Opening reception Thursday, June 7 from 5-7pm
Artists talk Saturday, June 23 at 1pm
Brushwork is John Whalley’s 8th solo exhibition at Greenhut Galleries. This exhibition of paintings and drawings continues Whalley’s exploration of reclaiming discarded tools, seashells, and other objects and giving them new life. His beautifully rendered images seem to instill, or rather uncover, an inner light within his subjects.
About the show Whalley states, “This last year as I was preparing a body of work for this show, with the exception of two drawings, I found myself wanting to explore my subjects in color, with a collection of twenty oil and egg tempera paintings. Hence, the title “Brushwork”- which also gave a nod to the seven paintings that had as their subject some of the many old, oversized paintbrushes I’ve collected over the years. Each of these brushes holds a story of their long service that I wanted to pay tribute to.
My studio contains a vast array of “orphaned objects’ which my wife and I have collected over the years, and from these I selected the ones which, in a sense, passed their audition and found their places in each of my paintings. Care was taken to allow a little story to develop in each painting which remains open to the imagination and interpretation of each viewer. I find that the paintings often touch memories and emotions of each viewer, as they have my own. Objects from nature such as a lobster claw, mussel shells and fossils have fascinated me since childhood. Old tools, such as these two wrenches used by my grandfather in Brooklyn in the early 20th century, measuring strings, and putty knife speak of the dignity of common labor. An old pocket watch, compass and clouded bottles harken back to a time of the concern for beauty in the making of objects of everyday use. My love for the printed word, and the idea of story, account for my inclusion of these vintage volumes in the paintings.
My hope is that these works will comprise a collection of winsome scenes, as if from a play, that will bring pleasure with their simple telling.”
Dominique Ostuni’s solo exhibition, “Would an Angel Apologize for Spilling Champagne,” is on view through Oct. 3 at Dowling Walsh Gallery in Rockland. A centerpiece of the exhibition is “Excess Comes Naturally,” an elaborate mirror standing more than 8 feet tall. The work begins with an ordinary functional object, then overwhelms that function with porcelain, […]
Waterfall Arts will invite the public inside more than 40 artist studios during the Lincoln Street Center Fall Open Studios from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 17 at 24 Lincoln St. in Rockland. During the free event, artists will open their studios and welcome visitors into their creative spaces. Guests can explore Rockland’s historic former […]
“Made in Maine,” the Maine Art Gallery’s annual member show, features more than 100 works of art across two floors of the historic Old Academy building in Wiscasset. The exhibition is on view through Oct. 18. Sara Stites of Thomaston, a new member, is showing at the gallery for the first time. Her oil painting […]
High Peaks Artisan Guild in Kingfield features Western Maine watercolor artist Karen Jordan Paul throughout September. Paul draws inspiration from wildlife found throughout Maine, particularly wild birds and fish. The guild celebrated Paul as its featured artist of the month during the Sept. 4 Kingfield Art Walk. High Peaks Artisan Guild is at 245 Main […]
Turtle Gallery in Deer Isle presents “Material Storytelling,” a three-artist exhibition featuring new work by Sheep Jones, Michele Ratté Delphin and Barbara Sullivan, through Oct. 11. The three artists use distinct materials and techniques to explore narrative, light and the quiet poetry of everyday objects. Jones brings her signature combination of oil and cold wax […]
Photographer Melonie Bennett will discuss her exhibition and debut monograph, “Holy Cow!,” from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Maine Museum of Photographic Arts in Portland. The event will include an interview, reading and book signing. Photographer and writer Robert Diamante, a friend and fellow photographer, will interview Bennett. “Holy Cow!” presents an […]
Centre Street Arts Gallery in downtown Bath will open its fall show during the Bath Art Walk from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 18. The gallery represents 20 local artists and will feature new work in its fall exhibition. Visitors can meet the artists, explore the show and enjoy refreshments during the reception. Centre Street […]
Maine artist Daryne Rockett will present “Restoring Liberty,” an exhibition of monotypes and mixed-media work, from Oct. 2 to Nov. 24 at the McDade Gallery at Bangor Public Library. The exhibition brings together two interconnected bodies of work examining freedom, democracy, justice and hope. In a series of layered monotypes, the Statue of Liberty appears […]
Maine Craft Weekend, an annual statewide celebration of craft, community and creativity, will return Oct. 3 and 4. The free, self-guided tour invites visitors to discover the people, places and stories behind Maine’s craft communities. Hundreds of participating artists and locations will host open studios, workshops, pop-up markets, exhibitions, fairs, artist talks, special events and […]