Today’s the Day byStuart Kestenbaum
Well friends – I’m coming into the home stretch in preparation for the next exhibition curated by the Midcoast Maine Book Arts, a collective formed to create a community of book artists and collectors in the midcoast region of Maine.
18 artists will exhibit their work at the Michael Good Gallery, 325 Commercial St. in Rockport, ME. The gallery will be open to the public beginning on August 21. An opening reception at the gallery will take place Thursday, August 26 from 4 – 7 pm.
Mycorrhizal by Sandy Weisman
Our book arts group first met in 2018 after our exhibition at the Camden Public Library in September of that year. The group meets every other month and is dedicated, excited, and sharing, which speaks for the openness and vibrancy of the members. I’d like to pause on that for a minute …
… here’s what happened. One of us had the idea. She wanted a way to meet and share with other book artists. Several of us said, YES. Another of us asked Maine Media Workshops if they would host us every other month, and they said YES. Another of us created a Facebook page. Two of us organized and promoted that page. Many of us came to our first meeting, and others of us have brought guest artists, artists in residence, and our own work to the meeting place. What a pleasure to meet so many fine artists and book enthusiasts!
Then Covid 19. What now? One of us was happy to host the first Zoom meeting in the spring of 2020. One of us carried that effort forward. Many of us brought forth the first Structure & Narrative exhibition – a virtual exhibition at the Camden Public Library in September of 2020. What an achievement to figure all of this out and to depend on one another to create a catalog, work with the library to present the work and to host an artists’ talk all through the vehicle of the internet. I am so impressed (particularly since I’m not the brightest bulb in the pack when it comes to learning technology.)
A Walk with Henry David Thoreau by Joelle Webber
And here we are. It’s August 2021. Another opportunity to exhibit our work. Four of us met with the gallery and scoped out what we needed to do. One of us runs the gallery. Many of us submitted our own work, and offered the opportunity for other book artists in Maine to join us in this exhibition. There are so many beautiful books to be seen here, in person, and now with the visual delight to see work that one might not understand were it not for the artist who can talk about his/her work, or possibly a touch or two with gloves to handle something, or see it being handled by the artist.
This group is amazing. Separate artists, separate visions, separate stopping points in their careers. And many of us made this happen!
Please come and see the exhibition which runs through September 30.
Mycorrhizal by Sandy Weisman