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.

Thursday, January 28, 2021 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm |  Back by popular demand and now VIRTUAL, Julie Larry, Director of Advocacy at Greater Portland Landmarks, will join Friends of Woodfords Corner for a special presentation of A Neighborhood History of Woodfords Corner.   Woodfords Corner has historically been the commercial heart of its surrounding suburban neighborhoods. When Deering was its own municipality, the corner also served as the civic center of the city of Deering. Join us to learn more about the history of the corner, its surrounding neighborhoods, and landmark buildings!   WHAT: A Neighborhood History of Woodfords Corner Virtual Presentation WHEN: Thursday, January 28, 6-7pm WHERE: Via ZOOM

Jan 4, 2021 – Feb 21, 2021 On View in the Poster Case   Bee Flowers is a collaged paper quilt made of cut up silk screen prints from my series Flowers Bees Love. The original prints were made using the same five screen design and then printed with six separate color combinations each inspired by a specific flower that bees love to pollinate: Meadowsweet, Rugosa Rose, Butterfly Milkweed, Purple Cone Flower, Borage, and Lavender. To create the Bee Flowers collage, I riffed on traditional circle and square quilt patterns and used my silk screen prints that didn’t come out “perfectly,” quartered each one, and then recreated the circles in varying combinations to expand on the illusion of the kaleidoscopic mandala. Learn more.

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. 

Take a virtual tour of Congress Street, or find a walking tour! 

(Portland, ME) To help ring in the New Year, Richard Boyd Art Gallery opens an annual exhibition on January 1st at 10:00 a.m. comprised of smaller works of visual art including paintings created en plein air and in studio settings, limited edition bronze sculptures, and works in clay.   The exhibit is open free of charge between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from January 1st through January 31st, 2021. Additional days and times by chance or appointment. For more information about the exhibit contact the gallery by phone at (207)-712-1097, email info@richardboydartgallery.com or visit the gallery’s website at www.richardboydartgallery.com.   ‘Holiday Offerings – Ringing in the New Year’ includes over 25 original paintings in a variety of mediums and styles by artists’ Patricia Chandler – cold wax medium and oil, Kevin Daley – oil, Randy Eckard – watercolor, Jane Herbert – acrylic, Jen Pagnini – plein air oils, HM Saffer II – oil, Bob Santandrea – plein air pastels, Felicity Sidwell – plein air oils, Wilson Stewart – acrylic; and a select offering of limited edition bronze sculptures by Charles Ellithorpe and works in clay by Richard Boyd.   For exhibit updates like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram.   Image: ‘Late Afternoon Reflection’ ~ Acrylic on Canvas Panel 8” x 10” by Jane Herbert. Retail $400.

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! 

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.

MECA Made launches online with MECA Made, With Love, the first in a series of virtual pop-up sales offered through our new online sales platform.
 
Focusing on the theme of love, MECA Made, With Love features a range of gifts thoughtfully made and designed by MECA artists for your loved ones (or yourself) for Valentine's Day. The MECA Made, With Love sale runs January 22 through February 15.
 
Select artists include: Joe Rosshirt '11 of FortHouse Studios, Cat Quattrociocchi '17 of CATQUAT, Jaina Neri '24 of Ellodies, Evelyn Wong MFA '19, Liza Sperry '07 of Sperry General Store, Natalie Reed Fine Jewelry '13, Danielle Gerber '12 of DMG Designs, Julie Cunningham '00, Audrey Robidoux BFA '19 MAT '21, Elle Henault '24 of Marigold Ceramics, Arikah Lynne '22 of Rat Hands Press, Holly L. Gooch '08, and more.
 
Image: Catherine Zdancewic '05 

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. 

The Portland Conservatory of Music hosts an ongoing Noonday Concert Series feauturing local musicians. Visit the link to learn more about individual performances. 

Learn more about the "Out of the Blue Livestream Series" and other virtual concerts that occur nightly at Port City Blue!

On view from January 15 – February 28, 2021 |    Parallax/Geography exhibits the work of four artists whose use of the photographic medium negotiates the slippery retreat of the real from the camera’s eye, extending the distance and longing that retreat provides. Using experimental processes and conceptually driven structures, these works revisit the classic materials of photography: time, light, space, and substrate. The term parallax refers to the apparent displacement of an object when seen from differing points of view. We use parallax to see: each eye provides a subtly different sightline that our brains then stitch together, creating our perception of depth. Through photographing constructed spaces, reflection, light effects, and distant geology, each of these artists navigate distance, landscape, desire, and time through the medium of photography.   ARTISTS: Elizabeth Atterbury, Tad Beck, Sage Lewis, Amanda Marchand.   Pictured: Sage Lewis, Cache Scan, Feb 25, 2020

Portland, ME - When the New Year rolls around the UMVA Portland Gallery, inside the Portland Media Center, 516 Congress St., Portland ME,  will not have a physical show up, but they are asking artists to create postcard-sized mail art and photograph them for the on-line show on the blog - from January 1st to the 29th. The physical exhibition for this show will be held in December of next year as a fundraiser for UMVA with each piece of mail art being sold for $5 each.  The theme of the January show is "Your Vision of the Year 2021".   It was decided to go with a mail art show since the January 2021 show couldn't go forward at the last moment and because one of the founders of the Union of Maine Visual Artists was also a renowned Mail Artist - Carlo Pittore. The show on-line and in the later physical exhibition will also feature some language from the artists about their hopes for the coming year.    Pictured: wacky mail art that UMVA member Ann Tracy sent to Steven Colbert...

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!

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.