
3 GENERATIONS OF ART
Betsy Cook, Granny
Sophie Cook, Mom
Mirele Ciccaronne, 7 year old
May art show 'Book of Hours'-Sally Wagley
Story Hour May 21st Sunday 2-4
'Readfield Moth Story Hour' music, tea, cookies and of course STORIES. Sign up 522 7325 and come tell a story, poem etc..
Past Exhibitions
Opening postponed to March 11th 10-1
October-November 2022 Kat Logan
IM/MORTAL Contemplative Self Portraits by Alicia Sampson Ethridge
August 2020
'AnimalWorlds'
Alicia Ethridge
Mary Burr
Margaret Leonard
Cheryl DiCara
Arielle Cousens
Larry Hayden
Chris Olson
July exhibit Camille Davidson
June exhibition
FORDS CORNER 'A collaboration between two artists' Nathan Allard and Andrew Pottle
Ford’s Corner is a collaboration of paintings by Nathan Allard and film
photography by Andrew Pottle that focuses on the 4-corner
intersection in North Palermo called “Ford’s Corner”. Ford’s Corner is
a place that is rich with history and that the Pottle family has owned
land at for 70 years.
photography by Andrew Pottle that focuses on the 4-corner
intersection in North Palermo called “Ford’s Corner”. Ford’s Corner is
a place that is rich with history and that the Pottle family has owned
land at for 70 years.
Paintings by Margaret Leonard April 2nd-April 30th Reception on April 30th 10-2
The Art of Lynn Karlin
|
Food. We taste (rather we eat), we touch (maybe not enough). But how often do we slow down to take in the aroma and the beauty of the often-overlooked vegetables, fruit, and edible plants that nourish us? Do we notice the myriad varieties and
Lynn Karlin’s award winning work has appeared in numerous write-ups from the San Francisco Chronicle to The New York Times and is exhibited in galleries, private collections, restaurants and corporate headquarters world-wide. |
December 2021 Holiday invitational 12"x12"
Arlene Morris
David Matson
Chris Olson
Chris Higgins
Mali Mrozinski
Camille Davidson
Kimberly Curry
Meredith Cough
Brian Braley
Nancy Keenan Barron
Jane Page Conway
Cynthia Ahlstrin
Sally Eagley
Susan Mills
David Matson
Chris Olson
Chris Higgins
Mali Mrozinski
Camille Davidson
Kimberly Curry
Meredith Cough
Brian Braley
Nancy Keenan Barron
Jane Page Conway
Cynthia Ahlstrin
Sally Eagley
Susan Mills
'In their own time' Artist mentors
October-November 2021
October-November 2021
14 artists connected through art, by supporting artists who have disabilities at Spindleworks in Brunswick and Spindleworks Off Site in Hallowell. Working alongside adults with disabilites informs the work in their personal studio practices. The public is invited to see the Mentors’ work and learn how being an Artist Mentor informs their various disciplines. The work in this exhibition is diverse and includes: music, painting, fiber arts, mixed media, ceramics, photography, sculpture and more. Please join us and meet the artists at an opening reception on Saturday, October 23, 2-4pm.
Brooke Adams, Sidney
Nancy Keenan Barron, South Gardiner
Deirdre Barton, Brunswick
Brian Braley, Auburn
Janet Broxon, Brunswick
Toni Carroll, Bath
Sara Cox, Bowdoinham
Tess Hartford, Brunswick
Amy Mulligan, Bowdoinham
Mali Mrozinski, Readfield
Brian Trelegan, Yarmouth
Martha Truscott, Harpswell
Phoebe Pope, Hallowell
Manon Whittlesey, Bowdoinham
Nancy Keenan Barron, South Gardiner
Deirdre Barton, Brunswick
Brian Braley, Auburn
Janet Broxon, Brunswick
Toni Carroll, Bath
Sara Cox, Bowdoinham
Tess Hartford, Brunswick
Amy Mulligan, Bowdoinham
Mali Mrozinski, Readfield
Brian Trelegan, Yarmouth
Martha Truscott, Harpswell
Phoebe Pope, Hallowell
Manon Whittlesey, Bowdoinham
September 2021
Arlene Morris
'Paper Assemblages'
Arlene Morris
'Paper Assemblages'
Readfield artists show
August 2021
August 2021
Chris Olson
Chris Higgins
Tom Higgins
Mandy Miller
DavidMatson
Camille Davidson
Arielle Cousens
Benjamin Stoodley
Julie Zales
Mali Mrozinski
Chris Higgins
Tom Higgins
Mandy Miller
DavidMatson
Camille Davidson
Arielle Cousens
Benjamin Stoodley
Julie Zales
Mali Mrozinski
June 18th-August 8th 2021
Camille Davidson
Dona Mara
May 2021
May 2021
Depth of Water - 8 x 8" encaustic on Kozo, framed 13.5 x 13.5". $125.
Dahlias - 8 x 8" encaustic on Kozo, framed 13.5 x 13.5". $125.
