The summer art calendar in coastal Maine is jam- packed by design. During the cold depths of a northern New England winter, all of us involved in the Maine art scene have plenty of time to think and plan. We know exactly when the away-crowds will return. We know precisely how short that window of opportunity is. And we take each and every effort to optimize our gallery and museum programming in the ways most likely to bring our diverse communities of artists, enthusiasts and collectors together for festive gatherings under summer skies, once again. In contrast to last year’s busy season, when the lingering COVID-19 pandemic dominated many arts organizations into a series of half-steps and false starts; the summer of 2022 is shaping up to be a banner year for Maine-based artists and cultural institutions. That’s precisely why we wanted to offer this coastal Maine summer arts … [Read more...] about RETURN TO VACATIONLAND: COASTAL MAINE ARTISTS HOPE FOR A BANNER SUMMER

Upon reflection, the first thing that comes to mind when North Adams, Massachusetts, is mentioned is Mass MoCA, the giant, wondrous, football field of a contemporary art museum. The second thing is the dreaded hairpin turn on Route 2. Having recently moved to the area, many people who have vowed to come and visit me have mentioned both the museum and the hairpin turn in the same breath, a fitting nod to this city’s denizens meeting challenges against all odds. My own journey took a hairpin turn when I needed to find a “city to live in” (quoting David Byrne) after getting priced out of the North Shore of Boston. Long time good friends, Anna Salmeron (of the Biennial Project fame, and conceptual artist) and Bo Petran (visual artist working in installation, sculpture and painting) had moved to North Adams a few years ago and suggested (no, insisted!) that this here’s the place to … [Read more...] about A NEW BEGINNING: MARJORIE KAYE FINDS INSPIRATION IN NORTH ADAMS