First Friday Art Walk
On the first Friday evening of every month, the city’s artists, galleries, and arts venues open up their doors for Portland’s thriving First Friday Art Walk.
Upcoming First Friday Art Walk
Friday, November 6, 2020
9/11/20 – 10/31/20 “First things first,” he says. He says something else. But I don’t need to listen. I can’t hear a thing with so much water going. Grant Wahlquist Gallery is pleased to announce “So Much Water So Close to Home,” an exhibition of new photographs by Kate Greene. The show will run from September 11 through October 31, 2020. As in the short story from which the exhibition takes its title, Greene’s photographs conjure a complex web of emotional registers with startling efficiency and intensity. A master of light and texture, Greene marries a resolute commitment to observed detail with formal experimentation, exploiting photography’s tenuous indexicality to create images that are visually exquisite and polyvalent in affect. Whatever their genre—landscape, domestic scene, still life, sculptural study—her photographs’ strange beauty functions as a lure to deeper consideration of the relationship between vision, knowledge, and authority, often from a feminist perspective. Featuring a selection of 11 photographs produced in the past two years, “So Much Water So Close to Home” resides where desire and danger coincide. As in Raymond Carver’s tale—a narrative of careless men and the women who love them—it manifests the feeling of navigating a world in which what we want may also be our undoing.
July 1, 2020 - April 15, 2021 Artists responded to the theme 2020 Vision by sharing a personal interpretation of a moment in Maine’s history. They reflected on how we are changing, where have we come from, what have we learned or accomplished, and most importantly -- where do we want to go? View the virtual exhibition featuring 12 local artists and art for sale here.
On view from October 2 - December 11, 2020 The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at Maine College of Art (MECA) is pleased to announce ACOUSTIC RESONANCE, an exhibition focused on the art of sound. Organized in collaboration with the Bob Crewe Program in Art and Music, ACOUSTIC RESONANCE includes the work of 11 artists and presents sound as an artistic medium and tool of transformation in our culture today. The exhibition will be on view from October 2 - December 11, 2020, and is free and open to the public via a timed admission process. Visual artists, like musicians, have used sound as a medium to shape and construct, and in so doing have sought to transform a viewer-listener’s experience. Sound can provoke memory, communicate across barriers, claim a space, or transform a city. The works in ACOUSTIC RESONANCE reflect on sound as a medium and tool of transformation. Imagery, objects, and installations reveal the potent qualities of sound art in our cultural landscape today. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become clearer than ever that the air is public space. Within our shared spaces, we distance ourselves to keep safe and raise our voices to be heard,” notes Director of Exhibitions Julie Poitras Santos. “Sound travels through airwaves, it carries across neighborhoods, and through barriers - even at a distance it communicates our longings for each other and our desires for change. ACOUSTIC RESONANCE foregrounds the power of sound to connect us and transform our lives.” ACOUSTIC RESONANCE highlights the vital art and music intersections at Maine College of Art, in particular, the Bob Crewe Program in Art and Music at MECA. The exhibition will be connected with academic courses that reflect on contemporary artists working with sound. Numerous public talks and sound art events will also accompany the exhibition. For more information about ACOUSTIC RESONANCE and additional public events in conjunction with the exhibition, please visit the ICA website.
The Maine Craft Association’s Craft Apprentice Program, developed and offered in partnership with the Maine Arts Commission, provides Maine-based master craft artists and apprentices the opportunity to learn, create and connect. The program is designed to advance and expand the apprentice’s craft studio practice and professional experience.
Seven master artist + apprentice pairs were selected for the 2020 program cycle and have worked side by side for seven months. Despite the pandemic, the pairs all prevailed and completed their original goals. Apprenticeships focused on foundational jewelry skills, product line development, green coffin construction, wood kiln firing, chair building with local materials, concept driven metalsmithing, and granite carving.
New work created during the apprenticeship period is on view in the 2020 Craft Apprentice Program capstone exhibition, installed in the windows of Maine Craft Portland, 521 Congress Street, Portland, Maine, October 16 – November 15, 2020. Exhibition is designed to be viewed from inside the gallery (open Mon – Sat 10am-5pm) or from the street 24 hours a day!