Depth of Golden Water - encaustic on Kozo, framed 13.5 x 13.5 $125.
Dahlias - 8 x 8" encaustic on Kozo, framed 13.5 x 13.5". $125.
Depth of Golden Water - encaustic on Kozo, framed 13.5 x 13.5 $125.
April 2021
Kimberly Curry
Kimberly Curry
Kimberly Curry is a Maine artist. She works in mediums of watercolor, encaustic paint, and mixed media. Twenty years ago, she left Maine for a stint in the Peace Corps in Romania. The Romanian artists she met while she lived there, helped her find her own artistic voice.
Today, she finds inspiration in everyday objects and the landscape around her. In this collection, Stampila, a Romanian postage stamp kicked off a whole series.
Curry visually translated images from the stamp into biomorphic, playful pieces. She stitched color-aid to handmade paper, mounted on small panels and build up layers of encaustic paint in certain sections of the panels. This joyous series shows that in everyday objects, there is fun to be found!
hi@kimberlycurry.com
www.kimberlycurry.com
March 2021
Sally Wagley
'Body Electric'
“I sing the body electric…. If the body were not the soul what is the soul?”
--Walt Whitman
Most of my artwork is about the human body. I’m interested not only in the surface of the body but also what’s inside, drawing on technical illustration and medical imaging. While I work in a variety of media, this pieces in this show are all embroidered images. Needle and thread lend themselves well to the depiction of muscles and other issue because muscles, like thread, twist, stretch, become lax, knot and tear.
I worked for many years as a lawyer focusing on the legal needs of older people and people with disabilities, returning in recent years to my art practice. I am currently studying art and art history at the University of Maine at Augusta. I live in Brunswick, Maine.
Sally Wagley
www.sallywagleyart.com
sallywagley@gmail.com
All the work is for sale and can be purchased directly from the artist
February 2021
Debra Claffey
Debra Claffey Fine Art
email: debra@debraclaffey.com www.debraclaffey.com
Debra Claffey Fine Art
email: debra@debraclaffey.com www.debraclaffey.com
“My experience in horticulture and organic land care has led me to focus in on the plant world and the assaults on the soil, biodiversity of plant species, and the protection of native flora. I feel that all these assaults arise from age-old and widely-held beliefs. One is that all the earth and its resources are ours as humans at the top of a hierarchy to use as we will. Another is that the other forms of life on this planet are lesser than we are, thus less deserving of respect or care.
I celebrate plants: their great age and history on the planet, their intelligence and successful adaptions, their beauty of form, shape, and infinite color. I marvel in our new knowledge of their ways of communication, of making themselves attractive to us and other species, and the trading of “goods and services” that goes on between plants, fungi, bacteria, insects, birds, and even us mammals. My aim is to help my viewers appreciate plant life a bit more when they enjoy my work and in a hopeful and positive way.”
I celebrate plants: their great age and history on the planet, their intelligence and successful adaptions, their beauty of form, shape, and infinite color. I marvel in our new knowledge of their ways of communication, of making themselves attractive to us and other species, and the trading of “goods and services” that goes on between plants, fungi, bacteria, insects, birds, and even us mammals. My aim is to help my viewers appreciate plant life a bit more when they enjoy my work and in a hopeful and positive way.”
January 2021
Posters of Quotes by William Sloane Coffin(curated by Nan March)
art talk about William Coffin by friend and artist Robert Shetterly
Today January 18th at 4:00
November 2020
Jess Beer and Morgain Bailey 'Watershed'
https://jessbeer.com
https://morgain.photoshelter.com/
Jess Beer and Morgain Bailey 'Watershed'
https://jessbeer.com
https://morgain.photoshelter.com/
October 2020
Arielle Cousens 'Herd Bound'
Arielle Cousens 'Herd Bound'
October 2020
Benjamin Stoodley
'Practice makes Perfection' (watercolor studies)
http://www.metalsculptureplus.com
Benjamin Stoodley
'Practice makes Perfection' (watercolor studies)
http://www.metalsculptureplus.com
September 2020
Cynthia Ahlstrin
'Out of Lines'
cynthiaahlstrin.com
August 2020 (two solo shows by two different artists)
Chris Olson
Mélange
Chris Olson
Mélange
All the work is for sale! Contact The Gallery or the artist directly if you are interested in owning a piece of art. All the money goes directly to the artists.
|
|
The Oceans shine 1 encaustic
|
Break the Line encaustic
|
The Oceans shine 2 encaustic
|
July 2020
Camille Davidson
'Towards light'
Inspired by the woods and the seasonal shifts in nature
camilledavidsonart.com
Camille Davidson
'Towards light'
Inspired by the woods and the seasonal shifts in nature
camilledavidsonart.com
June 2020
Meredith Cough
Bouquets from Maine: a mini series
meredithcough.com
Meredith Cough
Bouquets from Maine: a mini series
meredithcough.com
