Flock lands in Frontier Cafe's Aviary

Do you know what an Aviary is?
 

If you answered a large enclosure used for confining birds, you would be correct.

Here's some avian trivia; the aviary called the "Raven Cage" constructed in 1829 is one of the oldest structures at the London Zoo.

Frontier Cafe "Go Beyond"

Did ya also know there is a temporary aviary in Brunswick's Andross Mill!  It's actually in the Frontier cafe.  For those not familiar with the Frontier their motto is "Go Beyond"  and it is quite often that folks at the Frontier go out on the ledge with unique offerings in food, drink, music, cinema & art.  They have much to offer I could on for ever on the delicious food (carrot curry soup) or the worldwide selection of German Weissbiers to the English black ale,or that the Frontier is the local host for Five River Arts Alliance  Pecha Kucha and host for mid coast screening of the Manhattan film festival, bottom line this place rocks!

Let me get back to the avian event,

Aquila Motorola by Terry Grasse

The Frontier is host to a temporary aviary, it's actually an art exhibition called the Aviary "A winged celebration" and it's descended upon the walls of the cafe like spring grackles to my feeder.  It is the collective works of over 50 artists and they have come to roost in the cafe for the next 75 days. The show is curated by the wonderful folks at Spindleworks  (if you do not know about Spindleworks click on the hyperlink they provide adults with disabilities an opportunity for a fuller life, art is a big part of it, but there's so much more check them out) anywho spindleworks has coordinated -curated and hung an art exhibit that is a cacophony of color-image-idea all with an avian theme.  It is art for a cause, a fundraiser for Maine Audubon.  In reality it is a unique opportunity for artists to share their passion and support an organization that helps educate, protect and promote the Maine that many of us take for granted.
The Show is called The Aviary A Winged celebration
The Show Opens May 13th and runs through July 31st.
It has roosted in The Andross Mill's Frontier Cafe  (map & directions)

Why should you migrate to the Frontier Cafe 

and partake in the Avian Art exhibit "A winged Celebration"?

Do it 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/

Photography in 2011 and the Addison Woolley Gallery

Lately I've felt photographically challenged.

The Addison Woolley Gallery

Not in the taking of the pictures but in the ideology of photographic art.
It seems now if you have a smidgin of an eye (not required) and a camera phone (required) you can snap and post any picture as art on Facebook and be instantly recognized as a photo artist. That's powerfully cool but it's not for everyone.   

My view changed Yesterday I read a quotation from Walker Evans 

" Whether he is an artist or not,

the photographer is a joyous sensualist, 

for that simple reason that the eye traffics feelings, not thoughts"

Fran Vita-Taylor 

Now enter Portland's Addison Woolley Gallery (AWG), located right on Washington Ave on Monjoy hill, The AWG could be the premier gallery for Portland's elite photo artists.   It starts with the artist but in reality the artist doesn't "get show" unless the curator sees something that stirs emotion.  "Emphemeral Nature & Surrealligories" is the title of the current show and it has the ability to emote.   This two artist show with only 12 images is subtly powerful.  The photographic artists are peas in a pod and yin and yang simultaneously.  The artists offer images that are JOYOUSLY SENSUAL and quite different, one commonality is both involve creative composition as a main ingredient. Woolley founder and curator Susan Porter recognized that and has hung one powerful show, I for one am very thankful.

Detail from Darrell Taylor's Transfiguration, Assumption ...

  The show has the larger than "Sill life" photos of Fran Vita - Taylor (Ephemeral Nature) .  I can describe Fran's work in four words; Big, Bold, Colorful, Composed!   The Yang to Fran's Yin is the "Surreallegories" from Darrell Taylor   What's a surreallegory?   Well I can discribe it as "collage photo meets where's waldo & has several adult beverages".  First off it's big 2 foot x 9 foot photo murals, secondly they are just FUN. Darrell Taylor shows off his prowess as a photographer, photocollage creator & photoshop manipulator par-excellence!  Each photomural has hundreds of images melded -merged -humorously poised to create a new form of photo art, a refreshingly fun take at photo art.  In conversation with Darrell he mentioned that he felt like a painter he just uses photos instead of pigment to create his new age "photage frescoes".  For a bigger taste of the images click on the above Surreallegories hyper-link it will take you to this cool mural gallery page with software that allows you to cruise and zoom in to view the image to your hearts content!  Try to find Sara Palin sporting a mid 1930's pro German arm band . Or look for Dubi's Empire State building at the gateway to the shopping mall in heaven.  Its all there this month at the Addison Woolley Gallery.  Where larger than still life hangs with photocollage art.  It all gushes creativity, composition & humor, in large scale and/or panoramic format, it's guaranteed to make Walker Evans proud whilst "trafficking feelings".   

