Karen S. Brace (left), newly appointed Chair of the Center for Maine Contemporary Art Board of Trustees with fellow trustee, JoAnne Bander (right), aboard the North Haven on CMCA’s annual Artful Living Tour.
Karen S. Brace (left), newly appointed Chair of the Center for Maine Contemporary Art Board of Trustees with fellow trustee, JoAnne Bander (right), aboard the North Haven on CMCA’s annual Artful Living Tour.

Karen S. Brace, of Camden, Maine, and Westwood, Massachusetts, has been appointed the new Chair of CMCA’s Board of Trustees, replacing Charlotte Dixon, of Camden, who will remain on the board as First Vice Chair. Other officers are Jack McKenney, Camden, Second Vice Chair; Sandra Ruch, Northport, Secretary; and Martin Lloyd, Camden, Treasurer.

In accepting the position of Chair, Karen Brace acknowledged the contribution of outgoing Chair Charlotte Dixon. “We are all so grateful for Charlotte’s leadership and dedication to CMCA,” says Brace. “As the new Chair of a wonderful Board, I look forward to working together with the Board, Suzette, and the staff during this exciting time of transition and growth. CMCA is truly a special organization.”

Karen Brace is a former principal and co-owner of SimpleSay, a technology company that automated transactions for multiple industries using voice recognition and voice biometrics. As president of the company, she focused on operations, marketing, and business development. Brace’s marketing and communications expertise was developed early at a Boston-based advertising and public relations agency. Accepted into the Historical Society of Early American Decoration, a national painting guild, Brace enjoys working with both gold leaf and oil paints and has studied for many years with a master craftsman. Brace graduated from Wellesley College, earned her master’s degree in English from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Boston College, and holds a certificate in graphic design from the Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts.

In addition to voting in a new slate of officers, the CMCA Board of Trustees welcomed three new members Drew Hodges, Cushing and Portland, Maine; Cathy Landau-Painter, Camden, Maine; and Susan Schor, St. George, Maine, and New York City.

The Center for Maine Contemporary Art, located at 21 Winter Street, Rockland, Maine, is the state’s leading arts institution dedicated to contemporary art. It moved to its present location, a newly constructed $3.7 million, 11,500 sq ft building, designed by internationally recognized architect Toshiko Mori, in late June 2016. CMCA presents a dynamic year-round program of exhibitions and educational programs for all ages. To contribute, or to find out more about CMCA, visit cmcanow.org.

CMCA is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm; Sunday, 1pm to 5pm. Closed Federal Holidays. Admission $6; CMCA members and children under 12 free.