Brunswick Art Walk 2013

The May and June Art Walks have come and gone.  The crowds have been steady and the weather has cooperated most excellently.  For the June Art Walk, my works were in two venues - The Points of View Gallery on Pleasant Street - "Mainly Maine" a two person show with Ed Morton - and my studio on 98 Maine Street.  A big thank you to the Points of View artists for their support, help and feedback for the "Mainly Maine" show, and particularly to Ed and Betty Morton and Bonnie Dickey.  The "Mainly Maine" reception during the Art Walk was quite enjoyable and the show will be up through June.  My better half, Alex, handled "gallerist" duties at the studio on Maine Street during the June Art Walk.  The just-finished "Bowdoin" 10 inch X 10 inch drew some attention.  It was painted from a snapshot I took during the Bowdoin Common Hour - Museum Pieces in 2010.  Alex also advised me that fielding comments regarding the 300 plus (1974 - 2011) "Art in America" installation / pile of magazines was a bit vexing.  "Looks like a Mayan temple design."  Hmmm, what to do with the "Art in America"s for the July Art Walk (if they don't sell first)?

On Exhibit - Bowdoin College and Thornton Oaks

"Seawall Beach", oil on panel

"Blue Shirts", oil on panel

"Seawall Beach" is the postcard work for the upcoming show of my works at Bowdoin College,  Smith Union Lamarche Gallery.  The show will be up from November 1st to November 19th.  A reception will be held Friday November 2nd, from 5:00pm to 6:30pm.  LaMarche Gallery is an interesting space and I am looking forward to hanging my works there.  "Blue Shirts" was the postcard work for the Thornton Oaks show of my works that opened September 20th and will be taken down October 22nd.  The opening reception for that show required that the artist, me, give a talk about my work.  That was fairly nerve-wracking but the reception, food and conversation that followed were most enjoyable.  Thornton Oaks is a very gracious and capable host.  Thanks to all who attended and especially to Deanna Baxter and Marlise Swartz of Thornton Oaks who really made it work.

The 10 by 10 September 30th

"Boothbay Harbor",
Joe Godleski, oil

"Old Pumper", Joe Godleski, oil

This past Saturday morning, the check-in was held for the annual 10 by 10 show at the Curtis Memorial Library here in Brunswick. The web posting of the works submitted gives some indication of the variety and quality to be available at the show. It will be a pretty cool show, preview September 29 and 30, show September 30, 5 to 8. My third 10 by 10, "Old Pumper," is shown to the left. I also finished another work in water-based oil, "Boothbay Harbor." It's the first vertical painting I've done in a while, measuring 24" high by 8" wide. And lastly, kudos to the Thornton Oaks folks for the set up, most wonderful opening and ongoing show (until September 22, 2011) of "Community Paints."

Salt Water Farm Show at Fort Andross

The most recent show at the Coleman Burke Gallery (on the left as you are just getting to the Frontier Cafe in Fort Andross Brunswick) is a full room extravaganza of sculpture and found art assemblage that takes some time to digest.  The show is titled Salt Water Farm The Quimby Colony: A Collective, and features the cooperative and inter-related works of a number of Bowdoin alumni.  A review of the show in the Bowdoin Orient provides further detail and background.  On opening night, the gallery space was an absolute zoo and it was difficult to gain perspective and see things.  A second walk around during the day two weeks later when all was calm brought a lot of the work into focus, unfolding a whimsical, organic sort of Mad Max experience.  The Salt Water Farm show which includes Sam Gilbert as part of the collective, follows a show where Mr. Gilbert's work alone was featured, 141280.  Hopefully, we will be seeing more of Mr. Gilbert's work moving forward. 

Now Showing - 10 by 10, Town Council, Colby

The preview jpgs are now available for the upcoming Arts are Elementary benefit 10 by 10 show to be held on October 1, 2010 at the Curtis Memorial Library and St. Paul's Church Hall on Pleasant Street in Brunswick.  Click here for the 10 by 10 web site.  It is a one-day only sale, public preview 10am - 3pm with reception and opening 5pm - 8pm on Friday October 1, 2010.  I'll have three works in the show, Summer Snow, Lobster Buoys and View from West Branch.  It is a very popular event with lots of good art available. 

If you watched the Brunswick Maine town council meeting on local channel 3 this past Tuesday, you may have seen 8 of my paintings in the background.  My works have been selected for display 9/1/10 to 12/1/10 in the new council chambers.  Props and much thanks to the Five Rivers Arts Alliance Harriet Mosher and town councillor Benet Pols for facilitating this. 

Lastly for now, if you have a chance please make your way to the Colby Museum of Art in Waterville.  Two shows in particular there are very worthwhile - Sharon Lockhart: Lunch Break, a film and photo tribute to BIW workers and The Search for Beauty: Whistler and his Time, works in a number of media from the Lunder Collection from the latter part of the 19th century with a clear focus on the aesthetic of the time.  Click here for more info on these shows.  The Sharon Lockhart show ends October 17 so time is short to experience that show.