Why go to the Addison Woolley Gallery to see the show "Ephemeral Nature & Sureallagories"  
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/

Portland Museum of Art 2011 Biennial, It's Back!!!

 What happens when you put 900 artists in a room with...
Sounds like the start of a Joke but it really happen 

Natasha Bowdoin's "Untitled Alice"

902 artists submitted 3600 works of art and 3 art critics reviewed all the works then distilled that down to the best 47 artists and 65 of their efforts, well all that math adds up to some diverse and darn good art in the Port city for the next 90 days.
Yes , Portland's Mack-daddy  
the Portland Museum of Arts Biennial exhibition 2011 is here! It's a big deal here is art heaven, it's an exhibition that has one requirement for all artists they must be from Maine or have some tie to Maine.
This years offerings are diverse in style and forms ( that in it self is refreshing): digital video, sculpture, print , photography (as a matter of fact there is so much Photography in various formats that a glossary of photo terms had to be printed to help everyone understand this exploding form). Oh yes, there is the traditional Oil on canvas Maine land-sea scape stuff , but there is so much more.  The PMA Biennial begets artists to as Bruce Dickinson said in a Saturday Night Live skit More Cowbell said: "Explore the space"  and this is represented well by installation art of several artists.
  . My current Fav and this may change as time progresses is Natasha Bowdoin's  "Untitled Alice".

Michael Shaughnessy's Vanquished...

it is a visual take on the Lewis Carol's  Through the looking Glass.  It's a look down quite a different rabbit hole.  The piece is composed of cut paper it's 3D & enchanting, occupying a massive wall space in the main gallery room.  In the entry Great hall Gallery,  Westbrook artist and University of Southern Maine Art department director Michael Shaughnessy has created whirlpools out of hay & twine, this incredible piece of installation art cascades the one wall in the Great Hall gallery from ceiling to floor (3 stories) and is a tribute to the vanquished Presumpscot river falls. 

There is so much more to discover the Portland Museum of Art Biennial opened April 7th and runs through June 5th.
The Museum is free on Friday evenings from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Why explore the many artists & works at the PMA 2011 biennial? 

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/

Here is a listing of Artists and works in the 2011 Biennial:

Here is the time lapse video of Natasha Bowdoin installing "Untitled Alice" in the 2011 Portland Museum Biennial

PORTLAND Museum of art Information
The Portland Museum of Art is located at Seven Congress Square in downtown Portland. The Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday. Memorial Day through Columbus Day, the Museum is open on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Museum admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students with I.D., $4 for youth ages 6 to 17, and children under 6 are free.  
The Museum is free on Friday evenings from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Museum Cafe and Store. For more information, call (207) 775-6148. Web site www.portlandmuseum.org.

Portland's ART Underground... IT'S ALIVE!!!!

Here it is 3 months into the new year, the new LePage administration has become the destroyer of faith in government and the censor of art.  Sounds like everything is spiraling downward...

NOT SO!
ART IS ALIVE in the Port City Metroplex...
THE PORTLAND ART UNDERGROUND IS BLOSSOMING! 

HOW DO I KNOW THIS?
I have seen the art, I have felt the vibes and they are ALL GOOD.
Blossoming outside the downtown is the NEWEST, FRESHEST ARTS ALTERNATIVE VENUE AROUND.  IT'S CALLED THE BASE CAMP GALLERY! It's a huge space in the old Nappi Beer distribution building on Presumpscot street. The brain child of Artists Tess O'Brien & Will Sears, BASECAMP is an alternative to the traditional gallery experience, here 20 artists (See below for artist listing)  have come together for a ONE NIGHT SPLASH of ART, MUSIC, FOOD & DRINK.

One of a series American History Retold by Will Sears

Here's a quick taste of what's happening : Bowdoin  Grad Sam Gilbert is one of the artists and has created a work with true sole... sorry for the pun , but the piece is actually created from shoe soles and has over 75 of them stitched together in a Nautilus/Snail meets Yin-Yang like flow that is warm and appealing in so many different ways.  Event co-organizer and artist Will Sears has several pieces that are large format,  images reminiscent of  the collage mosaic normally seen in encostic work, but here at the base camp in a no wax jumbo format that is fun and captivating simultaneously.  Will's art provides a more STREET ALT feel that is quite refreshing to the lighthouse and landscape art seen in so many downtown venues.
 

The W's

WHAT: NEW WORKS FROM PORTLAND'S UNDERGROUND
              20 of the hottest new artists you never knew before tonight...
WHERE: THE BASE CAMP , 193 Presumpscott Street
                 The PATRIOT METALS "COORS" BUILDING
WHEN: THURSDAY ONE NIGHT ONLY *
              6:30- 9:30 then after dance party w  DJ KYLE DOWNS
WHY : BECAUSE YOUR GOOD MIND NEEDS GOOD ART,
                   Add a little live music, food and drink and this could become
                   an artistically religious experience...

