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Maine College of Art & Design Announces Yuko Shimizu as 2026 Commencement Speaker

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) is pleased to announce that Yuko Shimizu, a renowned Japanese illustrator, will deliver the 2026 Commencement address at the College’s 115th graduation ceremony. MECA&D will also bestow an honorary degree on Shimizu, as well as on John Ryan, co-founder of Wright-Ryan Construction, and the architect, printmaker, and painter Jenny Scheu.

“I am honored to welcome Yuko Shimizu to our commencement ceremony, an artist who exemplifies the values we hope to instill in our students. Her dynamic hybrid illustrations using traditional ink drawing and digital colors fuse Japanese art with contemporary graphic storytelling in a truly unique way,” shared Dr. Laura Freid, President of MECA&D. “Her dedication to educating young artists and illustrating books for young readers is inspirational.”

With over twenty years of illustration experience, Shimizu is widely recognized for her dynamic and expressive illustrations, which transcend a single stylistic approach. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, TIME, Newsweek, The New Yorker, and WIRE, among other publications. She has collaborated with leading cultural institutions, including the United Nations, the Smithsonian Institution, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Library of Congress, and in 2020 partnered with Artechouse to transform her drawings into large-scale interactive experiences.

A two-time recipient of the Caldecott Honor, one of the most prestigious awards in children’s literature, Shimizu has been recognized for her publications The Cat Man of Aleppo (2020) and Up, Up, Ever Up! (2024). She has also received multiple Clio Awards, earned more than fifteen medals from the Society of Illustrators, and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2024. Additional honors include nominations for the Hugo Award and selection as one of “100 Japanese People the World Respects” by Newsweek Japan. She is a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI).

Born in Japan, Shimizu studied advertising and marketing at Waseda University and spent eleven years working in corporate public relations before moving to New York to pursue art. She received her MFA from the School of Visual Arts’ Illustration as Visual Essay program in 2003, and has since built an internationally acclaimed career as both an illustrator and educator. Shimizu is based in New York City, where she is an instructor at The School of Visual Arts.

In addition to bestowing an honorary degree to Shimizu during the Commencement ceremony, MECA&D will also confer Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degrees to John Ryan and Jenny Scheu, two Maine professionals who have shaped the College’s physical campus and its academic community through decades of creative and physical engagement.

On Scheu and Ryan’s enduring contributions to the College, Dr. Laura Freid shared, “Jenny and John exemplify a powerful commitment to art, design, and the built environment. Their shared dedication to supporting students and creative communities has left a lasting imprint on Maine College of Art & Design.”

John Ryan is a registered professional engineer and co-founder of Wright-Ryan Construction, a Portland-based firm widely respected for its craftsmanship and leadership in commercial, residential, and institutional construction. Since co-founding the company in 1984, Ryan guided its growth into one of northern New England’s most trusted builders, later transitioning it to a 100% employee-owned company. Wright-Ryan has been a close partner to MECA&D, serving as construction manager on numerous campus projects and playing a key role in transforming the Porteous building, including renovations to the Bob Crewe Music Program, Café, and multiple academic departments. Ryan has also contributed his time and expertise directly to the College through his service on the Facilities Think Tank, and has long supported nonprofit organizations across Maine.

Jenny Scheu is a licensed Maine architect, artist, and founder of Redhouse Architects, a Portland-based firm known for its collaborative approach to design. Alongside her architectural practice, Scheu is a multidisciplinary artist working in painting and printmaking, exhibiting widely across Maine and beyond. Since 2018, she has served as a Trustee of MECA&D and as Chair of the Academic & Student Life Committee, where her leadership has helped shape the College’s academic programs and support for the student body.

The graduation ceremony will be held on Friday, May 8, 2026, at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St, Portland, ME 04101. Learn more about Commencement here.

Charlotte Caron MAT '23 Wins MAEA Award

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to Charlotte Caron MAT '23, an art teacher at Westbrook High School and recent winner of Maine Art Education Association's New to the Profession Art Educator of the Year award!

The MAEA president shared: "Your commitment and dedication to the continued advancement of art education at Westbrook High School, just within your first three years of teaching, is to be commended, and we are happy that we can celebrate this with you, your community, and the state."

Learn more about Charlotte and their experience with teaching, sculpture, and local art collaborations.

riel Sturchio '12 Named 2026 Guggenheim Fellow

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

riel Sturchio '12 has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for their outstanding work in photography. Sturchio is one of 223 awardees in the 101st class of Guggenheim Fellows, selected from a group of nearly 5,000 applicants across 55 disciplines.

Selection of work by Sturchio applied with: Infinity, Wingspan, Perspective, Hidden Message

“Our new class of Guggenheim Fellows is representative of the world’s best thinkers, innovators, and creators in art, science, and scholarship,” said Edward Hirsch, award-winning poet and President of the Guggenheim Foundation. “As the Foundation enters its second century and looks to the future, I feel confident that this new class of 223 individuals will do bold and inspiring work, undaunted by the challenges ahead. We are honored to support their visionary contributions.”

The Class of 2026 Guggenheim Fellows was tapped based on both prior career achievement and exceptional promise. As established in 1925 by founder Senator Simon Guggenheim, each Fellow receives a monetary stipend to pursue independent work at the highest level under “the freest possible conditions.” Learn more about the 2026 Guggenheim Fellows.

Congratulations, riel!

Congratulations to the Merit Scholarship Competition Awardees!

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

On Monday, April 6, 12 MECA&D students won awards for their artistic achievements in the Merit Scholarship Competition. The competition, which was open to sophomores and juniors with GPAs of 3.5 and higher, displayed a wide variety of works across three floors of the Porteous building.

The Merit Show is on view through Friday, April 10.

The following students received awards. Congratulations to all who participated!

BEST IN SHOW

Colin Miner, Junior, Graphic Design

2ND PLACE OVERALL

Basil Hinnen, Junior, Painting

3RD PLACE OVERALL

Clio Evans, Sophomore, Sculpture

JURY SELECT

Jules Herrera, Junior, Metalsmithing & Jewelry

BEST 2D WORK

Finlay La Londe, Sophomore, Illustration

BEST 3D WORK

Link Rollins, Junior, Metalsmithing & Jewelry

BEST 4D WORK

Kenneth Bazile, Junior, Graphic Design

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Lilah Grove, Sophomore, Ceramics

Victor Nopo, Sophomore, Animation & Game Art

Maeve Rodgers, Sophomore, Metalsmithing & Jewelry

Vivien Sorce, Junior, Woodworking & Furniture Design

Nate Walker, Sophomore, Photography

Michel Droge MFA '10 wins Fulbright Fellowship

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Michel Droge MFA '10 has won a Fulbright Fellowship for their proposed project, Light, Salt and Stone. Research and immersion in Greece and Iceland, followed by artistic development and production, will support Droge in their interdisciplinary work between cultural and scientific institutions. Of their proposed project, Droge writes:

“Light, Salt and Stone is an interdisciplinary art and science project that will explore the coastal and oceanic landscapes of Greece and Iceland. Often in transitional geographies, new ideas, images, and discoveries emerge. Liminal places can be a fertile space where imagination thrives and a connection is made between the seen and unseen, the known and unknown; a place for exploring the poetics of liminal spaces, where land meets sea and where art and science converge. Light, Salt, and Stone is a metaphor for that space illuminated between the sea and the land, and for the fertile imaginative ground between the conscious and unconscious mind. This is the area where meditative practice, deep scientific investigation, and visual expression can come together. Through a lens of marine research, my work will explore how life thrives in even the most extreme conditions. Both Greece, with its deep historical and philosophical roots, sublime coastlines and island formations, and Iceland, with its glaciers, volcanic formations and extremes of light, provide contemporary evidence of our planet's extremes and those perimeters where powerful forces of generation and adaptability are evident in an evolving climate.”

Film Screening to Feature Work by Mitchell Rasor, Faculty

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

A film featuring Mitchell Rasor, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Academic Studies at MECA&D, will screen at the Portland Museum of Art on Sunday, March 29.

Writes the Portland Press Herald: "Rasor, a landscape architect, artist and musician, has been creating his salt marsh art along the Royal River for about four or five years. Just about every day in winter, he drives a few minutes from his Yarmouth home, parks at the Spear Farm Estuary Preserve and drags his painting supplies and paper canvases — some are 10 feet long — through the woods and down to the marsh. At low tide he might go knee-high into the water, while he works on a thick floating canvas."

Using natural paints and charcoal, Rasor paints with the brush-like tips of marsh phragmites. He paints primarily for the experience, mostly scenes of the river, marsh and woods that surround him.

The film, titled Salt Marsh, will be shown Sunday, March 29, at 4pm at the Portland Museum of Art. An artist talk and Q&A with Rasor will follow.

Watch the film's preview here.

Learn more about the Portland Museum of Art screening.

MECA&D Alums Featured in Apartment-Based Art Exhibitions in Portland, ME

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Artwork by MECA&D graduates has been featured in a number of apartment-based art exhibitions in the Portland area.

Club Magic, a gallery curated by James Parker Foley MFA ’20 in his own apartment, welcomes visitors to its show and sale, titled “Infinite Games.” “Infinite Games” is open through March 28 as a fundraiser for Foley’s upcoming residency for emerging trans artists.

Easthaus, housed in Drew Eastwood MFA ’24 and Alyssa Schadhauser’s home, includes artwork by Olivia Van Oot ’24 and Elyse Grams MFA ’20, their pieces nestled in the sloped ceilings of the third-floor apartment-turned-gallery.

Read the full story in the Portland Press Herald.

Ray Ewing '12 Wins Photojournalist of the Year at New England Newspaper & Press Association

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Ray Ewing ’12, photo editor for the Vineyard Gazette, has been named photojournalist of the year at the New England Newspaper & Press Association awards. The awards ceremony, held in Portsmouth, NH in early March, celebrated Ewing’s dedication to documenting life on Martha’s Vineyard.

Ewing developed his passion for photography at Maine College of Art & Design and the University of New Mexico, and returned to Martha’s Vineyard in the summers to intern at the Gazette. When he became the Vineyard Gazette’s photographer in 2023, he dedicated himself to telling the story of the island.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a book release, or a disaster, some heartbreaking tragedy or a big town meeting vote,” he said. “Whatever it is, [I] treat it with the same level of respect.”

