Indigo Arts Alliance, an organization committed to cultivating the artistic development of artists of African descent, launches the Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival — in homes across the state. The event was created to honor legendary children’s author and illustrator Ashley Bryan, whose award-winning picture book Beautiful Blackbird is a celebration of Blackness. Indigo, in partnership with I’m Your Neighbor Books and the Diverse BookFinder, will use the festival to celebrate children’s books and their creators from across the African diaspora.
Unable to engage with readers in person, the Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival is bringing the festival to homes by providing book read-alouds, creator interviews, dance instruction, art projects and more by video over a nine-week period this summer on BeautifulBlackbird.com. Hundreds of children served by Portland Housing Authority and Portland Parks & Recreation will get books and activities delivered directly to them ensuring book access and engagement at home during the summer months.
“The Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival is one of several Indigo programs that bring real, actionable change to Maine’s arts and culture sector,” said Marcia Minter, Indigo’s co-founder. “It is our commitment to raise readers who see themselves reflected in the literature they consume and to cultivate artists who understand the necessity of that representation.”
This year’s featured picture books and creators include Ashley Bryan, the author and illustrator of Beautiful Blackbird; Daniel Minter, illustrator of Going Down Home with Daddy; Francie Latour, author of Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings; Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome, creators of Overground Railroad; Kelly Starling Lyons, author of Sing a Song; Munir D. Mohammed, illustrator of Wherever I Go; and Samara Cole Doyon, author of Magnificent Homespun Brown. The festival also features Omar Mohamed, co-creator of the graphic novel When Stars are Scattered. These books represent the modern and historically African-American experience but also the experience of recent immigrants from Ethiopia, Somalia and Haiti.
“We are proud to have retooled and redesigned this festival so we could bring it directly to families and children,” said Indigo co-founder Marcia Minter. “It honors diversity, respects all cultures, and builds a strong sense of community for all of us. We’re looking forward to seeing how it grows.”
STITCH is Maine Crafts Association’s annual fundraiser, celebrating wearable craft by Maine’s slow fashion designers & makers. Thursday, May 22, 2025 5pm – 9pm, Runway @ 7:00pm Maine Studio Works | 170 Anderson Street, Portland Cool Clothes. From Here. 2025 TICKET INFO: $75 for current MCA Members | $85 for Non Members | + $20 […]
MARCH INTO APRIL E-catalogue Hours: Tuesday – Friday 12 – 4pm Saturday/Sunday by chance and by appointment.
New works by Glade Davis and Thomas O’Donovan, marking a four-decade collaborative partnership, is now on display at Harbor Square Gallery. The gallery has relocated to 37 Bayview St. in Camden. Visitors may view the gallery on Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 4:00 p.m. or by appointment. For further details, visit harborsquaregallery.com.
The Deer Isle Artists Association is pleased to announce the April Artist-in-Residence program with painter Robert Starkey. Starkey is a painter inspired by nature. The landscape has always provided the platform for his visual investigations. During the month, Robert will be in the gallery using oils, watercolors and graphite to develop his compositions. The primary […]
North Light Gallery in Belfast participated in the Art Walk on March 28 with a group show featuring its dozen artists painting scenes of the interior and coastal Maine. The gallery will host receptions for Fourth Friday Art Walks in April and May as well, featuring group exhibitions. The first official show of the season, […]
Immerse yourself in the stunning perspectives of Maine photographers at the Boothbay Region Art Foundation’s (BRAF) highly anticipated “Maine Photographers Showcase.” This invitational exhibit, now in its third year, features the work of 23 exceptional photographers, offering a diverse array of styles and subjects. The exhibition opened March 29 and continues through May 1 at […]
The Maine Art Collective is opening in its new Ogunquit location on April 18. Located at 119 Perkins Cove Road, the 1,700-square-foot gallery will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Monday, and beginning May 1 it will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Twenty artists will showcase […]
Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery will present “Emerging Artists: The Future of Maine Art,” with an opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. April 4. Three emerging artists representing USM, UNE and MECA will be exhibiting work in the gallery. Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery is at 48 Free St., Portland. […]
“Combined: Spindleworks & MhA Artists Group Show” is on view from March 28 to April 26 at Meetinghouse Arts Gallery in Freeport. The show features work by 20 Spindleworks artists and 20 Meetinghouse Arts gallery member artists. The work will include paintings, pastel, photography, collage, glass work, ceramics, encaustic, fiber arts and sculpture. Show hours […]
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