Thursdays at 6pm EST via Facebook Live and IG Live . Join the Seacoast West African Dance & Drum Facebook Group and to stay tuned to Namory’s updates and payment options.
Saturday, October 31 This one-day SPOOKY outdoor market will be located at Urban Farm Fermentory! Costumes are appreciated + encouraged! East End Vend is an outdoor, socially distanced market in Portland’s East Bayside neighborhood. Picture (mask wearing) residents and visitors shopping the market for handmade items for themselves or their home, dinner ingredients or brunch additions (think bagels or maple syrup!), fresh flowers and other good stuff from Maine. Learn More.
November 10th from 6-7:30pm
THE ATHENAEUM OF PHILADELPHIA in collaboration with the Membership Libraries Group presents and Mechanics' Hall presents…
As Much Truth As We Can Bear: James Baldwin and Our America with Eddie S. Glaude Jr. author of Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own. Free for Mechanics’ Hall members. Registration via Eventbrite.
Description: In 1962, James Baldwin wrote an essay for The New York Times Book Review entitled, “As Much Truth as One Can Bear.” There he insisted that the writer was compelled to take it upon herself “to describe us to ourselves as we are now.” What would that involve today? How might we think about our current malaise without exceptionalizing President Trump. Baldwin had it right some in 1962: that “he trouble is deeper than we think, because the trouble is in us.
Bio: Eddie S. Glaude Jr. is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor and chair of African American Studies at Princeton University. He is the former president of the American Academy of Religion, the largest professional organization of scholars of religion in the world. Glaude is the author of several important books including Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul, which has been described as “one of the most imaginative, daring books of the twenty-first century.” His most recent book, Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own, was released on June 30, 2020. Imani Perry describes the book as “precisely the witness we need for our treacherous times. Glaude is also a columnist for Time magazine and a regular contributor on MSNBC. He hails from Moss Point, Mississippi, a small town on the Gulf Coast, and is a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
Embody the Rhythm brings weekly Guinea style West African Dance Classes to Portland, ME with dancer/choreographer Marita Kennedy-Castro, and live drum accompaniment from a talented crew of local drummers including master drummer Namory Keita from Sangbaralla, Guinea.
All of our events, markets, and pop ups have been canceled in order to keep our community safe, which is unfortunately limiting sales opportunities for our members. We've created this online market with easy curbside pick up to help get their delicious products into your homes! Feeling extra generous and wanting your neighbor businesses to succeed? We'd greatly appreciate any donations directly to Fork Food Lab so we can continue to support our local entrepreneurs. Gift cards are also available to use towards a future event or fun workshop. Please check back frequently as new items will be added each week, and contact us with any questions or suggestions you may have regarding our online market. Thank you so much! IMAGE: Mama Mo's Tunisian Peanut and Sweet Potato Dip. View the online market!
Take a virtual tour of Congress Street, or find a walking tour that will bring fresh air during social distancing measures!
Ongoing The Mechanics' Hall Library is open for "curbside" service! You can pick up new titles and return old ones. Please visit our website for more details, but here are the basics: Curbside hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:00 am - 3:00pm. Wednesdays 10:00 am - 2:45 pm Curbside Basics: 1. Send us an email at library@mainemechanics.org or call us at (207)773-8396 during our curbside hours to request items. Please limit your request to five items. 2. A staff member or volunteer will call you back when your materials are ready to pick up. Your books will be placed on a table in a bag with your name on it right outside the library doors on the 2nd floor. 3. When you arrive at Mechanics' Hall please follow the instructions on the glass door to gain access and pick up your books. You must wear a mask to gain entry and there is no browsing at this time. No exceptions. We ask that you pick up your books and exit the building. Please note: Any requests received over voicemail might experience a delay in processing. Calling during the curbside hours helps staff get books out faster!