Learn more about Ewing’s award at the Vineyard Gazette.

Dreamscape Soundscape Workshop: Salt Institute to Collaborate with Monson Arts

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Monson Arts and the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies present Dreamscape Soundscape: A Sound Design Workshop with Nic Neves, a transformative weeklong audio experience. The workshop will take place on June 21–27, 2026.

Led by acclaimed audio producer, sound designer, and NPR contributor Nic M. Neves, this hands-on workshop invites participants to channel their dreams into immersive sonic narratives. Through field recording, Foley techniques, digital processing, and music composition, students will learn to craft evocative soundscapes that bring their subconscious stories to life.

Click here to learn more and to register for the workshop.

Animation & Game Art Students Connect with Industry Professionals

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

MECA&D Students in our Animation & Game Art program had the chance to have their portfolios reviewed by some of the world's leading studios, artists, and designers! Recruiters and artists from Warner Brothers Studios, Walt Disney Studios, 20th TV Animation, Adult Swim, along with other studios and freelancers, joined our students for virtual portfolio reviews last week.

These reviews brought the Animation & Game Art industry to our students, enabling them to receive invaluable feedback and build their network without leaving Portland, Maine. Mia Kashiwabara ’26. who met with a recruiter from Warner Brothers, reflected on the experience, “Not only do portfolio reviews help me improve my work, but they also introduce me to others in the industry and help me gain a better understanding of what it's like to work in animation. Every review makes me feel more prepared for pursuing my career post-graduation.”

This opportunity was put together by Artists at Work and the Animation & Game Art Department. Adam Fisher, Program Chair of Animation & Game Art, told us, "Our goal in running this event is to give our students a chance to meet real people who are doing the work they hope to step into as professionals. This benefits them in several ways... most immediately, they get new eyes on their work and feedback they can implement now as they build their portfolios. They are also making contacts, beginning their professional networks, and gaining interview-style experience. Perhaps the biggest benefit is that suddenly they realize that the people working in games and animation are just real folks like the rest of us.”

Learn more about how our Animation & Gamer Art program sets our students up for success post-graduation.

Announcing the 2026 Belvedere Fund Recipients

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the Belvedere Grant. Five BFA alumni working in a craft methodology were awarded the grants after a competitive review by the Dean of the College, two BFA faculty members, one member of the crafts community, and one member of the Artists at Work office. Amongst other criteria, the most important factor in selection was the demonstration that this grant will assist the alumni's professional growth.

This year's recipients include:

Abigail Sprague '25, Metalsmithing & Jewelry Design

Allie Stack '16, Ceramics

Gillian Doty '16, Ceramics

Haven Douglas '19, Textile & Fashion Design

Phoebe Zildjian '20, Metalsmithing & Jewelry

The Belvedere Fund was established in 2008 in memory of Deborah Pulliam of Castine, Maine, and is available to all alumni who received a BFA degree in the field of crafts from the College within the last 10 years. Deborah was a lover of history, land preservation, animal welfare, and the arts, and she supported many causes generously throughout her life.

Learn more about the Belvedere Fund

Charlie Selders '27 Designs Label Art for Dogfish Head Brewery and Orono Brewing Company

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Dogfish Head Brewery founder Sam Calagione has announced a collaborative beer with Orono Brewing Company, featuring original label artwork by Maine College of Art & Design student Charlie Selders '27. The project celebrates Dogfish Head’s ties to Midcoast Maine and the College’s creative community.

$1 from every pint sold at the launch event will be donated to Maine College of Art & Design in support of student artists.

Drew Eastwood MFA '24 Selected as Artist-in-Residence at Kolaj Institute

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Drew Eastwood MFA '24 has been selected as a solo artist-in-residence at the Kolaj Institute in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Eastwood is a 2024 graduate of MECA&D's MFA program and is a BFA Painting Technician, Instructor in Foundations, and Continuing Studies Faculty. A collagist-painter, Eastwood collects printed matter, photographic images, and daily environmental dross, which are unified into zany harlequin characters who are aware of something having gone awry.

BioDesign Challenge at MECA&D

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Last spring, Cam Fox '26 and Tom Dailey '26 were sent to New York City to represent MECA&D at the Biodesign Challenge, an international education program for high school and college students that introduces the intersection of biotechnology, art, and design.

At the summit, Cam and Tom presented their project, Eat Dirt, which investigated whether humans could consume nutrients through transdermal absorption using dirt or compost as a source. They presented their project on the main stage at Parsons School of Design to leading scientists and students from around the globe; participated in an exhibition; explored the galleries around the city; and spent a day at MoMA for presentations and viewing the exhibitions. While at the summit, Cam and Tom also had the opportunity to network with their biodesign peers.

At a talk at the Joanne Waxman Library, the pair reflected on their experience and discussed the newfound confidence they felt after presenting their project as artists. Both left the summit feeling like the chance to explore art in a new environment opened their eyes to the possibilities of their practice, the materials they use, and the spaces they feel comfortable in.

Megan Valanidas teaches the Biodesign course which is going on its second year at MECA&D. Through a partnership with Artists at Work, the school plans to send another team of student’s to this year’s Biodesign challenge in New York City this spring.

New MECA&D Café Murals Created by Alumni

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

HG Bradley '24 recently created 8 murals for our MECA&D Café. Bradley was inspired by the Maine Course program, which enables us to use locally grown and produced meals for our students.

Bradley spoke about the experience of leaving their mark on the College, saying, "It was inspiring not only to combine my interest in food and eating local with my illustration practice, but to also create something to leave behind at my alma mater to remember my community and the impact that it has had on me."

Learn more about all things Student Life, including our dining services.

Maine College of Art & Design Recognized by Graphic Design USA

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The Marketing & Communications team at Maine College of Art & Design has been recognized by Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) for their design of the Bachelor of Fine Arts Viewbook. The 62nd annual GDUSA Design Awards received over 6,000 entries, with fewer than 10% of applicants being recognized.

This is Graphic Design USA's flagship end-of-year best-of-year competition, open to everyone in the creative community, and honors outstanding work across all media.

Claire Christensen '23, Graphic Designer at MECA&D, designed the BFA Viewbook in collaboration with the Admissions and Marketing teams at MECA&D.

Learn more about the BFA program here.

Portland Press Herald Highlights MECA&D Holiday Markets

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

"At Maine College of Art & Design, students learn the art of selling," declares the Portland Press Herald article published this weekend.

The article focuses on two ways that MECA&D students will sell their work this weekend: the annual Holiday Sale and Merry Magical Market, a pop-up at 49 Oak.

The article highlights Evelyn Wong's class, called "Art of Selling Out," which focuses on the business of selling art. "Wong taught the students how to make items that might sell well at markets — handmade notebooks with different binding techniques, personalized zines, letterpress prints. They also talked about different approaches to pricing those creations," writes Megan Gray, staff writer at the Portland Press Herald.

Down the street at the Porteous Building, MECA&D is preparing for its Holiday Sale, which expects to see up to 4,000 visitors this weekend. About 75% of vendors are alumni, and students across disciplines will participate as sellers, volunteers, and shoppers.

Plan your visit this weekend to the Merry Magical Market and Holiday Sale!

MFA Included in Hyperallergic's List of Schools to Apply for by Early 2026

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The online publication and leading voice in contemporary perspectives on art and culture, Hyperallergic, just published a list of arts-related graduate programs to apply for by early 2026, and MECAD's Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art program is included in the list.

Hyperallergic notes our commitment to one-on-one mentoring and interdisciplinary approach and highlights that we offer both Full and Low Residency options.

The Full Tuition Scholarship deadline for the MFA program is January 18, 2026.

Learn More

Congratulations to BFA Exhibition Participants!

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The 2025 BFA Exhibition Awards Ceremony was held this past Thursday, November 6, as an opportunity to celebrate the hard work of our BFA students.

This annual exhibition is an important opportunity for all BFA students to join their colleagues across majors, minors, and Foundation in sharing their work. This year’s exhibition spans four floors of the Porteous building and will remain on view through November 15.

The following students received awards. Congratulations to all who participated!

BEST IN SHOW

Ella Irving, Senior, Graphic Design

2ND PLACE OVERALL

Adriana Uribe-Rodriguez, Senior, Textile & Fashion Design

3RD PLACE OVERALL

Studio JAAMS:

Jakob Flores Figueroa, Senior, Animation & Game Art

Aryn Keane, Senior, Animation & Game Art

Allana Patterson, Senior, Animation & Game Art

Mia Kashiwabara, Senior, Animation & Game Art

Saami Murray, Senior, Animation & Game Art

JURY SELECTS

Isaac Herreid, Sophomore, Illustration

Ryer Spann, Senior, Photography

BEST WORK BY A SENIOR

Cole Dowdell, Woodworking & Furniture Design

BEST WORK BY A JUNIOR

Chloé Currier, Photography

BEST WORK BY A SOPHOMORE

Clio Evans, Sculpture

BEST WORK BY A FIRST-YEAR

Gabe Curtis, Intended Painting Major

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Katie Clark, Junior, Ceramics
Grim Medina. E, Sophomore, Animation & Game Art
Link Rollins, Junior, Metalsmithing & Jewelry
Vivien Sorce, Sophomore, Graphic Design
Sophia Sutherland, Senior, Painting
Sab Yusuf, Senior, Graphic Design

Illustration Students Experience the Maine Woods

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Illustration Juniors left Wi-Fi and city life behind, spending three days off the grid in the woods of Maine! The trip was part bonding experience and part opportunity for students to explore our beautiful state in a way they might not have before.

They hiked, canoed, paddle boarded, swam, looked for wildlife, stargazed, had fireside chats, and played games. Sketchbooks were open, and the group even set up a gel-printing table!

It was the first trip of this kind for the Illustration Department, and a great success. Learn more about our Illustration program here.

LIFE FORMS: CONNECT Exhibition with Ling-Wen Tsai, Faculty

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Professor Ling-Wen Tsai has new works featured in LIFE FORMS: CONNECT at the Triangle Gallery in Rockland, ME. The exhibition will run through November 15, 2025.

