Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Constructions for Humanity

Have you heard about Constructions for Humanity happening in conjunction with the Maine Home and Design Show?

Sponsored in part by Cellardoor Winery, this very special project was a challenge for nine Maine artists who do assemblage or constructed pieces.

http://www.constructionsforhumanity.com

The Assignment: Take the contents of a box of random materials donated by exhibitors at the Midcoast Homeshow and create a piece of original art to be auctioned off to benefit the Midcoast Habitat for Humanity Chapter. Each piece had to be no larger than 3' x 3' and as many materials as possible had to be used, each artist was able add materials of their own. The box contained bricks, stones, granite pieces, copper pipe pieces, fabric, used paint brushes, plates, pottery shards, boards, wire mesh, paint sample and a number of other odds and ends.

The Art: It is truly amazing to see this project come to life, each of the contributing artists put their imprint on this project and we are grateful for their time and creativity.

The Auction: You can bid on the art by clicking here. Each piece has a minimum bid and a buy it now price. If you want a piece and don't want to worry about being out-bid then click and submit the Buy it Now and it's all yours. If a piece does not hit the buy now price in this online auction it will be auctioned off in person at the Midcoast Show Gala slated for Saturday June 5th from 5 to 8PM. Tickets are $25 per person and available by calling 207.772.3373. All art will be available to the winning bidders after the Midcoast Show.

100% of the proceeds of these original donated pieces goes directly to the Midcoast Habitat for Humanity.

This fantastic endeavor is happening in part with the Maine Home+Design Midcoast at Point Lookout, June 5-6

June 5-6, 2010
Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-4
Point Lookout, Lincolnville

Grand Prize - Presented by Camden National Bank, Hancock Lumber and Landmarcs
Brand New Vespa

Come out in support of Maine's creative economy! Architects, builders, landscape designers, interior designers, kitchen suppliers, artists, food purveyors,, and more will be represented in over 100 booths. This show is a must for people interested in any aspect of building, remodeling, and enjoying their homes.

Adults $10, Children under 12 Free

The Maine Home+Design Midcoast Show is sponsored by J.C. Stone, Inc; A.E. Sampson & Son; Cellardoor Vineyard; Solaris; Breakwater Design & Build; Landmarcs; Katahdin Cedar Log Homes; Camden National Bank; Hancock Lumber, Landmarcs The CRL Chamber of Commerce; The Maine Contractors & Builders Alliance; and the Union Area Chamber of Commerce

The Artists:

They gave their time and talent to bring people home. We are can’t express our gratitude to these talented Mainers enough. They gave of themselves to help us with this incredible cause. Please support them and their work.

Michael Branca

Michael Branca has received fellowships at the Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, Vermont Studio Center and the Carina House on Monhegan, as well as a grant from the Maine Arts Commission. He graduated from Colby College, attended Temple University Rome and is currently working on his MFA at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He teaches drawing at Southern Maine Community College and has shown his work throughout New England at such venues as the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, June Fitzpatrick Gallery, Whitney Artworks and Stadler Gallery. To learn more about the artist and their work, please visit MikeBranca.com

Jill Dalton

Jill is a mixed-media sculptor and jewelry maker with a relentless need to collect rusted bit of metal. She uses found objects in her work to explore meaning, history, and humor. She earned her BFA in Sculpture in 1999 from Maine College of Art, where currently she is currently employed as Alumni Relations Coordinator. She and her husband, glassblower Ernest Paterno co-own Filament Gallery in Portland, Maine. They live in the East Bayside neighborhood of Portland with five formerly stray cats and expanding organic gardens. To learn more about the artist and their work, please visit FilamentGallery.com


Dan Dowd

Dan has been collecting found objects for most of is life and assembling them for over ten years. His most recent works are examples of what is created when some of those objects are united and interact. Any story that may be in his head as he creates the piece, or any story that he may write after the piece is completed, is different from the stories which a viewer may create. No one story is correct. This aspect of his work, and art in general, intrigues and amazes him.


Eva Deveau

My name is Eva Deveau. I am 7 1/2 years old. I am in the second grade. I like to go shopping with my mommy and I like to do art. I think about my art before I make it and I always try my best. I have had art shows at AVA Gallery and Chellie Pingree's Congressional Headquarters and showed some of my work at the Maine Home + Design Midcoast Show in 2009.