The Maine Crafts Association is thrilled to introduce and invite you to explore our brand new online gallery: SHOP Maine Craft! We are proud to offer for online purchase hundreds of handmade craft objects made by hundreds of Maine craft artists! With the ability to shop in a socially distant manner from your couch, the park, or another state completely, it's never been easier to find and purchase from Maine craft artists. Your purchases directly support Maine craft artists and the Maine Crafts Association (a non profit serving artists since 1983!). The MCA's mission is to support craft artists with educational, marketing and retail opportunities. During these unprecedented times we are working to support our craft artists in new and creative endeavors. An online shopping platform allows you to safely connect with our artists. Please browse, share, make purchases and check back at SHOP Maine Craft often. As with our gallery locations, products are constantly changing and many are one of a kind; and in our humble opinion, we think if you like it you should buy it!
Ongoing Our idea for the antidote to the viral disruption happening is that we tout upbeat, positive, and forward looking posts that digitally feature the art and artists in the state of Maine. View the online magazine here. IMAGE: Damir Porobic, Breathe 3, 2020, Archival pigment print, 38 x 38 inches.
Ongoing - MWPA offers workshops across the state of Maine. With a variety of genres in a multitude of locations, there’s a workshop for all writers. Please note: all workshops require advance registration.
November 18, 7-8 Pm
Scott Nash: “Divergent Thinking”
Join us for a virtual visit to Nash’s studio where he will share some of his work and thoughts about design, illustration, writing and the importance he places on cultivating a free, egalitarian and divergent approach to creativity. If we’re lucky, we’ll also get to peek into the studio of collage artist Nancy Gibson Nash who is an equal partner in everything. Scott is the co-owner of NASHBOX Studios, a designer, Children’s book author, illustrator and Executive Director of Illustration Institute.
*Please note that this event is on the third Wednesday of the month rather than the last due to proximity to the holiday.
FREE for Mechanics’ Hall members, $8 general admission. Please register through the Eventbrite listing.
Thank you to Machias Savings Bank, supporting sponsor for Makers at the Hall 20/21 season.
Welcome to Mumbai to Maine: A Culinary Adventure! In celebration of Maine’s 200th birthday I’m excited to launch my podcast with a series, Maine’s Bicentennial Food Podcast. As you know Maine has one of the richest and most fascinating food and drink scenes in the country. This signature series will take a deep dive into Maine’s food story – past, present and future, showcasing Maine’s most creative and accomplished culinary taste-makers, food innovators and entrepreneurs. When I left Mumbai 24 years ago, I never dreamed or imagined that Maine would one day be my home, my happy place. I knew I had to find a portal to somehow share my passion for Indian cuisine and tie it into my deep love for Maine’s rich and dynamic food scene. This Bicentennial Food Podcast series is my gift to Maine on its 200th Birthday! I wanted to provide a platform, a portal of sorts to share some incredible ‘maker’ stories that capture Maine’s entrepreneurial spirit and ethos. I’m hoping with this podcast I am able to deepen the dialogue and conversation as to why Maine is a formidable state for small businesses to thrive, create and innovate.
Thursday, October 29th, 7PM. Object Lessons Panel. Hosted via Zoom. Join us for a jam-packed panel with seven authors of Bloomsbury’s OBJECT LESSONS series. Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things. Tobias Carroll, POLITICAL SIGN; Laura Waddell, EXIT; Erica Wright, SNAKE; Hunter Dukes, SIGNATURE; Shonna Milliken Humphrey, GIN; Sheila Liming, OFFICE; Hanne Blank, FAT; RSVP: http://bit.ly/printobjectlessons
Get your concert fix with OLS' live streamed shows. Use this link to find upcoming live streams along with archived shows! Donations are shared between both artists and OLS. Please share the stream to spread the music! Image: Liz Longley.
Through October The Oratorio Chorale is pleased to offer virtual music workshops for our community this fall. October courses in music theory, sight-reading, and choral history are open to all interested singers. All courses will take place via Zoom. All supplementary materials will be shared via DropBox link. Each course meets weekly for 45 minutes over a period of four weeks. Class sizes are limited to allow interaction and student participation. We plan to offer additional workshops later this fall and winter, depending on interest. Register now.