LIFE FORMS: CONNECT is a four-person exhibition featuring the works of Lynn Duryea, Kazumi Hoshino, Naomi David Russo, and Ling-Wen Tsai.

Animation & Game Art Students Win Big This Fall

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Studio JAAMS, comprised of senior MECA&D Animation & Game Art students Jakob Flores-Figueroa, Saami Murray, Allana Patterson, Grace Keane, and Mia Kashiwabara, recently participated in two film competitions.

First, they entered the Maine Film Association’s 72 Hour 2025 Fall Film Challenge to make a five-minute film over the course of three days. Their animated film, titled Little Speck’s Big Heist, centers on a tiny creature obsessed with shiny objects. Competing against seasoned, live-action film professionals, Studio JAAMS submitted the only animated film, which won the Audience Choice Award.

A few weeks later, the team entered the 24 HOURS Animation Contest for Students, a worldwide competition in which teams have one day to complete a 30-second animation based on a common prompt. After 24 hours of hard work, Studio JAAMS’ animation placed 41st out of over 700 entrants from 35 countries.

Of their studio, the group shares, “We make decisions together as a team and continually push ourselves to be the best artists and storytellers we can be. One of our top priorities when creating films is making sure everyone has fun and that every voice is heard. Each member of our team brings a unique perspective and skill that shines through in our animations.”

Colin Miner '27 Leads Design & Production for AIGA Boston

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Colin Miner '27, a junior Graphic Design major, recently led design and production for 3D / UX/UI / Motion Design on the GENUX 2025 Symposium project. Miner completed the project while interning for AIGA, under the supervision of Woods Creative founding partner and MECA&D professor, Amy Parker.

GENUX Boston is an annual symposium conference that brings together Boston and New England area minds in User Experience: UX/UI design, development, and social science research.

The Center for Maine Contemporary Art 2025 Biennial

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The Center for Maine Contemporary Art's (CMCA) 2025 Biennial opens Saturday, October 4, and will run through January 11, 2026. There is an opening reception on Friday, October 3, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. The exhibition is a survey of contemporary art by artists with ties to Maine, and features 29 artists selected from a pool of over 450 applicants by jurors Keith Fox, Tom Keyes, and William Hathaway.

The exhibition includes several Maine College of Art & Design alumni and faculty:

Thomas Connolly '87
Grace Hager '15, MFA '23
Jennifer Brou, Adjunct Instructor of Foundation
Gail Spaien, Former MFA & BFA Faculty

Learn more about the exhibition here.

11 Art Exhibits Across Maine you Shouldn’t Miss this Fall

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The Portland Press Herald recently shared an article outlining the must-see exhibitions across Maine this fall. The Institute of Contemporary Art at MECA&D's new show, otherwise, is included in the round-up.

In otherwise, exhibiting artists utilize elements of fiction in their work, transforming real-life issues into something otherworldly and innovative. Some artists in the exhibition draw inspiration from specific sources such as science fiction, oral traditions, and mythologies, while others craft intricate narratives inspired by real-world histories. Collectively, the artists in otherwise explore the potential of fictional storytelling to reimagine and reclaim historical and contemporary oppressions, paving the way for bold new futures.

otherwise opens on October 3 and runs through December 13, 2025. Learn more about the exhibition here.

Mai Snow '13 Awarded MASS MoCA Studio Fellowship

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

MASS MoCA partners with the Maine College of Art & Design to support an alumni fellowship through their studio residency program.

This year's fellow is Mai Snow '13. Snow's work, which they have shown across Texas, New England, and the Midwest, highlights the beauty and complexities of queer sexuality, trans gender and the non-binary body.

To learn more, visit The Studios at MASS MoCA.

Jenny McGee Dougherty ’05 Named Director of Artists at Work

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) announced that, following a competitive national search, Jenny McGee Dougherty ’05 has been appointed as the new Director of Artists at Work. McGee is a painter, textile designer, and arts organizer based in South Portland, Maine. Jenny earned her BFA in Printmaking from MECA in 2005 and has since held leadership roles as Associate Director of SPACE Gallery, Administration Director of TEMPOart, and, most recently, as the Associate Director of Artists at Work & Alumni Relations at MECA&D. In addition to her studio and textile practice, she has taught youth art in Berkeley, CA and Ladakh, India, and created large-scale public murals.

Of the appointment, President Laura Freid shared, “Jenny understands MECA&D and the needs of our students. Under her leadership, she will develop career readiness programming within the curriculum and strengthen connections with community partners, employers, and internship providers. Her strong commitment to helping students develop the skills they require to thrive as creative professionals will honor the strong legacy of Artists at Work while evolving to meet the needs of students and the ever-changing creative economy.”

McGee follows Jessica Tomlinson, who retired in August, continuing and expanding upon the work that Tomlinson spearheaded, including managing an online job board, the Above & Beyond grant, internships, the Professional Studio Practice course, the Art & Entrepreneurship minor, Portfolio Day, pop-up shops, and fellowships with organizations like the Nature Conservancy.

McGee commented that she is “thrilled to step into the role of Director of Artists at Work. Having had the opportunity to help shape this program for the past several years, I know how meaningful it is to support students and alumni as they navigate creative careers. I look forward to collaborating with faculty and staff, and to continue growing this program in support of our amazing students.”

Abigail Wark Elected New Board Chair of Maine College of Art & Design

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) announced today the election of Abigail Wark as Board Chair, with former Chair Kathryn Yates transitioning to a trustee role. The Board also welcomes two new members: John Beliveau and Nathan J. Aranson.

“Abby Wark brings exceptional leadership and a deep commitment to community and the arts. Her strategic voice and vision will help guide MECA&D at a critical time and keep our mission to educate artists and designers at the forefront of everything we do,” shared Laura Freid, President of Maine College of Art & Design. “We also owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to Kathryn Yates for her remarkable service, and are thrilled she will remain on the Board.”

Wark’s ongoing commitment to the MECA&D Board, along with the addition of these new members, will help steer MECA&D’s strategic direction and strengthen the College’s commitment to delivering a world-class art and design education while fostering its role as a creative hub in Maine and beyond.

Of the appointment, Wark said, “I am passionate about the transformative power of education and the arts. I am honored to have this new opportunity to serve MECA&D’s vibrant community and continue its legacy in this important work.”

During her tenure, Yates established the Anne Honeywell Orr Endowed Scholarship, strengthened the MECA&D community, and guided the College with clarity and care. Yates shared, “Serving as Board President has been a joy. Watching students flourish and alumni succeed has been deeply rewarding. Abby will be a terrific chair, and I look forward to supporting her in her new role.”

Abby Wark grew up in Portland’s West End, attending Reiche School, King Middle School, and Portland High School. Today, she is a scientist, educator, and leader committed to building healthier, more connected communities through science, education, and the arts. She holds a BA from Stanford University, a PhD from the University of Washington, and has completed postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School. Abby has taught at leading institutions, led science outreach programs nationwide, and serves as a trustee of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

About the New Board Members

Nathan J. Aranson is a third-generation Mainer and a dual board-certified general and vascular surgeon and Assistant Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. Nationally recognized as an educator and published author, he has pioneered surgical procedures in Maine. Nathan lives in Portland, and outside the operating room, he enjoys downhill skiing and fishing.

John Beliveau was born and raised in Rumford, Maine, and now lives in Portland. He serves as Managing Director at HM Payson and Chair of the Client Services Group, combining decades of expertise with a lifelong curiosity in finance. Committed to community service, he helped launch a meal delivery program in Rumford. An avid outdoorsman and squash player, John enjoys fishing, camping, and skiing.

Please visit MECA&D’s Board of Trustees webpage for more information.

Redford Reece '26 awarded Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award by ISC

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Out of 176 students from 96 schools, Redford Reece '26 is one of ten recipients of the prestigious International Sculpture Center’s Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award. The award, founded in 1994, recognizes young sculptors and encourages their continued commitment to the field of sculpture, while honoring their faculty sponsors and institutions.

Redford will participate in a group exhibition sponsored by ISC, and their work will be featured in Sculpture Magazine.

Redford is one of three sculpture students who have received this award under Sculpture Chair Joshua Reiman. Other students include Ramone Lampos '20 and Eden McDowell '17.

View the entire list of student recipients.

Vendor Applications for the 2025 Holiday Sale

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design is excited to announce that we are accepting vendor applications for the 2025 Holiday Sale Monday, September 1 through Sunday, October 12, 2025!

Remember to save the date for the annual Holiday Sale on Friday, December 5, and Saturday, December 6, 2025. Join us at the Porteous Building to shop for handmade goods from our community of artists and designers.

Apply here.

Rebecca Sugar Hon. DFA '24 Releases Song Written for 2024 MECA&D Commencement

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Rebecca Sugar Hon. DFA ’24, a renowned animator, director, singer, and songwriter and, our 2024 Commencement Speaker, wrote and performed an original song for MECA&D's 113th graduation ceremony. The song, "Love The Way It Feels," has been released on Sugar's new album, "Lonely Magic."

Sugar was invited to be our Commencement speaker via a video sent to them from our Animation & Game Art students. Sugar spoke about the invitation, saying, “I was so touched by the video message from the students at Maine College of Art & Design, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to support the class of 2024.”

The studio version can be listened to on most music platforms.

A video of the performance during the graduation ceremony is available on MECA&D's YouTube page.

Blood & Myth Documentary

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Hulu documentary, Blood & Myth, is set to release on September 4, 2025. The documentary is based on the Audible Original “Midnight Son," which was executive produced by MECA&D's very own Isaac Kestenbaum, Director of the Salt Institute of Documentary Studies, along with James Dommek Jr., and Josie Holtzman. The documentary tells the story of crime and legend in Northern Alaska.

On the making of Blood & Myth, Kestenbaum says, "It's been cool to see this thing that I made as an audio piece get transformed into a different medium. It's very exciting."

Check out the trailer here.

