Join Archipelago in celebrating Maine’s working waterfronts with the new gallery show “20 Miles,” on display through Sept. 27. “20 Miles” features the work of Susan Tobey White and her series “Lobstering Women of Maine,” a collection of paintings and stories highlighting women working on Maine’s waterfronts. Other artists include Abe Goodale, Andre Benoit, Val Aponik and Laurel Averill.
“Maine artists are having important conversations and bringing forth important ideas right now, and this gallery show is a wonderful example of that,” said Lisa Mossel Vietze, director of Archipelago. “We are proud to feature all of these amazing pieces and share the stories of our working waterfronts and this important piece of Maine culture and livelihood for our islands and coast.”
For centuries, Maine’s working waterfronts have served as the critical connection between communities and the sea. They have helped craft the state’s sense of identity and reflect the bold and determined character of the men and women who work on the water each day. From shipbuilding to shipping and aquaculture to lobstering, these iconic places scattered along Maine’s coast ignite a feeling that connects us to something deeper, connects us to a way of life where one person, a boat, and a place to land it can craft a deep and sustaining connection for their community.
It is estimated that fewer than 20 miles of working waterfront remain along Maine’s more than 5,000-mile coastline, and only 17 percent of these working waterfronts are protected by the state’s Waterfront Access Protection Program. As of 2019, the value of Maine seafood, including aquaculture and wild harvest, was just under $674 million with the total impact on the state’s broader economy extending into the billions of dollars — all of which relies on the Maine’s working waterfronts.
The pieces in “20 Miles” depict the variety of work happening along Maine’s waterfronts through different mediums, including watercolor and pencil, reclaimed wood, acrylic and silk paintings.
Located at 386 Main St. in Rockland, the Archipelago Fine Arts Gallery features artists who work with natural, coastal, and working waterfront themes inspired by living and creating art in Maine. Both the store and the gallery are open Wednesday through Saturday, fro 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To learn more about the artists and work featured in “20 Miles,” visit the gallery page of the website or the Archipelago page on Facebook. For general questions regarding Archipelago or the gallery show, contact Archipelago director Lisa Mossel Vietze at 207-596-0701.
Harbor Square Gallery in Camden is showing new work by Thomas O’Donovan, the jeweler and artistic director who founded the gallery more than four decades ago. On view is “Revelation,” from his series The Offering, crafted in 18k gold and bronze with antique coconut heishi beads. Harbor Square Gallery is at 37 Bay View St., […]
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Waterfall Arts in Belfast opens “Make Your Mark,” an immersive, community-driven exhibition transforming the Clifford Gallery into an interactive space inspired by street art, April 18 through May 29. An opening reception is April 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. and is free and open to the public. The exhibition features participatory installations including doodle […]
Local Color Gallery in Belfast welcomes fiber artist Sarah Leighton as guest artist April 21 through May 17. Leighton will speak about her work during Fourth Friday Gallery Night on April 25 from 4 to 7 p.m., with her talk beginning at 5 p.m. Leighton grew up in Midcoast Maine, where her French-Canadian grandmother — […]
The Union of Maine Visual Artists presents “Bodies in Motion,” an exhibition of work in various media at Zoot Coffee in Camden, running April 1 through 30. The show features 19 artists: Hillary Steinau, Cynthia Motian McGuirl, Jess Lauren Lipton, Charlie Newton, Maryjean Viano Crowe, Mackenzie Martin, Jorge Pena, Rachel Robbins, Shanna McNair, Kristi Marsh, […]
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Meetinghouse Arts kicked off the season with a creative conversation featuring artist Charlie Hewitt on March 18, partnering with Freeport Community Services for the evening event. Hewitt is known for his Hopeful Project, a glowing installation originally commissioned by Speedwell in 2019 that has since spread to dozens of sites. The gallery also hosted a […]
George Marshall Store Gallery in York opened “Block Party!” on March 15, bringing together artists living, working or with ties to York, Kittery, Eliot, South Berwick, Ogunquit and Wells. The open-call exhibition featured a wide variety of mediums, experimental approaches and interpretations of local landmarks. The show included work by Karen Adrienne, Marena Bach, Todd […]
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