The BASECAMP Artist Studios Alive and Kick'in!

It's no secret that Portland Maine's art scene is happening.   First Fridays once a cool swanky kinda thing to do has morphed into the GODZILLA OF ART NIGHTS,  bursting forth a cascade of humanity that descends into Portland's Art Galleries onto the sidewalks and into the streets.  It's become more of an "event" than an "art event" and that has been good for the cities stores, restaurants and ancillary  businesses as well as the galleries & artists.

Still my really favorite thing about Portland Art Scene is the surprise!   There's always a surprise around the corner,  at the next gallery or the next art walk.  For me it's this unexpected, unknown that keeps me coming back time & time again.

Two years ago the surprise was the underground 1 day art opening in the BASE CAMP.  Located just outside the mainstream this Presumscot street warehouse opening was edgy, campy and elegant in one fleeting breath.   

Fast Forward to  February 2013 and the BASE CAMP has resurfaced ,  this time not a flash in the scene but as an artist collective,  a co-op of creativity and life.  There are a few things that I look at as barometers of the health of a community: one is recruitment of new blood and the second is leadership with passion.   Last week I found them at the BASE CAMP.  Artist and spearhead Will Sears has retrofitted a section of a Presumscot Street warehouse.  In addition to Will's studio & hand lettered sign business he has organized studio space for 12 other artists.    In my brief experience at last weeks opening I met; Painters, Sculptors, Digital Artists, an Electro-Fiber artist, Wood workers, a Woodcut-Printmaker and a flow-fiber paper 3-D creator those are just the ones I met.  The buzz is big!  I felt the power of a not as yet fully operational art muthership and I liked it!  Like chocolate or Ox Bow Farmhouse ale I like what I tasted and I left that evening wanting more.  The excitement is legit and the birth of a new art environment can only fast track creativity for the BASE CAMP GANG.   I'm looking  forward to the cross pollination of art that will please our eye and blow our mind.   

These are exciting times and the artists of the basecamp are not just living it,  they have pitched a tent in the local art scene and look to be here to stay!

Why visit the studios and gallery at the BASE CAMP ?

Go because your good mind needs good art! 

 

The Gallery Talk is made possible by the generosity of the WMPG Radio listening community.  The blog is the text version of the art rant heard every Thursday at 7am, 5 & 9:30pm on WMPG college and community radio Broadcasting from the University of Southern Maine
90.9 , 104.1 and streaming on the web at http://www.wmpg.org/

Season of Love April  2011 Series by Kyle Bryant

The BASECAMP ARTIST  STUDIOS & GALLERY are located at 193 Presumpscot st, Portland, ME. (215) 813-6852 open by chance or appointment.  Use the Facebook link or individual artist website links to arrange your tour.
BASECAMP  Facebook page

Alex Asplund - 

Kyle Bryant - www.KyleBryant.net

Harlan Crichton - http://www.harlancrichton.com/

Luke Dubois - 

Liz Hardy- www.lizhardy.posterous.com

Deborah Klotz - 

Tina McLuckie - www.TinaMcluckie.com

John Nelson - johncalvinnelson.com 

Tessa O'brien - Tessagreeneobrien.com

Will Sears - WillSearsFineArt.com , BetterLetterHandPaintedSigns.com

Griffin Sherry - GriffinSherry.wordpress.com

Ha Ha by Tessa O'Brien

Addendum: Random thoughts on the BASECAMP
  
The diversity of artists is refreshing

The potential pollination is beholden .

Opening vibe was jacked

It's an assemblage of artisans that possess crazy mad skills.

Vision

Bump @ Institute of Contemporary Art Maine

This is Gallery Talk WMPG 's window into the world of art with your host Lars

Bump by the DenDanto Brothers

The Humpback Whale Master of the deep, tireless voyager, perhaps the most fascinating mammal in creation.  Called the Canary of the Sea, Humpbacks are renown for their haunting melodic vocalizations.   Having no vocal cords they create these sounds by forcing air through their very large nasal cavities.

    It's not everyday that one gets to hear whale songs or an opportunity to walk amongst the whales.  We are grateful to the The Institute of Contemporary Art at MECA  for currently featuring "BUMP" an installation art exhibit by the DenDanto Brothers Dan & Frank.  This display features a whale skull and vertebral bones, unlike many "installation" art Pieces  this one allows you to walk, touch and bump the bones.  Suspended in mid air the vertebral bones with their transverse and spinous processes look more like space craft preparing for an attack than sections of a huge aqueous mammal. What really make this piece successful for me is that you can immerse your self in it and the resulting mental gymnastics required to imagine these bones inside a living creature makes this piece visually beautiful, thought provoking and thus powerfully effective.

Some Bumpers in the exhibit during March's 1st Friday Gallery Tour

The Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine's College of Art on Congress Street in Portland is open Wednesday to Saturday 11am - 5pm on Thursdays 11am - 7pm and admission is free.

   
Why go see Dan & Frank DenDanto's "BUMP" Installation Art Exhibit?

Go because your good mind needs good art! 

The Gallery Talk is made possible by the generosity of the WMPG Radio listening community.  The blog is the text version of the art rant heard every Thursday at 7am, 5 & 9:30pm on WMPG college and community radio Broadcasting from the University of Southern Maine
90.9 , 104.1 and streaming on the web at http://www.wmpg.org/

Additional Images from Bump 1st Friday:

 

Valentine's Day Bandit "The Art of Love"

This is Gallery Talk WMPG's Window into the world of art w/host Lars

Happy Valentines Day to all.

I was thinking about the whole "Occupy" movement and how vogue it has become over the last couple of years to get out and take a stand in a non sanctioned semi-radical demonstration for what you have a passion for. 

Then came Valentines Day.
Suddenly I realized that in the city of Portland we have one of the longest running traditions of a non sanctioned public display of passion.  It's the Great Grandaddy of Occupy Style Art!

Since 1976 the Valentines Day Bandit or Valentines Day Phantom as Wikipedia likes to reference, has been plastering Portland Maine's Old Port store front windows, doors, mailboxes, Church's, City hall, Hotels, Bars and Buildings with a simple 8' x 11' white piece of paper with a single large red heart.  The international symbol for love.  It's not focused towards anyone in particular it's just broadcast through out the city a random plastering of passion on every building , every corner and the message is simple and easy to understand,   LOVE.

Great thing about it is it is contagious and it has spread to love bandits in Vermont and Colorado.

Love pass it on... because everyone needs a little more love 
and 
your good mind needs good art! 

The Gallery Talk is made possible by the generosity of the WMPG Radio listening community.  The blog is the text version of the art rant heard every Thursday at 7am, 5 & 9:30pm on WMPG college and community radio Broadcasting from the University of Southern Maine
90.9 , 104.1 and streaming on the web at http://www.wmpg.org/

Here are some more Pictures from Feb 14 , 2013 Portland Maines Valentines Day Bandit's antics