Maine College of Art & Design Exceeds Enrollment Goals for First Online Learning Cohort

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

After announcing plans in January of this year to launch online learning, Maine College of Art & Design is pleased to announce that the College has exceeded initial enrollment projections by over 55% for its inaugural class, which begins August 18. A leader in art education, the program’s offerings were designed to meet the growing demand for art educators, leaders, and administrators across the region and country.

“We believe in the value and power of arts education, and now, more than ever, it’s important to cultivate creativity in our learners and our community,” shared Dr. Laura Freid, President of Maine College of Art & Design. “With our Master of Arts in Education, and Graduate Certificates in Expressive Arts Therapy and Arts Leadership and Administration online learning programs, we can share our expertise with broader audiences, and we are pleased to have such a large incoming class to join us in this pursuit.”

A strategic priority outlined in Maine College of Art & Design's Strategic Plan: Envisioning Our Future 2027, the new online Master of Arts in Education was designed in partnership with Dr. Rachel Somerville, Chair of Art Education, Heather Holland, Associate Dean of Online Learning, and Ian Anderson, Vice President of Academic Affairs & Dean of the College. The program prepares students for professional opportunities and career advancement in traditional and contemporary settings, such as K-12 public and private education, museum and curatorial work, community organizations, and nonprofit arts management.

Heather Holland, Associate Dean of Online Learning at MECA&D, shared, “With learners from 18 states coming from as far west as Washington and as far south as Florida, it’s clear that we are meeting a demand and meeting students where they are located. Our faculty are tremendous practitioners, and we are thrilled to have such a diverse and enthusiastic cohort. We look forward to delivering an outstanding learning experience to our students.”

This significant demand aligns with national trends. According to the latest "Changing Landscape of Online Education" report, nearly 70% of institutions report year-over-year growth in fully online graduate enrollment, with more than half citing increased demand among working professionals seeking flexible, career-focused programs.

Students can create a customized program of study that aligns with their area of expertise and focus by selecting from a diverse range of electives. Alternatively, students can opt for either an Arts Leadership and Administration focus or an Expressive Arts Therapy focus, both of which result in a Graduate Certificate upon completion.

The program can be completed in as little as 10 months and is designed for working professionals who need the flexibility to balance work, life, and classes. Online classes will be small in size, a hallmark of a Maine College of Art & Design education, making it possible for students to connect with faculty and classmates. Online courses are offered asynchronously, allowing students to complete readings and assignments on their own schedule.

We are now accepting students for Spring 2026. Learn more at online.meca.edu.

Essential Salt Podcast in the News

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The Salt Institute for Documentary Studies and Maine Public Radio recently launched Season Two of Essential Salt. The podcast talks about Maine, its stories, its people, and how stories can build community.

Brenna Farrell, a Maine Public staff member and producer of Essential Salt, shared in the Portland Press Herald, "Each story in 'Essential Salt' focuses on a place or a person that not only helps us better understand the many realities of Maine, but also, I believe, encourages us to question our understanding of who Mainers are, and how we relate to each other in this place we call home."

Since its launch, Essential Salt has been featured on NPR's All Things Considered, News Center Maine, the Portland Press Herald, and West End News.

You can listen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple, Pocket Casts, YouTube, and RSS.

Jessica Tomlinson to Retire from Role as Director of Artists at Work at Maine College of Art & Design

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) announced Jessica Tomlinson, Director of Artists at Work at the College, will retire on August 15, 2025. Tomlinson’s 20+ year career with MECA&D began in 2003 as Director of Public Relations, where she helped develop the College’s website, publications, social media presence, and marketing efforts. In 2012, Tomlinson became the founding director of the Artists at Work department, working with a team to integrate Public Engagement, Alumni Relations, and Career Services into a cohesive program focused on the personal and professional development of students and alumni.

Under her leadership, Artists at Work launched an online job board and the Above & Beyond grant, expanded internships, enhanced the Professional Studio Practice course, revised the Art & Entrepreneurship minor to include Personal Finance, and created Portfolio Day, pop-up shops, and fellowships with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy. She also piloted an art rental program while continuing to provide one-on-one support to hundreds of students and alumni.

"Jessica’s impact on the College is immeasurable,” said Laura Freid, President of Maine College of Art & Design. “Jessica’s optimism and dynamic presence have helped to inspire the confidence and provide the opportunity that our students and alumni need to propel them into tremendous personal and professional development opportunities. Her impact will be long-lasting, and she will be deeply missed.”

During her tenure as Director of Artists at Work, Tomlinson stewarded the Edward and Carol Friedman Endowed Fund, ensuring that every graduating senior receives professional tools, including business cards, headshots, and professional thesis documentation. She will continue partnering with the College to grow this endowment and ensure a sustainable future for the Artists at Work program.

Maine College of Art & Design Participates in the 2025 Envision Resilience Challenge

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design is pleased to announce its participation in the 2025 Envision Resilience Midcoast Maine Challenge! Envision Resilience’s place-based, multi-university design studio partners with university students and community leaders to develop creative solutions to face rising sea levels and challenges related to housing, stormwater management, coastal infrastructure, habitats, and ecology. The challenge aligns with Envision Resilience’s mission to foster the next generation of planners, leaders, and design professionals. The 2025 program emphasizes supporting local industries, arts, and innovation.

This year’s focus is on Bath and Harpswell, Maine. Participating institutions include Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D), the University of Maine Augusta’s architecture program, Northeastern University College of the Arts, the University of Virginia School of Architecture, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning.

Faculty leads from these universities met onsite in Bath and Harpswell this summer for a three-day workshop with community partners. This laid the groundwork for the fall semester, during which students will research, identify, and propose innovative, community-driven designs that address climate change and strengthen local resilience.

A key component of the program involves local art partnerships that unite artists and designers to bridge the gap between climate science and community dialogue through creative expression. This year, students and faculty from MECA&D will collaborate with local creators and participating universities to produce visual, performative, and experiential works that make the impacts of climate change and the opportunities for resilience accessible to all. The Public Art Studio course, a course requirement for the Public Engagement Minor offered through the Sculpture Department, will celebrate, communicate, and inspire design strategies that promote stewardship of place, material reuse, and clean energy futures.

“I am pleased that Maine College of Art & Design will take part in the 2025 Envision Resilience Midcoast Maine Challenge,” said Paul Gebhardt, Dean of Undergraduate Studies at MECA&D. “At the intersection of ecology, science, and community, art becomes a vehicle for transformation—especially here in Maine, where the climate is ever present, and we must respond creatively and collectively. We are excited to be both a partner and a bridge—connecting art and design programs, universities, local collaborators, and the wider public in meaningful work.”

In addition to student programming, Envision Resilience will collaborate with MECA&D alum Brian Smith MFA ’20, to showcase the design work through a series of exhibitions and public events.

Find more information about the 2025 Envision Resilience Midcoast Maine Challenge.

Julia Rush Salt '24 Receives Acadia Early-Career Fellowship

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Julia Rush Salt '24 was recently named the Science Communication Fellow for the 2025 Schoodic Institute Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early-Career Fellowship.

As part of her fellowship, Rush will produce a fourth season of the Sea to Trees podcast and host future episodes of Coastal Conversations on WERU-FM Community Radio.

Congratulations to Rush and her cohort of Schoodic Institute fellows.

MECA&D Shows Its Pride

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

For the second year in a row, Maine College of Art & Design walked in the Pride Portland Parade. The parade celebrated Portland’s LGBTQ+ community and its allies. MECA&D is proud to be part of the rich history of the LGBTQIA+ community in Maine and across the world.

The parade passed through downtown Portland, marching beneath the MECA&D Pride Window Murals, designed by BFA students Sawyer Strouth, Hunter Hamilton, Grim Medina, and Jai Santoro.

A special thank you to Elyse Grams MFA ’20 for organizing.

The Portland Museum of Art Acquires MECA&D Alumni Works

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The Portland Museum of Art has acquired the works of four Maine College of Art & Design alumni! The pieces were featured in As We Are, which offered a snapshot of the Contemporary Art Scene in Maine and included the works of 14 emerging artists, 10 of whom were MECA&D alumni or faculty.

The pieces acquired are Gay Bar (shell sculpture) and Red Sky at Night (drawing) by Brian Smith MFA ’20, Every Morning (quilt) by Rachel Gloria Adams ’14, Becoming a Ghost of Myself by Maya Tihtiyas Attean ’23, and "Posted, Cape Elizabeth" by Tessa Greene O'Brien MFA '16.

On the acquisition, Smith shared, “When I came to Maine for the MFA accepted students day, I explored around town and caught the 2018 Biennial exhibition on First Friday at the PMA. I remember being blown away by the caliber of work I saw, and that exhibition really helped solidify my choice to move to Maine. I very consciously had the thought that it'd be such a dream to show there one day, so this moment of having been on view in the PMA, and them acquiring works from me feel like extremely important milestones in my career—meeting a goal I set back when I decided to move here.”

The exhibition, along with the acquisitions, has enlivened our student body, giving them a plethora of alumni to be inspired by.

Sayantan Mukhopadhyay, The Associate Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art and the curator behind As We Are at the PMA told us, "Since arriving in Maine two years ago, I have been consistently inspired by the spirit of exchange and generosity among artists here. There is a longstanding legacy of artists working in and around the region, and it is exciting to see that history alive and well. There is no greater time to be an artist here than today and MECA&D is at the forefront of generating the future's talent."

Announcing the 2025 Master of Fine Arts Visiting Artist Summer Lecture Series

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

During the summer trimesters of the Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art (MFA) program at Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D), MFA low and full residency graduate candidates descend on Portland, Maine, for an eight-week intensive to bond as an artistic cohort while exploring the interdisciplinary conversation that will challenge and inform the art created throughout their program. Central to this Summer Intensive is the intimate exchange between our emerging artist candidates and the prestigious Visiting Artists who are on site each week for lectures, critiques, and studio visits.