Nathan Deveau

Nathan relocated to Maine from Vermont to attend and graduate from the Maine College of Art. My latest work focuses on environmental responsibility through the use of natural materials many would consider waste, such as spent coffee grounds, grass clippings, tree branches, sawdust and more. I transform these materials into sculptures, mirrors, jewelry boxes, cutting boards, tables, sinks, countertops, flooring, tiles and more. To learn more about the artist and their work, please visit www.deveaugallery.com


Mark Kelly

Mark earned his BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art. He is a founding partner of Aarhus Gallery in Belfast, was the 2009 Earth Week Artist-in-Residence at Waterfall Arts, and was recently a group leader at Unity College's Art of Sustainability Conference. His work was included in Maine Home+Design's Art of Assemblage feature in the Jan/Feb 2009 issue. Exhibitions include the 18th Annual Drawing Show at the Boston Center for the Arts/Mills Gallery; the Out of Bounds altered book show, Rockport, ME; Art from Intuition – Northampton Center for the Arts, Northampton, MA; The Crossing of Time and Environment: Micro Installation – Tianan County, Taiwan (group collaboration); and First Traces at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, ME. He lives in Belfast with his wife and thee daughters. To learn more about the artist and their work, please visit AarhusGallery.com


Mike Libby

Mike is a multi-disciplinary artist who makes highly detailed sculptures, models, collages and drawings. Through diverse materials and methodologies, I explore themes of science, nature, fantasy, history and autobiography; highlighting illogical and acute correspondences between the real and unreal. To learn more about the artist and their work, please visit InsectLabStudio.com


Edward Mackenzie

Edward works mainly with 'found' objects – old and new manufactured objects, to create unique sculptural art. His work has a strong design element with references to humor, allegory, or history. Chosen material often evolves into a series of artwork, for example: PIANOWORKS using piano parts; OARACLE using sculling oars; PYROTECHNICAL using matches and matchboxes. Photo by Ric Prindle. To learn more about the artist and their work, please visit EdwardMackenzie.com


Louise Philbrick

The subject matter of Louise's work typically involves memory in one way or another. She seeks out found objects (doomed instrument parts, rusty street detritus, surf-worn stones) that readily demonstrate the rigors of their respective histories and re-contextualize them in a way that features those peculiarities. She makes a deliberate effort not to conceal the impositions of her own process (or the imperfections of the human touch) on them. To learn more about the artist and their work, please visit LouisePhilbrick.com


Anastasia S. Weigle

Anastasia received her B.A. in natural science illustration with a minor in museum studies from SUNY Empire State College and an M.S.L.I.S. (Library & Information Science) in archives management. Her professional work as an archivist influenced her work as an artist. Through discarded objects and ephemera—these small, insignificant pieces of nostalgic history—she found her true voice. Weigle is creating a magical history all her own. The inner child—who still believes that dreams do come true—is the master and teacher. Her works of art are created by forgotten bits and pieces of bric-à-brac in this world of discarded dreams. To learn more about the artist and their work, please visit http://anastasiaweigle.artspan.com/

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

¢ Sense for Life ¢

Written By: Skip Bates - Former Midcoast Magnet President

Midcoast Magnet’s goal is to attract, connect, and retain talented people in Maine. We foster projects that promote livability, sustainability, and economic vitality. Maine is a fabulous place to live, if you have a sense for good living. It can also be a great place to do business, if you have a sense for value. Making money and living well are not mutually exclusive ends.

One of the best kept secrets in the State: Maine’s Seed Capital Tax Credit Program. Want to make a guaranteed 60% return on your investments? Try putting your money in a Maine business! Think I’m kidding? Check it out at www.famemaine.com. Investors can take advantage of tax credits equal to 40-60% of their investment by investing in Maine companies engaged in either 1) manufacturing; 2) sale of goods or services with 60% of revenue derived from outside the State; 3) advanced technologies; or 4) attraction of significant permanent capital into the State.

Why send your money to Wall Street when you could put it to use on a Maine street?