*NOTE: Following the opening night, the show may be viewed by appointment.  To schedule a visit please call The BASECAMP (207) 253-9633.

THE BASE CAMP ARTISTS ARE:
Alex Bettigole, John Clark, Katherine Clear, Ben Dehaan, Sam Gilbert, Kate Knowles, Jeremy Lea, Abby Manock, Colin Matthews, Micah Murray, Tess Obrien, Torin Porter, Cassandra Rodrigues, Carnia Sandoval, Will Sears, Suz Snell, Griffin Sherry, Carol Tanner, Gareth Warren, Jackman Wood

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



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/



90.9 , 104.1 and streaming on the web at http://www.wmpg.org/

Can you say Pecha Kucha at Space Gallery Portland?

Usually when someone says Pecha Kucha do you reply : God Bless you or gash-une-tite?

What is a Pech-Kucha?
Well it started in 2003 by Klein Dytham Architects,
PechaKucha Night is an opportunity for architect's, graphic designers, illustrators, painters, landscape designers, photographers or any other creative types to come and tell the world about your ideas.  PechaKucha welcomes a broad mix of participants to present their designs, thoughts and ideas in a format of 20 slides x 20 seconds each. It's fast,  presenters are up and out in 6 minutes and 40 seconds.

I summarize PechaKucha like this :
Think of ideas as water and artists like sponges then Pech Kucha is vehicle that wrings out the sponge and allows the ideas to flow very freely at almost fire hose pace, flooding the room. 
Here is where it gets real wet & wild, fill the room with folk that appreciate new ideas and it's like going skinny dipping on hot summer night with 50 new friends, naked ideas spawn new naked ideas, it is an incredibly inspiring experience. 

This Thursday Night February 17th  Pecha Kucha comes to Portland's  Space Gallery Doors open at 6:30 , presentations start at 7:20, the joint will be packed and on a cold night it will be melt your neurons white hot in there!

A few of the presenters I know some I do not, what I do know is all have a story and it'll be good.
Here is the list of Thursday presenters , with my crib notes where appropriate:


Brendan Bullock/documentary photographer
Amy Curtis/installation artist ( recent PMA installation think BIGNET or Giant wet babies diapers at beach) 
Jacques Vesery/sculptor (woodworker -painter hybrid with crazy watchmaker like detail)
Stell Shevis/enameling
Crystal Cawley/print artist
Joanne Arnold/photographer (think Monet with a Nikon)
Suzanne Parrott/upcycled clothing
Katie West/levity project
Elisabeth Tova Bailey/author
Marin Magat/painter

For information about PechaKucha Global, go to
www.pecha-kucha.org

For more on Maine Pecha Kucha's 

Maine Center for Creativity 

http://www.pechakuchaportland.org/index.html

Why head out to Pecha Kucha night at Space Gallery
Why treat yourself to ideas & art all in under 70 minutes !
Because your good mind needs a feed! Give it some PechKucha!




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/

Few things on my Mind...

Lars changes seats this week and Installs his own show at the Royal Bean in Yarmouth  the exhibit is called “A few things on my mind”  It is an artistic exhibition that offers a view of the creative process from inspiration to action.  The exhibit has a variety of mediums from; Sculpture in Alabaster, Wood & even old vinyl records, Also woodcut & Linoleum prints.   There is even a Victorian Era inspired lovers bench carved from a 400lb limb section of the 217 year old Elm tree Herbie. All the pieces of course start as ideas/concepts and then depending on conviction become transformed from idea to physical form.  “Sometimes it takes hours, sometimes months it’s a great journey and I enjoy sharing it with all".  The exhibit features many of the original cut wood blocks , so you can see where the prints come from.

The Dreamer, Sculpture in Alabaster

The Show opens Feb 7th and runs through April 7th. The Royal Bean is Open 6:30am  - 6:00pm  weekdays,  8am -4pm Weekends
A special opening reception & sale Feb 20th 2-4pm. There will be live music , grazing snacks , drinks & some inexpensive print art for sale.  Come on ART LOVERS I would like to meet you and hear your reviews. 

Check back more coming, I will have a Guest review and comment on the show.



WHY GO SEE "A few things on my mind" in the hamlet of Yarmouth?

Because your good mind needs good art!

First Friday Art Tour Survival tips

First Fridays (FF) have become special in many cities across the land.
The great arts revival is happening right before our eyes...

