The Union of Maine Visual Artists opens two exhibitions in May and has announced details for its major summer show at the Bangor Public Library.
“Celebrating Hope,” a group exhibition of work by 20 UMVA members, opens with a reception May 1 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Oak Street Lofts Gallery in Portland and runs through May 29. The show brings together works in charcoal, acrylic and oil paints as well as photography, collage, sculpture and assemblage — all 8 by 8 inches or smaller — exploring how artists find hope in uncertain times. Jane Dahmen served as juror. Gallery hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. A performance of ekphrastic poetry in response to the exhibition will be held May 23 at 4 p.m. at the Oak Street Lofts Gallery, 72 Oak St., Portland. Participating poets include Annaliese Jakimides, Gregg Harper, Lily Brown and Maureen Thorson.
“It’s the Small Things” opens May 4 at the Camden Public Library’s Picker Room Gallery, with an artists’ reception May 9 from 1 to 3 p.m. The show celebrates art in small sizes, reflecting moments, places or acts of creation that evoke joy and solace.
Looking ahead, UMVA’s largest exhibition of 2026, “Dreaming at Dawn,” is scheduled for Aug. 1 through Sept. 30 at the Bangor Public Library, spreading across three gallery spaces — the Cyr Gallery, the Stairwell Gallery and the Lecture Hall Gallery. The show will feature painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture and more, with between 60 and 70 pieces selected. Peter Walls will serve as juror. Exhibition coordinators are Shanna Compton and Sally Stanton. A call for submissions will open in mid-May.
Also in member news: photographer C E Morse’s exhibition “Beyond Recognition” is on view through May 23 at the Prince Memorial Library, 266 Main St., Cumberland Center. Painter Deborah Jellison opens “Passages” with a reception May 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Rock & Art Shop, 36 Central St., Bangor.
Learn more about the UMVA at www.theumva.org.
The Tree That Became Everything August 15 – September 12 This Temporary Space in Thomaston is pleased to present The Tree That Became Everything, a two-person exhibition featuring Sophie Anna Gibbings and Wills Phillips. A public opening reception will be held on Saturday, August 15, from 3-6pm. Does a tree persist long after it […]
Discover artful objects to live with, wear, and cherish! Shop Maine Craft is excited to welcome visitors to the 11th Annual Portland Fine Craft Show in its new home at Lincoln Park on Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Free and open to the public, the show brings together 100 juried […]
Plein air and Art of Alchemy shows wow the crowd Plein air and Art of Alchemy shows wow the crowd “The annual plein air show at Maine Art Gallery is always something special,” an artist selected for the exhibit commented at the opening reception last Saturday. “We get to go out and do the […]
Triangle Gallery in Rockland presents “Small Objects, Large Gestures,” featuring work by Judith Hoyt, Donna D’Aquino, Gene Shaw, Thomas Hill, Myung Urso, Mark Hartung, and Lisa & Scott Cylinder, is curated by Mike Holmes of Velvet Davinci Gallery. This show brings together old friends from the now-retired gallery and adds one familiar name, Gene Shaw. […]
The Kittery Art Association presents “Atmosphere,” an exhibition exploring the invisible forces that shape perception, energy and emotion, through Aug. 30 in Kittery. The exhibition invites artists to interpret experiences such as the electricity of connection, the calm before a storm and the stillness of a misty morning, transforming what is felt into something that […]
Turtle Gallery in Deer Isle will present an exhibition featuring work by Jadyn LaDeau, Adele Ursone and Sara Hotchkiss from Aug. 12 through Sept. 6. An open house will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 16, with a gallery talk at 3 p.m. Rooted in the tidal rhythms of Stonington, LaDeau paints the […]
The Deer Isle Artists Association presents “Expressions,” an exhibition showcasing a range of artistic perspectives and evocative styles, through Aug. 16 at its gallery in Deer Isle Village. The exhibition includes painting, printmaking, photography, weaving and woodwork by Marianne Alweis, Sarah Baskin, Sue Bolton, Ray Dinsmore, Steve Ettlinger, Mary Gage-Los, Jeri Gillin, Emily Johansen, Susan […]
Landing Gallery in Rockland presents “Just Passing Through,” an exhibition of 38 paintings by Liz Prescott, from Aug. 7 through Sept. 20. An opening reception will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 7 during Rockland’s First Friday Art Walk. The exhibition features a series of acrylic paintings inspired by Prescott’s time paddling and […]
Centre Street Arts Gallery in Bath presents a new summer exhibition featuring work by 22 local Midcoast artists. The exhibition includes work by Jillian Herrigel, Lee Liggett, Tara Dixon, Ed McCartan, Judy Conlan and Livy Glaubitz. The gallery will welcome visitors during the Bath Art Walk from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 21. Centre Street […]
Receive news and information about Maine artists and events delivered right to your inbox.