September 2024
President's Corner
DAVID ESTEY
The Carlo Pittore Costume Ball & Art Auction was a big success in bringing perhaps 60 or more artists together in a delightful costume party and taking in nearly $7,000 from art sales, donations and sales of drinks and T-shirts, for a net gain of $4,500 to UMVA. Sixteen artists out of 60 exhibiting sold works for a total commission to them of $1,427.50, six of whom gave 100% of their sales to UMVA. Thank you and congratulations to the many, many people who gave a lot of time, effort, donations and mileage to make it happen, not the least of whom were Richard Kane, the initiator, and Barbara Sullivan, who cooked an abundance of delicious chicken and oversaw the refreshments.
Studio Visits to five prominent artists in the Fort Andross mill on August 11 offered a wonderful feast for the eyes and an inspirational jolt for the creative mind. The firsthand look at their work spaces in that tremendous building, absolutely-remarkable art, attention to detail, and informal explanations of their ideas and methods was a delightful surprise to all. Participants stopped me in the parking lot afterward and continued to email their excitement about what they had experienced. The studio visits so far and the Gala tell me that artists really want to get together for this kind of camaraderie and that it is the key to UMVA’s success in the future. The next visit is scheduled for Alan Magee’s studio in Cushing on Sunday, September 15, from 1:30 to 3:30. Space is limited to the first 14 members who contact me davidestey@roadrunner.com.
Website Redesign is still on track for going live by late September, after several unforeseen delays – which are still possible. Joanne Tarlin, Greg Burns and I have met by Zoom with designer Elizabeth Cline to review her preliminary structure, based on ours to her. I have fed her a dozen narratives for content and some graphic images to illustrate or represent our many activities. I invite you to send me any great pictures you have to spice up the look. Joanne and I also have met to share further advice to her from our subsequent review in detail and input from other committee members. Elizabeth is building in all the interactive, member-driven capabilities we asked for – like artist profiles searchable by discipline and location, membership and event news. Ultimately much of the content will depend on member participation and input.
Film Screenings of Richard Kane’s “Carlo … and his Merry Band of Artists” have been numerous and very successful, beginning with the premiere on July 14, followed by a rare panel discussion and reception with UMVA founders at the Maine International Film Festival at the Waterville Opera House Other screenings and sometimes UMVA exhibits occurred there again on July 20, at the Waldo Theater in Waldoboro, in NOMAD at Fort Andross mill in Brunswick, at the Lincoln Theater in Damariscotta, at the Colonial Theater in Belfast, and on September 8 at SPACE in Portland with a discount for UMVA members. Dick and others have been available for discussion after the screenings.
Review of the Carlo Pittore Costume Ball & Art Auction
RICHARD KANE, UMVA SECRETARY
And bravo to David Brooks who donated all the seltzer and manned the bar with Hank. Susie, Hank, Ann and I took down the show the next day. If there was anything that could have been improved, it would have been to better predict the complexity of taking down the show and distributing unsold work back to the artists, and sold work to the high auction bidders. If any artist still hasn’t had the chance to pick up their work or have it returned, please let me know.
New Website Update
JOANNE TARLIN, UMVA VICE PRESIDENT
The new website is under development and chock full of benefits for you. Elizabeth Cline, our developer, has been plugging away on the programming. I recently worked with her going through the site’s functionality and we are close to the time when a small group of members will “beta test” it.
Information and opportunities for artists will be easily accessible. You will have your own artist page, that you create and may chose to link to a website and or social media account. Viewers, i.e. members, curators, potential art collectors etc., will be able to find you by name, your declared medium, and geographic locations. No longer will you need to email folks information about your art exhibits, meetings, talks etc. You will be able to create your own news postings and classified listings.
The most current UMVA Exhibitions & Events, Maine Arts Journals, ARRT get-togethers, and Members’ Shows & News will be right at your fingertips on the home page with links to the details. You will also be able to submit your art for shows through the website.
