UMVA’s ‘Washed Away’ at Portland Public Library explores loss, climate change and the art of bearing witness

The Union of Maine Visual Artists (UMVA) will present Washed Away, a juried exhibition of work by 60 artists grappling with the accelerating environmental and societal shifts reshaping our world. The show runs May 2 to June 28 at the Portland Public Library, with an artists’ reception from 5 to 7 p.m. May 2 as part of First Friday Art Walk.

Curated by esteemed art writer and critic Carl Little, the exhibition offers a powerful and emotional reflection on the theme “The Things We Have Lost” — both personal and planetary.

Little, who received the Rabkin Foundation’s 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award in Art Writing, will give a gallery talk at 5:30 p.m. June 6.

In addition, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute will host “Coastal Flooding: Understanding Local Impacts through Science and Art” at 5:30 p.m. June 12 in the Library Auditorium.

All events are free and open to the public.

UMVA received submissions from over 100 artists working in painting, photography, video, sculpture, digital and mixed media. The 60 artists selected for the show include Kimberly Callas, Kenny Cole, Rebecca Goodale, Nina Jerome, Lin Lisberger, Lesia Sochor, Barbara Sullivan, Anita Clearfield and Nora Tryon.

Judith Greene-Janse chaired the exhibition committee, overseeing a project that could not be more timely. This past winter, warming ocean temperatures and king tides battered Maine’s coastline, submerging landmarks, wrecking property, and providing a visceral reminder of the climate crisis already underway. As such, the exhibition’s title captures not only the physical toll of climate events, but the spiritual and cultural erosion artists and citizens alike are witnessing.

“The presentations are vital and often moving,” said Little. “The materials are optimized to underscore the messages.” He noted a range of emotional responses in the submissions — from “anger, fear, despair, hope” — echoed in titles such as “When I Can’t Sleep,” “Apocalyptic,” “Roar,” “Gimme Shelter” and “You Will Lose Everything.”

While some artists tackle the flooding of coastlines or global warming head-on, others speak to parallel devastations: the loss of civil liberties, displacement, grief and the erasure of community.

“One need only read the titles to get the gist of the angst circulating in the world today,” Little added.

UMVA, founded in 1975, continues to advocate for Maine’s visual artists through legislative victories such as the Maine Percent for Art Program and the Artist’s Estate Tax Law. The organization supports numerous creative initiatives, including the Maine Arts Journal, ARRT! (Artists Rapid Response Team), Lumen ARRT!!, and the Maine Masters Project, a documentary series profiling under-recognized Maine artists. With active Portland and Midcoast-Downeast chapters, UMVA remains a vital force in Maine’s cultural landscape. Learn more at www.theumva.org.