We are pleased to announce the 2025 Summer Visiting Artist Lecture Series, running June 16 - July 30:

Vincent Tiley works between art and fashion to create garment-based durational performances that explore how clothing is used as language. Learn more.
Firefly the Hybrid is a multi-talented artist and dramatic performer, and a member of the Penobscot Indian Nation, one of five traditionally allied Wabanaki tribal nations in the Atlantic Northeast. Learn more.
Pap Souleye Fall is a Senegalese-American artist who explores the transmedia potential between sculpture, installation, performance, cosplay, digital media, and comics. Learn more.
Boru O’Brien O’Connell works with video, photography, writing, and performance.
Dr. Nadia Buyse, an artist, theorist, cultural activist, and musician whose music spans genres, is united by a DIY aesthetic, transmedial performance, and video art. Learn more.
Brian Smith MFA ’20 is a Portland, Maine–based artist working across sculpture, painting, and drawing. Learn more.
Anne Harris has been painting slowly and drawing quickly, variants of self-portraiture, for the last thirty years. Learn more.
Paul D’Amato was raised in Boston during the civil rights movement, which shaped his interest in making work about class, community, and the simple drama of everyday life. Learn more.
Faythe Levine, a curator, photographer, director, and author, was once a prominent figure in the DIY ethic indie craft movement. Learn more.
Jocelyn Lee has been making psychological portraits for 40 years, and since moving to Maine in 2014, the landscape has assumed a more prominent role in her work. Learn more.
Yoko Inoue is a multi-disciplinary artist whose work takes the form of sculpture, installation, collaborative projects, and public intervention performance art.
Anne Buckwalter's MFA ‘12 creative practice explores the intersection of sexuality and domestic life. Inspired by the folk art traditions of her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, her paintings arrange disparate objects in interior spaces, integrating the erotic with the mundane. By imagining obscure narratives that embrace paradoxes, her work delves into questions about the body, femininity, and desire. Learn more.

In 2024, the MFA Visiting Artists Series featured names such as Jane Wong, Demian DinéYahzi, Sonya Schönberger, and more.

Learn more about the opportunity to work with world-renowned faculty, visiting artists, and graduate advisors here.

MECA&D Wins Gold at the Brodersons!

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design won Gold for "& Magazine #3" in the In-house category at the 2025 Broderson Awards. The awards ceremony was held this past Thursday evening, and the In-house Award is "an award dedicated to any work developed by an in-house team alone. Be it a campaign, photography, videography, design, or more."

In addition, four of the five Student Awards went to MECA&D students! Congratulations to Zach Liljeholm '25, Ella Irving '26, Molly Lawrence '26, and Colin Miner '27.

The Broderson Awards Ceremony is held every two years to honor the exceptional creative work that enriches Maine's cultural and business community.

MECA&D Alum, Faculty Receive David C. Driskell Fellowship Awards

Tue, 27 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Visiting Assistant Professor of Sculpture Benjamin Spadling MFA' 17 and Candice Gosta '20 were awarded the David C. Driskell Fellowship from Indigo Arts Alliance.

The Fellowship at Black Seed Studio is awarded to Black and Brown Maine-based artists, providing them with a three-month studio space and stipend to support the development of their creative practice

Benjamin Spalding MFA '17 is an interdisciplinary artist whose work explores rhythm and the pageantry of the body, blending influences from club culture, sports, and local ecology with personal family narratives.

Candice Gosta '20 is an interdisciplinary painter whose practice combines traditional paint mediums with collaged elements such as textiles, paper, glass, dried flowers, dead insects, dirt, and hair to depict tangible emotional experiences of girlhood and its precarious nature.

MECA&D partners with Equal Measure Arts to expand access to professional recording studios

Tue, 27 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design has teamed up with Equal Measure Arts to expand access to MECA&D's state-of-the-art music production studio in downtown Portland, offering professional recording opportunities to students and under-resourced musicians.

MECA&D's music studio was created thanks to a generous gift from the Crewe Foundation, which enabled the school to offer a music minor. The studio features an Avid S6 Mixing Console, one of the first in New England

Steve Drown, Coordinator of the Bob Crewe Program of Art & Music and Assistant Professor of Music, and Hunter Coleman '22 are enthusiastic about the partnership and looking forward to using the studio to empower young and under-resourced musicians across the region.

"It's something I've wanted to be part of for years—making recording accessible to more people," Drown said.

Beginning in late May, Equal Measure Arts will host weekly open studio workshops at the college’s music studio, facilitated by Coleman. These hands-on educational sessions are intended for aspiring audio engineers and music producers, with sign-ups available on the Equal Measure Arts website. All program fees operate on a sliding scale.

Learn more.

Jo Strogatz, Salt '24, Wins NPR College Podcast Challenge Grand-Prize

Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Jo Strogatz, Salt '24, begins her story, Just Friends, with a phone call to a friend. It feels like we are getting a phone call from Strogatz herself as she delves into questions around the value of romantic relationships in conversations with Steve Small, a man in his 60s who has never been in a relationship and is happier for it.

Strogatz, also a musician and composer, created the original score to the piece. Weaving the music alongside the voices, Stogatz takes listeners on an emotional journey through questions of companionship, partnership, and commitment.

This tenderly curious story was created at the Salt Institute of Documentary Studies in 2024 and won Strogatz the 2025 NPR College Podcast Challenge Grand Prize.

Just Friends was also shortlisted for the 2025 New York Festivals Radio Awards.

Listen to Strogatz’s story here.

Be Seen Week 2025

Wed, 14 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Be Seen Week at Maine College of Art & Design is a culmination and celebration of work by MECA&D students, open to the public. Signature events include Empty Bowls, The Animation & Film Festival, The Fashion Show, the BFA Thesis Show, and the MFA Thesis Show. Be Seen tells our unique and authentic story; because of MECA&D’s intimate size and unparalleled setting, our students and their work will Be Seen at MECA&D.

Check out some highlights from Be Seen Week 2025 at MECA&D.

Empty Bowls

Empty Bowls raised $6,500 for Wayside Food Kitchen while guests were treated to incredible food prepared by Hannah Ryder of Twelve Restaurant and took home a handmade bowl by MECA&D Ceramics students.

The Animation & Film Festival

The sold-out, second annual Animation & Film Festival was hosted at Mechanics' Hall and featured original submissions from MECA&D students across the College. Films were judged by a jury of MECA&D alums in a variety of categories and audience members voted for their favorite film with the People’s Choice Award!

The Fashion Show

The sold-out Fashion Show presented work from Textile & Fashion Design students and raised funds for student scholarships. This year, guests were able to purchase raffle tickets to win a limited edition handwoven blanket from Swans Island designed in collaboration with Textile & Fashion Design major Milo Glassman.

Confluence: 2025 BFA Thesis Exhibition

The Maine College of Art & Design 2025 BFA Thesis Exhibition, Confluence, brought together the work of 88 Seniors displayed on four of the six floors of the Porteous Building, and including eighteen TVs.

"Much like the merging of streams in nature, Confluence is a gathering of these different paths and histories. Each senior brings unique ideas and approaches to their artistic practice, but for this brief moment, they come together in the halls of the Porteous building."

MFA Thesis

The MFA Thesis Exhibition for the Class of 2025 incorporated a range of making practices unified by the overwhelming concerns these students have for their environment, their communities, their families, and their own well-being. With an emphasis on the personal, and at times the anecdotal, these 17 artists made a variety of contributions in the form of ceramics, drawings, paintings, photographs, poems, prints, sculptures, sound and video installations, and textiles.

Commencement

Commencement exercises took place at Merrill Auditorium with celebrations following. Cannupa Hanska Luger, Hon. DFA '25 delivered an inspiring commencement address, and students, friends, and families filled the halls of the Porteous building, reveling in the joy and accomplishments of the Maine College of Art & Design 2025 graduates.

All photos by Natalie Conn, Salt '07.

Empty Bowls Raises $6,500 for Wayside Food Programs

Tue, 13 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Be Seen Week kicked off with our inaugural Empty Bowls event on Thursday, May 1. Empty Bowls is a grassroots event designed to combat hunger. It raises awareness and funds by providing attendees with a hearty meal, a handmade bowl, and a metaphorical reminder of hunger—the “Empty Bowl."

Since its launch in 1990, ceramic artists worldwide have organized Empty Bowls events, raising tens of millions of dollars for local food banks, soup kitchens, and shelters. Students enrolled in the Empty Bowls course as part of the Public Engagement minor, where they received a comprehensive and immersive learning experience in community engagement, event planning, and a deep dive into making. Students volunteered at several local non-profit organizations combating food insecurity and selected Wayside Food Programs in Portland as the beneficiary.

The MECA&D event welcomed over 200 guests from the community. It included a meal in the MECA&D Café featuring a signature dish by the Executive Chef at Twelve Restaurant, Hannah Ryder, and handmade bowls from ceramics students.

The event was a smashing success, with tickets selling out in just a few days. Each student made 45 bowls, for a grand total of 200 handmade bowls, and the event raised $6,500 for Wayside Food programs.

A huge thank you to Adjunct Assistant Professor of Ceramics Kari Radasch ’97, Ceramics Program Chair Patrick Coughlin, Director of Artists at Work Jessica Tomlinson, and Director of the MECA&D Café Pam Ryder.

Watch News Center Maine coverage of the event here.

John Gardiner '07, MFA '14 Supports Cape Elizabeth High School Project

Tue, 13 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Cape Elizabeth High School senior Hannah Lowenstein secured a grant for $5,000 from the Cape Elizabeth Education Foundation and worked with Assistant Professor in Woodworking & Furniture Design John Gardiner '07, MFA '14 to create a 7' by 5' wooden brain sculpture made out of dozens of individual tiles. The tiles were then painted by high school students, teachers, parents, siblings, and staff as they reflected on art as therapy for mental health.

Watch the NEWS CENTER Maine's Story

NEWS CENTER MAINE Covers Empty Bowls Event

Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

On Thursday, May 1, 2025, Maine College of Art & Design hosted its inaugural Empty Bowls event. NEWS CENTER MAINE covered the event, and President Laura Freid shared, "Sometimes you need an artist's joy, creativity, and humor to take a problem that may seem insurmountable and make it addressable." The event raised over $6,000 for Wayside Food Programs.

Since its launch in 1990, ceramic artists worldwide have organized Empty Bowls events, raising tens of millions of dollars for local food banks, soup kitchens, and shelters.

MECA&D's event included a meal at the MECA&D Café, complete with a signature dish compliments of guest chef Hannah Ryder of Portland’s Twelve restaurant, and a bowl handmade at MECA&D.