Future newsletters will be linked to the site and archived there. In a members only section, you will be able to read our bylaws, mission statements, have access to UMVA officer’s contact information and view the full membership list. If you decide to have your contact information available for other members to reach you, it will be in this list.
We are a wee bit behind schedule but when it is summer in Maine we take full advantage of it! Thanks for your patience as WE, your UMVA volunteers, bring you more membership benefits.
Members' News & Shows
Science and Magic Come Together in UMVA Exhibit Opening September 6th
Magic, Myth, Machine & Matter is the title of the September 6 – 29, 2024 UMVA (Union of Maine Visual Artists) exhibition at the Oak Street Lofts Gallery, 72 Oak St., Portland, featuring UMVA members Eva Rose Goetz, Gregg Harper, William Hessian and Abbeth Russell. Opening and artists’ reception is First Friday, September 6 from 5 to 8 pm. This event is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Saturday and Sundays from 1 to 4 pm until September 29th.
The exhibition themes are inspired by the main “epochs” in the development of human thinking on the nature of the cosmos, presented so beautifully by the late UMass-Amherst astrophysicist Edward Harrison in his book “Masks of the Universe” (2003/2015). The four artists will exhibit four artworks each with their own “riff” on each of the four themes of magic, myth, machine and matter – 16 artworks in all. Oak Street Lofts is an Avesta property originally built to provide live/work space for older artists and has designed a beautiful lobby gallery space. It is one of many available to UMVA artists. For more information about locations in Portland for exhibiting, contact Christine Sullivan or Judith Greene-Janse.
Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.,Northeast Harbor Library, 1 Joy Road, Northeast Harbor, Maine
For more information, visit the library’s website at nehlibrary.org. This event is free and open to the public, and copies of the Little brothers’ book Art of Penobscot Bay will be available for sale and signing, courtesy of The Nook bookstore. The show will be up until September 30, 2024.
Film Screening
CARLO SCREENING IN PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 8
If any member of the UMVA has not yet seen the documentary by Richard Kane, the latest entry into the UMVA Maine Masters series titled CARLO … and his Merry Band of Artists, the story of Carlo Pittore and other founding members of the UMVA, there is one more theatrical screening planned. This time in Portland at SPACE at 538 Congress Street, September 8, 2024 at 7pm. UMVA and SPACE members get the member’s discount – $7.
Regional Chapter News
Portland Chapter
CHRISTINE SULLIVAN, CO-CONVENOR
The Portland Chapter has been busy with shows and activities supporting the 50 Anniversary Party. Many thanks to all those who contributed!
Ann Tracy is working on finding a room to rent so that Portland meetings can resume in person.
Gregg Harper and Joyce Ellen Weinstein have had exhibits at Oak Street Lofts and the Jewish Museum, respectively. They have glowing reports of each venue. Another themed UMVA show will occur in September at Oak Street, with Abbeth Russell, William Hessian, Gregg Harper and Eva Rose Goetz.
The Portland Library Show of 2025 is in the planning stages and we are very excited about this one. Many thanks to Judy Green-Janse for spearheading the planning.
Our next meeting via Zoom will be September 16 at 6:00 p.m.
Midcoast Chapter
SALLY STANTON
REFUGE: Art Inspired by the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge
The Union of Maine Visual Artists Midcoast Chapter, in partnership with the Friends of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Rockland, is thrilled to present a dynamic exhibition of artwork showcasing animal life and habitats; the coastal Maine landscape; as well as depictions of the refuge humans seek when visiting these protected sites. Viewers can explore moments of quiet connection and intense observations of nature as well as dreamy reflections of the unique beauty found in and around Maine’s coastal islands.
Ranging from representational to abstract, the variety of media includes pastel, painting, collage, photography, printmaking, porcelain, and mixed media.
The show runs from September 27th to December 13, 2024 with an opening reception on Friday, September 27th from 5-7pm at the Maine Coastal Islands NWR Visitor Center at 9 Water Street in Rockland, Maine.