Eastern Prom Sunrise ; Elizabeth Frasier studio Monjoy Hill

As Portland Maine locals we count our art blessings, because we understand the electricity and voltage the the Maine College of Art brings to the local art scene.  It has fueled & fanned the art flames and turned this FF thing from a hot happening to a rucus burner of an evening!  Currently thousand will hit the streets for and art-social-imbibe experience that has become legend. The cool thing about FF is you control the evening.  If you want art experience that has way more social than most can handle go Congress St Arts District,  If a more intimate experience is desired you will have to stay to the fringes: Upper Congress Longfellow block, Addison Woolley on Monjoy's Washington st, or the famed FF Cocktail tour of upper Exchange & Middle streets.  Which ever you choose these FF survival tips will enhance your experience:

1.Plan your attack 
    This one though so blatantly obvious is usually over looked.  Have an idea what kind of night you would like and plan the tour accordingly.  The First Friday Art tour web site is great for listing whos-what-where so check it out, understand it's not your mother, it will not tell you what where and how to go do it (see below for some suggested tours)
2.Get there Early & Keep moving - stay with the plan ( other tack is to flow which has it's merits)
   Again it doesn't sound like rocket science but you would not believe how easy it is to get off track if you start late or get hung up in one venue.
Then again you may like getting hung up at one venue...
3.Graze & Imbibe 
   Free consumables that's part of the fun, nuff said
4.Meet Friends, before-during or after
  A great excuse to get together with the peeps you love but haven't seen for'eva

5.Be the Port City Art critic
  This is the cool part go get a beverage of choice in one of the over 200 eating and drinking establishments in the downtown area. Talk the art up,  vote on the MVP Gallery, Best Art Piece, Weirdest, Coolest winter HAT that you spotted, what ever, you make the rules.  Stay tuned I'm developing  a FF night interactive bingo game that will really enhance the night even more, but that's part of next month story... 

Here are a few suggest tours, several of the galleries are hyper-linked so you can check out what artists are showing and what is going on :
Art District CONGRESS STREET Tour: (pros-lots of art, cons-lots of people) This is the keep it moving nobody gets hurt tour, Start at Library's Lewis Gallery- cross street to -->Whitney-cross back over street to Maine Histerical Society (only time you can get in free) go back across congress --->check out Window Display at Port City Music- MECA/Fitzpatrick Gallery ---> SPACE GALLERY ---> Cross to GLEASON stay on this side to SALT & Susan Maasch cross back head to the mac-daddy Portland Museum for a crowded but enlightening experience then drop down to Dogfish Cafe for beverage & brisk critique of the evening viewings.

Upper CONGRESS ST -Longfellow Sq Tour  (pros-lots of great art not a lot of walking, cons-start early!)  Start Early 5:00pm on the dot at Portland Museum of Art (hit it before the free Friday crowd swells in) cross High st to upper congress on left Green Hand bookstore gallery (eclectically weird an I like it) then right next door before Mesa Verde go in the double doors up a couple flights of stairs to the Daunis Art & Jewelry Gallery (talented wonderful Metal Art you can wear/salt of earth folks) cross street to 9 Hands gallery  (clay-fiber-metal-wood-stone talent in all mediums)  end  tour with discussion at (now the hard part ) go to Blue for local ale or Mesa Verde for a Margarita or down to One Longfellow for drinks & music.  You can not miss with any selection - all good choices.

Upper Exchange -Middle street Imbibe tour: (pros: intimate galleries -great bars - less people, cons-none)   Start at Aucocisco Gallery upper Exchange incredible art with 60's beatnick cool vibe - Grill Room for Cocktail Art order a Screaming Viking! - Trinket & Fern (new cool coop artist joint) corner of Middle & something? - Sebago Brewery  for a Boathouse Brown - --> Cordoury Gallery & Boutique (surfer-snow rider righteous vibe)---> Heron Point Gallery (Swanky Jewelry & fused glass Art)  then down to Fore street to review the art & sample the Local  Craft beer Art at Gritty McDuff's?

Monjoy Madness Tour: (pros laid back-intimate serious art - not crowded, cons: car transport between galleries nice in winter)   Start Addison Woolley Gallery on corner of Washington & Fox (serious art-beautiful people you love'em) - -->Portland Glass Blowing Studio (back of the Nissan Bakery nice and warm in winter) - Elizabeth Frasier Studio/Gallery up congress near the tower - -->St Lawrence Arts Center - then end with food & cocktail art at the Front Room for the evening art critique.



Why head out for the First Friday Experience?

Because your good mind needs good art!





Gallery Talk receives no endorsements from WMPG, the Art Galleries or eating & Drinking establishments listed, I will admit that I have test driven these tours and they work, try them with your friends and send me the results from your evening critiques.
Also send me your suggestion for favorite tours, love to hear about'em. 

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/