Announcing Cannupa Hanska Luger as 2025 Commencement Speaker

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design announced multidisciplinary artist Cannupa Hanska Luger will deliver the Commencement address at the College’s 114th graduation ceremony. During the ceremony, which begins at 10:00 am on Friday, May 9, 2025, at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium, MECA&D will bestow honorary degrees on Luger and former Chair of Maine College of Art & Design’s Board of Trustees, Brian Wilk ’95.

Luger is best known for his monumental installations, sculptures, and performances, which incorporate ceramics, steel, fiber, repurposed materials, video, sound, and performance to communicate urgent stories of 21st-century Indigeneity. Whether working with institutions, communities, or with the land itself, his work is inherently social and requires engagement. His bold visual storytelling presents new ways of seeing our collective humanity while foregrounding an Indigenous worldview.

Born on the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota, USA, Luger is an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of Fort Berthold and is Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, and Lakota.

Luger is a 2025 Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellow and a 2025 Ourworlds Immersive Visual Arts Award recipient. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including the Sharjah Biennial 16, United Arab Emirates, the 81st Whitney Biennial at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, the 14th Shanghai Biennale at the Power Station of Art, Shanghai, China, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York among others.

“I am very pleased to welcome Cannupa Hanska Luger to Portland to address the Class of 2025,” said Dr. Laura Freid, President of Maine College of Art & Design. “Cannupa is a great inspiration whom our students can look to as an example of an artist creating meaningful, impactful, and inspiring work grounded in respect. In a world full of uncertainty, it’s important for our students to feel empowered and confident that they, as artists, can make a difference through the work they create.”

In addition to bestowing an honorary degree to Luger during the Commencement ceremony, MECA&D will also confer an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree to former Chair of Maine College of Art & Design’s Board of Trustees, Brian Wilk ’95.

As the owner of WilkStudio, Wilk leverages his extensive experience in the toy industry to bring innovative projects and ideas to life. During his 26 years at Hasbro Inc., he held various positions focused on toy development and innovation, ultimately rising from designer to Vice President of Design and Development for Games. During his tenure at Hasbro, Wilk managed several iconic toy brands, including Playskool, Sesame Street, Mr. Potato Head, Play-Doh, Star Wars, Transformers, and Marvel.

President Freid said, “Brian’s expertise has been invaluable to the College as our Animation & Game Art program has expanded. Our students and community have benefited greatly from Brian’s leadership as Board Chair from 2017 to 2022. Our community is grateful for his support and generosity, offering internships along with industry connections and insights. We are pleased to bestow an honorary degree to Brian, as he is so deserving of the distinction.”

Wilk holds numerous patents and design awards, including several Toy of the Year awards, often called the “Oscars of the Toy World.” He earned a BFA in Printmaking from Maine College of Art & Design, a BFA in Toy Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and an MBA in Marketing from Bryant University. He served on the Maine College of Art & Design Board of Trustees from 2014 to 2023.

Announcing the 2025 Merit Exhibition & Scholarship Competition Winners

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Merit Exhibition & Scholarship Competition. The annual event is held each spring and invites sophomore and junior students with a minimum 3.5 GPA to submit work to be considered for scholarship prizes. A four-person jury reviews submissions and selects winners based on the quality of craft, concept, and realization of their installation.

Submissions are exhibited on three floors of the Porteous building and feature work across majors including sculptures, prints, illustrations, animations, paintings, and more.

The Merit Exhibition & Scholarship Competition is made possible thanks to the generous contributions of Charles E. Culpeper, and Ed Friedman ’08 and Carole Friedman, Hon. DFA '22.

Honorable Mentions

Hope Uribe, Junior in Animation & Game Art

Sawyer Strouth, Junior in Printmaking

Mac Craig, Junior in Illustration

Eric Valdez, Sophomore in Woodworking & Furniture Design

Tom Dailey, Junior in Sculpture

JURY SELECT

Sol Waterman 佳安, Junior in Metalsmithing & Jewelry

BEST 2D WORK

Cora Fackert, Junior in Graphic Design

BEST 3D WORK

Red Poterak, Junior in Sculpture

BEST 4D WORK

Jakob Flores Figueroa, Junior in Animation & Game Art

3RD PLACE OVERALL

Raith Jannings, Junior in Painting

2ND PLACE OVERALL

Quimby Delsignore, Junior in Photography

BEST IN SHOW

Amberly Kahapea, Junior in Ceramics

Autumn Noel '25 Receives WIA Scholarship

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to Animation & Game Art major Autumn Noel '25, who has been selected for the prestigious Women in Animation (WIA) Scholarship. Autumn was selected as one of only 14 award winners out of nearly 200 applicants worldwide. The WIA Scholarship Program is an annual award committed to furthering deserving students who demonstrate artistic talent, a passion for animation, a financial need, and a promising future in animation, VFX, or gaming.

The scholarship pool totals $18,500 and also features $92,819 in workshops, tutoring opportunities, animation equipment, and software packages for recipients of the 2024-2025 cycle from industry partners, including LAIKA, Toon Boom, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and more.

Learn more

Peter Shellenberger '89 at ZERO STATION

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Peter Shellenberger's '89 new exhibition, Lace, will be on view at ZERO STATION from April 10, 2025 to May 17, 2025. Shellenberger's photographs explore nature's visible and invisible energies. Utilizing historical techniques of photography, he creates images involving many forms of experimentation in which the process is just as important as the final photograph.

ZERO STATION will host an opening reception for Lace on the evening of Thursday, April 10, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Learn more.

Anne Buckwalter MFA '12 solo show "Manors" at the Farnsworth Art Museum

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Anne Buckwalter's MFA '12 solo show "Anne Buckwalter: Manor" will be on view at the Farnsworth Art Museum from February 15 to September 21, 2025. Buckwalter's paintings delve into her exploration of sexuality and femininity within domestic spaces, informed by site-specific visits to historic homes across New England.

The Portland Press Herald interviewed Buckwalter about her practice and show, which can be read here.

Learn more about Buckwalter's show at the Farnsworth Art Museum here.

MECA&D Alumni & Faculty at The CMCA

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockland, ME, currently has four shows featuring the curation and artwork of MECA&D alumni, faculty, and former faculty. Dylan Hausthor ’15 curated the group exhibition The Sun, Trying to Disappear; Meg Hahn '17 curated Fruition, a collaboration between Allison Cekala & Nate Luce; Tessa Green O’Brien ’18 curated From the Collection of Lord Red by Kyle Downs ’07; and Suzanne Weaver curated the installation, i forgot to remember by Katarina Weslien, former MECA&D director of graduate studies. Head up to the CMCA to immerse yourself in an expansive world of photographs, fiber art, painting, and sculpture.

Maine colleges are meeting students where they are: Online

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The Portland Press Herald recently spoke with Heather Holland, our Associate Dean of Online Learning, and Rachel Somerville, Chair of the Art Education program at Maine College of Art & Design.

“Art teachers in the state of Maine, and arts professionals, really want to become a part of Maine College of Art & Design, but due to time, working full-time, distance, our teachers living in rural areas and other constraints, these working professionals haven’t really been able to participate in existing in-person programs,” Somerville said.

Read the full article here.

Assembly: 2025 Maine College of Art & Design Alumni Triennial

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art & Design (ICA at MECA&D) is pleased to announce the opening of the Maine College of Art & Design 2025 Alumni Triennial, Assembly, on view from February 7–April 6, 2025. A public reception for the artists will be held from 5:00–8:00 pm on Friday, February 7.

Juried by Kiko Aebi, Katz Curator at the Colby College Museum of Art, Assembly: 2025 Maine College of Art & Design Alumni Triennial highlights a selection of work representing the breadth of Maine College of Art & Design’s programs, including BFA, MFA, MAT, and Salt graduates.

An assembly is a group of people gathered for a common purpose. It is also the action of joining together constituent parts to become something more. The sixteen artists included in this triennial alumni exhibition—many of whom rubbed shoulders in MECA&D studios and classes—constitute the former. Their various working methods and creative strategies informed by their time here are a testament to the latter.

Across a wide range of mediums—including painting, drawing, photography, textile, ceramics, sculpture, artist’s books, and documentary reportage—these artists recompose materials and ideas drawn from disparate contexts to unsettle aspects of our daily lives and the places we inhabit that often go overlooked and unscrutinized. Shown in concert, numerous thematic harmonies arise and circulate between the works on view, among them the relationship between intimacy and domesticity; the fraught status of landscape and the environment; and the entangled histories of art, science, and medicine. Spiritualism, the occult, and the conflation of reality and popular culture are also prominent currents running through the exhibition.

Surveying some of the major continuities and evolutions patterning contemporary art today, this exhibition is staged as a polyphonic assembly, bringing together recent work by artists whose individual perspectives and reverberant insights and styles speak to our present. As viewers, we are invited to consider new strategies for seeing and relating to the world around us.

— Kiko Aebi

Participating artists include:

Isak Applin '98
Kyle Downs '07
Nicole Duennebier '05
Dylan Fruh MAT '20
John P. Gardiner '07, MFA '14, and Dr. Gordon Johns PhD 2237
Jodie Mim Goodnough, Salt '07
Dylan Hausthor '15
Emmett Jorgensen '24
Baxter Koziol '17
Sage Lewis '04
Kevin Mosca '18
Olivia Propeck '24
Mira Ptacin, Salt '03
Elizabeth Scutt '23
Joanne Steinhardt MFA '02
Peter Wallis '06

Image credit: Peter Wallis ‘06, Lake Elizabeth, 2024, Gouache on Wood Panel, 24 X 30 in.

riel Sturchio '12 Recieves Robert Giard Grant

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

riel Sturchio '12 and their twin, Bianca Sturchio, have been awarded the Robert Giard Grant by Queer|Art. The grant supports emerging LGBTQ+ photographers whose projects address issues of sexuality, gender, or identity.

The Sturchio's were awarded $10,000 to support creating work for their project "before the last lilac blooms", a 15-year-long project focusing on the intimate world-building between queer non-normative twins. The grant will enable the two to produce their first solo exhibition in the Midwest, exhibited during Pride Month.

riel Stuchio '12 (they/she) uses their experience as a queer, chronically ill artist to provoke, and criticize socially idealized normative fantasies of beauty, ability, and gender identity.