Thursdays, 7-8pm Join Palaver Strings for an intimate livestream featuring a different Palaver soloist each week! They started this series in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and look forward to continuing to reach audiences safely and frequently, with the personal touch of each soloist’s voice.
We are a Portland, Maine company connecting local music fans, artists, and venues in the simplest most delightful way possible. We're deeply passionate about music, the vibrant communities that surround them, and providing a sustainable way for live musicians to be successful—whatever your definition. Visit the link below to see local live stream music listings! Full listings here!
For the past ten years Richard Boyd Art Gallery has installed an annual exhibition of paintings from a variety of genres in a range of styles and mediums depicting imagery of Maine. This year’s exhibit is another great show of paintings documenting scenes in Maine through the eyes of artists with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and styles. The exhibit features works that exemplify the diversity of subject matter in Maine which has long been a source of inspiration for artists. The show is comprised of paintings depicting scenes from the interior, to the islands, coves, and working waterfronts in Maine. Each work is the artist’s interpretation of a scene in Maine. Scenes of Maine includes original paintings by gallery artists’ Amy Bickford – acrylic based gouache and watercolor; Patricia Chandler - oil, cold wax medium, and mixed media; Kevin Daley – oil; Randy Eckard – watercolor; Jane Herbert – acrylic; Roy Perkinson – pastels; and Wilson Stewart - acrylic. The exhibit is open free of charge between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily from October 1st through October 30th, 2020. For more information about the exhibit contact the gallery by phone at (207)-712-1097, via email at info@richardboydartgallery.com or visit the gallery’s website at www.richardboydartgallery.com. For exhibit updates and news like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardBoydArtGallery and follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/richardboydartgallery9327. Image: Randy Eckard ~ ‘A Century Later’ ~ Original Watercolor on Paper 20.5” x 14” $3800.
With so much happening this November from planning new ways to celebrate the holidays, voting in presidential and local elections, and navigating our ever growing to do lists, it’s easy to become overwhelmed.
Take a break, stop in Richard Boyd Art Gallery and relax while viewing an annual exhibit featuring original paintings in a variety of mediums and styles that evoke feelings of serenity or calmness in viewers. Comprised of works from multiple genres the exhibit offers viewers a refuge from divisive and stressful issues of the day.
This year’s show features a select offering of paintings by artists’ <strong>Patricia Chandler</strong> – cold wax medium and oil; <strong>Carrin Culotta</strong> – oil; <strong>Kevin Daley </strong>– oil;<strong> Randy Eckard </strong>– watercolor; <strong>Jane Herbert</strong> – acrylic; <strong>Roy</strong> <strong>Perkinson</strong> – oil, and pastel; and <strong>HM Saffer II</strong> – oil.
<em>Serenity – 2020</em> is open free of charge every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. from November 1st through November 29th, 2020. Additional days and times by chance or scheduled by appointment.
For more information contact the gallery by phone at (207)-712-1097, email info@richardboydartgallery.com or visit the gallery’s website <a href="http://www.richardboydartgallery.com/">www.richardboydartgallery.com</a>.
To see updates about the exhibit like us on Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/RichardBoydArtGallery">http://www.facebook.com/R... and follow us on Instagram <a href="http://www.instagram.com/richardboydartgallery9327">http://www.instagram...
Image: HM Saffer II ~ ‘Study in Orange’ ~ Oil on Canvas 30” x 24” Retail $8300.
Enjoy Maine's Bicentennial History from Home! Components of our major Bicentennial exhibition are now a click away, on Maine Memory Network! Kick back with a mug of java or tea and discover that the history of how Maine became a state is rooted in the stories of people. The separation from Massachusetts in 1820 had different meanings and implications for residents grounded in geography, culture, race, and economic standing. View the exhibition.
Visit https://statetheatreportland.com/ to view upcoming livestreams along with canceled show listings.
SPONSORS
.png){kind=spacer}
.jpg)
INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING
