Turtle Gallery opens first of four receptions

The Turtle Gallery in Deer Isle celebrates its 36th year with four opening receptions over the course of the summer. Featured are perennial gallery artists, plus new works by first time exhibitors. Starting this year, three workshops for artists interested in printmaking, painting and drawing will be offered. The first exhibition of the season offers a large collection of ceramic works by Sequoia Miller, who shows here again after a hiatus of two decades. Also featured are works by metalsmith and former Deer Isle artist, Jack Hemenway as well as Prints and Drawings by Karl Schrag and Vaino Kola.

Karl Schrag’s drawings from the late 20th century are characterized by color and strong iconic brushstrokes. The collection reflects the pleasures of a Deer Isle summer, depicting waters bathed with sun and moonlight in abstracted landscapes. Schrag spent 50 summers on the coast of Maine, thirty-six of them on Deer Isle, and has exhibited work at the Turtle Gallery for the past 35 years. While internationally known and collected, these Schrag works convey his vision of Deer Isle and the home he made here with his family.

Finland Native and Deer Isle resident Vaino Kola will have etchings, lithographs and drawings on display. Kola moved to Maine to paint full-time after teaching art at Wheaton College in Massachusetts for 26 years. Kola’s drawings of the female form and aspects of nature appear realistic from a distance, however, closer inspection reveals deeper texture.

Displayed are works by Margaret Keleshian, Nicole Hertz, Jeff Loxterkamp, Holly Berry, Arthur Hardigg, Sharon Townshend, Rebecca Goodale, Sally Brophy, Margot Ogden, Peter Kemble, Paul Heroux, Zuzonna Huot, Margaret Rizzio, Conny Hatch, Siri Beckman, Barbara Putnam, Treacy Zeigler, Thomas Barrett, Leni Mancuso, Phil Chase, and Elena Kubler. In the sculpture garden is work by David Sywalski, Hugh Lassen, Susan Chase, Nancy Nevergole, Cynthia Stroud, James Wolfe, Steve Porter, Andreas Von Huene, and David Curry.