Maine College of Art & Design to launch fully online Master of Arts in Education

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design has announced plans to offer a fully online Master of Arts in Education program beginning in Fall 2025 to meet growing workforce demands for art educators, leaders, and administrators across the region and country. The initiative is a strategic priority as outlined in Maine College of Art & Design's Strategic Plan: Envisioning Our Future 2027.

“These online programs will build upon and leverage our unique strengths and characteristics to expand our audience and community while providing for the future adaptability of the College,” said President Laura Freid. “We ask our students to make art, make an impact, and inspire change, and these programs are a perfect fit for our portfolio and match workforce demands.”

The new online Master of Arts in Education was designed in partnership with Dr. Rachel Somerville, Chair of Art Education at Maine College of Art & Design. The program prepares students for employment and career advancement in both traditional and contemporary work settings, including community, museum and curatorial, and educational settings.

Students can build a custom program of study that aligns with their area of expertise and focus by choosing from a robust selection of electives, or students can choose either an Arts Leadership and Administration focus or an Expressive Arts Therapy focus—both resulting in a Graduate Certificate upon completion.

Associate Dean of Online Learning, Heather Holland, shared, “Maine College of Art & Design is a leader in art education. It is a natural next step to build these programs online enabling us to share our expertise with an even greater pool of students.”

The program can be completed in 12-18 months and is designed for working professionals who need the flexibility to balance work, life, and classes. Online classes will be small in size, a hallmark of a Maine College of Art & Design education, making it possible for students to connect with faculty and classmates. Online courses are offered asynchronously, allowing students to complete readings and assignments on their own schedule.

Online programs are scheduled to begin in August 2025, and program leaders are now accepting applications. Learn more at online.meca.edu.

Salt final projects are now online!

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

For two weeks only, the final projects from this year's Salt Institute Fall cohort will be available online. Explore stories in both audio and video that range from narratives about a pond that is mysteriously drained to a daughter navigating her first winter without her mother.

After two weeks, the projects are taken down so graduates can submit to festivals around the country. Listen to the pieces here.

MFA Program Included in Hyperallergic's List of Programs to Apply for by Early 2025

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Hyperallergic recently released a list of arts-related graduate schools to apply to by early 2025.

Maine College of Art & Design's Master of Fine Arts program was included in the round-up, which was organized by geographic region and included MFA, MA, and PhD programs.

Read the full list here.

Virtual Undergraduate Open House

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Join Maine College of Art & Design for a Virtual Information Session on Thursday, December 12, from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Hear from faculty and staff about life at MECA&D, learn more about the application process and financial aid, and get all your questions answered.

Maine College of Art & Design Recognized by Graphic Design USA

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The marketing team at Maine College of Art & Design has been recognized by Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) for their design of the Ampersand Grid Poster and the Salt Viewbook. The 61st annual GDUSA Design Awards received over 8,000 entries, with less than 10% of applicants being recognized.

Graphic Designer Claire Christensen '23 led the design of the Ampersand Grid Poster. The poster references typefaces used across the College's materials—such as Bild, Work Sans, and Expo Serif—as well as some historical and well-known typefaces—such as Baskerville, Cooper Black, and Comic Sans.

The Salt Viewbook was initially designed by Kiana Thayer '20, referencing Salt publications of the 1970s. Christensen updated the design standards using the established framework and collaborated with updated imagery from the Salt Story Archive.

Virtual Undergraduate Open House

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Join Maine College of Art & Design on Wednesday, December 4 from 7:00pm - 7:30pm for a Virtual Student Panel to get answers to all of your Art & Design college questions. Participating students include:

Anysa Denby '25, Textile & Fashion Design, Art Entrepreneurship minor
Zach Liljeholm '25, Graphic Design, Public Engagement minor
Meraki Gardner '26, Painting
Haleyann Spencer '28, Major Anticipated

Objects and Power Featured in The Portland Press Herald

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Objects and Power, currently on view through December 13 at the Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art & Design, was recently featured in The Portland Press Herald.

Writer Jorge Arango said, “The exhibition presents so many questions: about how art and artifacts are exhibited, how their meanings shift with changes in political thought and cultural awareness, about the inescapably filtered view of museum curation, about what and who confers value on this or that art. It is one of the most absorbing and thought-provoking exhibits around. Don’t miss it."

Read the full article in The Portland Press Herald here.

Laura Retherford named Vice President of Development at Maine College of Art & Design

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) announced that Laura Retherford (she/her) will assume the role of Vice President of Development. Retherford joined the College in November 2022, and in her expanded capacity will continue to lead the College’s development team in support of annual and strategic fundraising goals, as outlined in Maine College of Art & Design's Strategic Plan: Envisioning Our Future 2027.

"Laura has shown tremendous leadership and helped to position the College within reach of our strategic goals,” said Laura Freid, President of Maine College of Art & Design. “Laura has a remarkable ability to galvanize our community of supporters around our mission through her infectious commitment to our goals. We are lucky to have Laura at the helm and look forward to working with her towards the next phase of our plan.”

Among the College’s highest priorities are ensuring that Maine College of Art & Design remains financially accessible for current and future students, creating custom-built teaching and learning spaces that support key programs, and expanding partnerships that foster deeper connections between the College and the community. By supporting initiatives that bridge student learning with real-world experience, MECA&D aims to catalyze creative collaboration, innovation and shared growth throughout the region.

Retherford shared, “I am continuously blown away by the dedication and commitment of MECA&D students and inspired by the quality of teaching and deep learning the faculty provides. It is a privilege to support the College in offering transformative opportunities to students who, in turn, give back to so many in both Maine and across the country.”

With Retherford’s development leadership, Maine College of Art & Design is well positioned to secure the funds needed to move each of the five goals underscored in its strategic plan:

Cultivating academic excellence with the highest standards in art and design education;
Developing a culture of social change, racial justice, and equity;
Broadening its reach through online and distance learning;
Creating a “Living and Learning Center” that will expand MECA&D’s Portland footprint and serve as a cultural hub for community engagement; and,
Ensuring financial sustainability for the long-term success of the College.

The College aims to make significant progress towards each of these goals by the year 2027.

"Life Forms Gather" at Speedwell Contemporary

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Multiple faculty, staff, and alumni from Maine College of Art & Design will take part in the exhibition Life Forms Gather, on display from November 23, 2024, to January 11, 2025, at Speedwell Contemporary.

Life Forms is an initiative aimed at fostering an artistic community through a series of four exhibitions over four years. Participating artists have strong connections to Maine or reside in the state and include:

Jackie Brown
Lynn Duryea
Leah Gauthier, former Studio Technician, Textile & Fashion Design
Kazumi Hoshino
Elaine K. Ng
Bronwen O’Wril '19
Ashley Page '20
Veronica Perez MFA '16
Celeste Roberge '79
Naomi David Russo '19
Ling-Wen Tsai, Professor of Sculpture, Foundations, and MFA
Erin Woodbrey

The artworks featured in the exhibition will be new or created very recently, and they must either be sculptures or challenge the boundaries of three-dimensional work. The primary objective is to enhance connections within and between the artists and the Maine community throughout the series.

To learn more, visit lifeformsart.org.

Liv Numa (they/them) named Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Engagement Co-Chair with the Northeast Association of College and University Housing Officers

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Liv Numa (they/them), Assistant Director of Student Life - Residential Education, was appointed to the role of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Engagement Co-Chair with the Northeast Association of College and University Housing Officers (NEACUHO).

Their role in this position began at the NEACUHO 2024 Annual Conference and will continue through the NEACUHO 2025 Annual Conference. Liv is collaborating with the NEACUHO Engagement team to provide in-person and virtual events and educational opportunities with a focus on supporting students and professionals through the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging lens.

Melvin D. Adams III, Ed.D., Dean of Student Life & Title IX Coordinator, shared, "Liv's commitment to growing their professional experience while laser-focused on supporting students is invaluable to the Student Life Office and the College."

NEACUHO is an organization focused on meeting the professional needs of housing, residential life, and student services staff in the Northeast region dedicated to providing opportunities for colleague support, professional development, sharing of information, collaboration, communication, research, and recognition of outstanding contributions to the field.

Veterans Day at Maine College of Art & Design

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

In honor of Veterans Day, a panel discussion titled “’Mustered Out’: The Former Service Member and Civilian Life” will be held in Osher Hall from 11:40 am to 1:15 pm on Monday, November 11.

Organized by faculty member John Portlock, the panel consists of five military veterans from our community. The group will discuss the transitions former military members make to civilian life.

Please note, this event is open to students and faculty only.

Announcing Rachel Adams '09 and Ryan Adams as MECA&D Artists-in-Residence

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design is pleased to announce that Rachel Adams ’09 and Ryan Adams will serve as Artists-in-Residence for the 2024-2025 academic year.

In this role, they’ll join our community in meaningful dialogue and serve as a resource for students, offering unique opportunities, including studio visits and critiques, informal talks, and/or demonstrations to learn from and engage with these influential artists who have made a lasting, positive impact in their fields.

About Rachel Adams '09

Rachel Gloria Adams is a multidisciplinary artist living in Portland, ME. Adams has developed a vibrant, graphic pattern-based visual language filled with references to the natural world that possess an heirloom quality. Her work takes form by way of quilting, painting, design and large-scale murals.

She moved to Maine in 2005 to pursue her BFA from the Maine College of Art and Design. She has gone on to exhibit artwork at Space Gallery, Alice Gauvin Gallery, Center for Maine Contemporary Art and Dowling Walsh. She has attended residencies at Speedwell, Pace House and is an Indigo Arts Alliance David C Driscoll Fellow. In addition to her studio practice, Adams has been commissioned to create murals for several institutions including the Children's Museum of Portland, University of Maine and the Farnsworth Museum.

