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Summertime in the BelgradesContentsfor Printing Article Summaries |
Impressions of Nature at the L.C. Bates Museum
"Impressions of Nature," the L.C. Bates Museum's summer 2006 exhibit, which runs to October 15, presents the work of living Maine printmakers whose art complements the museum's natural history collections and exhibits. The printmakers in the exhibition draw inspiration from our natural world; the images are based on the Maine environment or animals and plants; the work represents various print techniques including wood block, lithograph and etching. The L.C. Bates Museum is an early 20th century natural history and cultural museum and the artists' prints of impressions of nature hang with the natural history animals and plants they depict. For example, Iver Lofving's "The Last Cod" hangs near the case of ocean fish including a cod, Allison Hildreth's "Bats In Flight" is next to cases of bats, and Alice Spencer's "Hummingbird" print hangs in the museum's Audubon room near a Victorian display of hummingbirds. Each artist has written a statement about their work. "I have been making prints as my main medium for about twenty years," writes Skowhegan artist Iver Lofving, who summers on Swans Island. "I built a studio on Swans Island where I make small editions of reduction woodblock prints. They have been popular and reflect aspects of Swans Island I choose to point out. I like to have my prints tell a story. They are all inspired by things that have happened to me. The first Swans Island print I did was of me painting the bottom of my boat with that red antifouling paint. There is always something to do a print about, so I carry my sketchbook with me everywhere. Come visit if you're on Swans Island in the summer!"
During the exhibit, the L.C. Bates Museum will host educational children's printmaking workshops on Wednesdays, July 5, 12 and 19 and August 2 at 1 pm. These workshops will explore the processes of printmaking and use the Museum's historic Acorn Press and other early presses to create different types of prints. On Sunday, June 25, a reception for artists will be held from 2-4 p.m. It will provide an opportunity to meet with the artists and printmakers and talk about their work. Artists in the exhibition include: Karen Adrienne, Susan Amons, Holly Berry, Leonard Craig, Susan Groce, Paulette Gnidziejko, Alison Hildreth, Mary Hart, Frances Hodsdon, Dohlov Ipcar, Steven Lindsay, Iver Lofving, Abbott Meader, Daniel Minter, Marguerite Robichaux, Alice Spencer, and Sharon Yates. The "Impressions of Nature" exhibit is part of a statewide museum initiative focusing on Maine printmaking through exhibits, programs, events and a book on Maine printmaking. Major funding for "The Maine Print Project: Celebrating 200 Years of Printmaking in Maine" is provided by the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency, in partnership with the national Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces Program; and by a major grant from the Maine Community Foundation. Generous funding is also provided by the Davis Family Foundation, with additional support from June Fitzpatrick Gallery. The L.C. Bates Museum is open Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children over 12, and 75¢ for pre-teens. For information call 238-4250 or visit www.gwh.org/museum.
"Mackerel III", by Steven Lindsay. | ||
