Archipelago celebrates Maine with ‘Coastal Mood’ exhibition and reception 

Join Archipelago, the Island Institute’s store and gallery, for “Coastal Mood” celebrating Maine, on display through Oct. 28. “Coastal Mood” shares works of six local artists using India ink, charcoal, stone, glass, watercolor, acrylic and wood as their media. Enjoy these depictions of Maine’s coastal mood with varied works on display. 

Celebrate the second month of the show with good food, drink and conversations in the gallery from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 6.

The featured artists include Katharine Cartwright, Pam Cabanas, Karen Gola, Christina Blank, Christine Wolff and Shanna Wheelock. 

Pieces from Cartwright’s Third Watch series will be exhibited depicting many minute details of ship ropes coiled and ready for use. Cartwright is an internationally recognized artist and instructor living in Spruce Head and uses india ink for this work. The work was inspired by her sailings aboard tall ships. 

Cabanas is always out and about wandering the coast’s coves and inlets admiring and gleaning subject matter. Large, awesome works inspired by Friendship scenes using a variety of media will be in the gallery. Pick up a copy of the 2023 Island Journal, the Island Institute’s annual publication, to see a folio of Cabanas’ work. 

Gola brings her glass horseshoe crabs and sting rays to Archipelgo for the first time. Her craft in glass is exceptional and these are particular treats for sea creature lovers. “In glass I find an amazing material that can capture the organic essence of nature,” she says of her medium. 

Blank gathered many of her favorite, faithful woodworking tools to spend hours upon hours crafting exquisitely special pieces for this gallery show. Pieces like a Bunchberry Dogwood flower with spring peeper balancing on a mahogany base are breathtaking in the level of craft and beauty. 

Wolff assembles glass and stone into captivating panels whose subjects ebb and flow with the tides. She has always incorporated natural patterns seen in nature into her art while exploring texture and color.

Wheelock will be showing pottery with sculptural elements as well as drawings with coastal-inspired details she observes in her town of Lubec.  She states: “A Maine native, I came to live in a remote fishing village bordering Canada just over a decade ago. A potter by trade as well as a sculptor and weaver, the area in which I live has influenced my work on many levels. I gather inspiration from the natural environment as well as the local history and culture.”

Archipelago is at 386 Main St., Rockland. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Call 207-596-0701 or go to www.thearchipelago.net for more information. For general questions regarding Archipelago or the gallery show, contact Archipelago director Lisa Mossel at 207-596-0701.