The Refuge exhibition was juried by contemporary realist painter Jane Dahmen, whose landscapes explore the trees, fields, rivers, streams and coastal regions of midcoast Maine. Dahmen’s work has been shown in solo and group shows both within the U.S. and abroad. Dahmen is represented by The Portland Art Gallery.
The Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex is comprised of five individual refuges which span the coast of Maine over approximately 9,478 acres. An incredible diversity of habitats is supported including coastal islands, estuaries, freshwater wetlands, forested headlands and offshore islands, salt marsh, open field, and upland mature spruce-fir forest.
Opportunites
CAPE ELIZABETH MAINE
EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITY
The exhibitions team has been made aware of an opportunity to showcase UMVA work in the Cape Elizabeth Area. Two or more artists are needed to submit a proposal for an opportunity at the St. Almans Maine Art Gallery. Contact Joanne Tarlin at theUMVAorg@gmail.com Subject line: Cape Elizabeth
2024 HOLIDAY ART SALE HEROES NEEDED
If you do not have a place to show and sell your work this holiday season and would like to have one in your region, contact Joanne Tarlin at theUMVAorg@gmail.com. Subject line: HOLIDAY TEAM We have a model that works and can guide you through the steps. I hope to hear from you.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, health, moves and so on, our holiday sales team of volunteers has dissolved. WE, UMVA, meaning YOU, need a few art heroes to step up and join the exhibitions team to facilitate opportunities for artists in your region to sell their work this holiday season. Don’t worry if you don’t know how, we are here to help guide you. Last year’s successful event was pulled together in 5 weeks!
Meet Fellow UMVA Members at the next Midcoast UMVA Chapter Meeting
The Midcoast chapter of the Union of Maine Visual Artists will hold their next meeting on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at the Belfast Free Library, 106 High St., from 11:00-1:00. Bring a piece of your artwork to share and a bag lunch. Details on the blog:
https://umvaportlandgallery.blogspot.com/
Brunswick Studio Visits
Your UMVA sponsors many projects
The UMVA Website
The UMVA website features The Maine Arts Journal, exhibition listings, workshops, calendar, and membership pages.
Members organize shows with help from the Exhibition Committee. Contact theUMVAorg@gmail.com to receive links to the database of possible exhibition places in the Portland area.
An ongoing film series (20 films to date), featuring some of Maine’s most distinguished artists.
ARRT! Artists’ Rapid Response Team
A group of artists who meet monthly to make banners and props in partnership with progressive Maine non-profits. ARRT! has created over 300 banners for over 40 organizations including Maine People’s Allliance, 350.org, Maine AllCare, NAACP, and the Penobscot Nation.
LumenARRT! creates large-scale video projections on buildings and public spaces that give a visual voice to progressive Maine non-profits to draw attention to issues of social, economic, and environmental justice.
UMVA Quarterly began as a newsletter to connect UMVA members across Maine before the internet. The Journal features essays by and about artists, interviews, member submissions, poetry, and UMVA updates. maineartsjournal.com
The UMVA Board of Directors
David Estey, Painter, Belfast
Board President
Joanne Tarlin, Painter, Harpswell
Vice President
Newsletter Editor, Exhibitions Coordinator
Richard Kane, Film Producer with Kane-Lewis Productions, Sedgwick
Secretary
Andrea Holland, Belfast
Treasurer
Janice L. Moore, Visual Artist, Freeport
William Hessian, Former President, Artist, Portland
Cynthia Hyde, Caldbeck Gallery, Rockland
Greg Burns, Webmaster, Visual Artist, Boston
Barbara Sullivan, Visual Artist, Lincolnville
Christine Sullivan, Portland Chapter, Artist, South Portland
Ann Tracy, Communications, Rockport
Alan Crichton, Fdr. Waterfall Arts, Artist, Liberty
Emily Sabino, Artist, Newcastle