About Ryan Adams

Ryan Adams is a painter and muralist based in Portland, Maine. His background in traditional graffiti led him to creating large-scale mural work, hand lettered signage and a studio practice. His signature ‘gem’ style of work is a geometric breakdown of letterforms with shadows and highlights embedded within, to create depth and movement throughout. His pieces tend to be bold, colorful and clever; often including statements within. These statements can be literal or figurative, but often bring attention to a social or cultural issue. His studio practice is rooted in the exploration of form and abstraction while remaining true to his background in letter studies. Currently, Ryan owns and operates a mural company with his wife Rachel Gloria Adams and exhibits his work in galleries and museums across the US. Ryan's clients have included Nike, Patagonia, Converse, Samsung, L.L.Bean, Google, and Newport Jazz Festival. Ryan and Rachel also launched Over Here Studio, a gallery space in Portland that highlights the work of local artists.

Maine College of Art & Design recognizes winners from this year’s BFA Exhibition

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

We are thrilled to share the winners from this year's BFA Exhibition who were recognized in a private Awards Ceremony on Thursday, October 31.

Congratulations to all of the participating students on an incredible show!

Across four floors of the Porteous building, nearly 100 students exhibited art and design works featured in this year's BFA Exhibition.

The annual exhibition is an important opportunity for all BFA students to join their colleagues across majors, minors, and Foundation in sharing their work. This year’s exhibition spans four floors (Floors 1-3 along with the Underground) and will remain on view through November 9.

BEST IN SHOW

Wills Phillips, Senior, Sculpture

2ND PLACE OVERALL

Stan Lambert, Senior, Sculpture

3RD PLACE OVERALL

Kerry Goulder, Senior, Textile & Fashion Design

JURY SELECTS

Francy Hinds, Senior, Painting 

Ryer Spann, Junior, Photography

BEST WORK BY A SENIOR

Abby Sprague, Senior, Metalsmithing & Jewelry

BEST WORK BY A JUNIOR

Molly Lawrence, Graphic Design

BEST WORK BY A SOPHOMORE

Guthrie Siwinski, Sophomore, Woodworking & Furniture Design

BEST WORK BY A FIRST-YEAR

Isaac Herreid, First Year, Illustration

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Quinn Cotnoir, Sophomore, Sculpture
Blake Greenlaw, Senior, Animation & Game Art
Grace Keane, Junior, Animation & Game Art
Xander Munc, Senior, Graphic Design
Dex Plunkett, Sophomore, Ceramics

Estelle Roberge '84 featured in "Small Works Show" at Brinton Museum

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Estelle Roberge '84 will be part of The Brinton Museum's biennial Small Works Show, scheduled to open on November 2, 2024. The exhibition will showcase nearly one hundred artists, each presenting up to three small works of art. The show will feature both two- and three-dimensional pieces in a wide range of mediums and styles.

The Brinton Museum will host an opening reception for the Small Works Show on the evening of Friday, November 1, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Learn more.

Family & Friends Weekend

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Join us for Family & Friends Weekend on Friday, November 1, and Saturday, November 2, 2024! It starts with Portland's First Friday Art Walk, a free, self-guided tour of art galleries, studios, museums, and alternative art venues.

Saturday will be filled with activities, including interactive sessions led by MECA&D faculty and students. You can try screen printing, animation sound design, letterpress printing, needle felting, and more! Explore our historic Porteous Building, connect with the MECA&D community, and soak in the creative energy of Portland, Maine. Don't miss this chance to dive into art, design, and the MECA&D student experience!

For a full schedule of events and to RSVP, click here.

Public Engagement Minors and Printmaking Majors exhibit at Portland's Francis Hotel

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Students enrolled in the Public Engagement minor and Printmaking major from Maine College of Art & Design collaborated with the Maine Correctional Facility and Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition to create “Creating in Confinement,” an exhibition at the Francis Hotel in Portland, Maine. The artworks were created by incarcerated artists, some produced in collaboration with MECA&D students.

A closing reception will be held on Friday, November 1 during the First Friday art walk.

The exhibit was highlighted by the Forecaster. Read the article and learn more about the exhibit.

Maine Public Radio: Objects and Power

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

By Heather McDougall

Originally aired on Maine Public's State of the Art program, listen to the full interview here.

Objects and Power is an exhibition currently running at the Institute of Contemporary Art at the Maine College of Art & Design. The exhibition examines the systems surrounding collections – how history is told and shaped through acquisition and preparation of art, artifacts and texts. Risk of erasure, questions of ownership and the giving and withholding of value are all explored.

The Institute’s Director of Exhibitions, Iris Williamson, and one of the exhibition’s artists, Maya Tihtiyas Attean, are this week’s guests.

Participating artists include:

Morehshin Allahyari
Maya Tihtiyas Attean (member of the Penobscot Nation)
Samuel Levi Jones
SaraNoa Mark
Nyeema Morgan
Gala Porras-Kim
Michael Rakowitz
Sara Siestreem (Hanis Coos)
Stephanie Syjuco
William Villalongo

More about the exhibition, which runs through December 13, at meca.edu/ica.

Printmaking Students Collaborate with Maine Students Vote

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Printmaking majors at Maine College of Art & Design partnered with Maine Students Vote, an organization that supports campuses and schools in developing voter education materials, organizational action planning, training and mentoring civic leaders and coordinating get-out-the-vote efforts. MECA&D printmaking majors created materials to distribute at college campuses throughout the state of Maine to engage and encourage college students to vote.

Students referenced printed materials used for political messaging and propaganda and read Omkari William’s book, Micro-Activism: How You Can Make a Difference in the World without a Bullhorn. They responded to the prompt, "How can we get students informed and excited to register and vote?".

When Allyson Gardiner, the director of Maine Students Vote, heard about the project, she reached out to Professor Evelyn Wong to offer help in distributing the materials even further than the MECA&D campus to schools all across the state of Maine.

The students created silkscreen and letterpress prints, postcards, posters, tote bags, and stickers for the organization.

Maine MILL Unveils Art Installation Honoring Lewiston Shooting Victims

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Maine MILL, located at 35 Canal St. in Lewiston, presents a new art installation commemorating the one-year remembrance of the Lewiston mass shooting. Running from October 16, 2024, through September 6, 2025, the exhibit features work by local photographer Tanja Hollander and Deaf multimedia artist Miia Zellner MAT ’23.

The installation incorporates 261 plastic flower sleeves from memorial sites, exploring themes of loss and community recovery. This project is part of Maine MILL’s ongoing efforts to document and preserve items related to the October 25, 2023 tragedy, which claimed 18 lives, including four members of the Deaf community.

Hollander is an artist who works with photography, video, installation, and social practice to understand how cultural and visual relationships help people make sense of the challenging world.

Zellner is a Deaf multimedia artist who lives in Lewiston. Zellner graduated from Maine College of Art & Design’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program in 2023. Their work explores themes of the Deaf experience and the relationship between humans and their environment. In addition to their practice, Zellner teaches elementary art in Turner and inspires students to discover their artistic voice.

Please RSVP here for the private opening reception on October 16, 5:00-7:00pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Grants from various Maine foundations and councils support the exhibit. Visitors can view the installation from 10:00am to 4:00pm Wednesday through Saturday at Maine MILL.

Learn more.

Addison de Lisle ’11 Receives 2025 Maine Artist Fellowship

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Addison de Lisle ’11 is among seven exceptional Maine artists awarded the 2025 Maine Artist Fellowship by Maine Arts Commission.

The Maine Artist Fellowship is a prestigious, merit-based award recognizing creativity, artistic vision, and dedication across various disciplines. Each fellow receives a $5,000 unrestricted award to support and advance their artistic career as they see fit. Fellowships are not grants for artist projects; they are merit-based awards evaluated by a review panel based on the artistic creativity and vision shown in the artists’ support materials.

Addison de Lisle obtained his BFA in Metalsmithing and Jewelry from Maine College of Art & Design in 2011. After graduating, he apprenticed with Wilson Forge on Little Deer Isle, Maine, from 2012-2014. In 2014, he was awarded a one-year fellowship in fine metalwork at the Fondation de Coubertin in France. Following this program, he enrolled in the graduate program for Blacksmithing and Metalsmithing at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale and received his MFA in 2018. He has attended numerous workshops and residencies around the country.

As a Maine Artist Fellow, Addison can expect an unrestricted award to help advance his career as he sees fit. The Maine Arts Commission will host Addison’s artist bio on their website and include it in all digital publications. His activities will be promoted and communicated throughout the year. Addison will also have the opportunity to attend a Fellowship Reception with Maine Arts Staff and Commissioners at the Blaine House in early 2025 and participate in networking and other collaborative opportunities throughout the year.

MECA&D Alum, Faculty Receive Ellis-Beauregard Foundation Grants

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Veronica Perez MFA ’16, Printmaking Program Chair Adriane Herman, and Sculpture Program Chair Joshua Reiman have been awarded grants from The Ellis-Beauregard Foundation.

The Ellis-Beauregard Foundation offers project grants for Maine artists across all genres. They provide five $10,000 grants for projects to be completed within the 2025 grant year. The foundation is interested in supporting bold, compelling, and risk-taking work within and outside the standard exhibition venue. Successful projects should embrace unconventional approaches to art-making, encourage critical dialogue, foster collaboration, and explore new models of community interaction. Applicants may focus on a larger project’s distinct chapter, aspect, or component.

Veronica Perez is an artist rooted in the community, exploring themes of erasure, identity, and interdependency through their braiding circles workshops. In 2020, they were awarded the Ellis-Beaureguard Visual Arts Fellowship and the inaugural fellowship at the David C. Driskell Black Seed Studio at Indigo Arts Alliance in 2021. In 2022, they were a fellow at the Lunder Institute at Colby College and subsequently had their first solo exhibition titled voices, whispering at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art. Currently, Perez is an Administrative Assistant at Indigo Arts Alliance and co-organizer at Tender Table, uplifting Maine’s Black and Brown community through storytelling and food. They reside in Westbrook, Maine, with her partner and child.

Adriane Herman is an artist known for exploring accumulation and release in physical and emotional landscapes. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group shows at various galleries and museums across the United States and internationally. She holds a BA from Smith College and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has been an artist in residence in Varanasi, India; Weymouth, Nova Scotia; Yarmouth, Maine; Kansas City; and Coatepec, Mexico, and has lectured at over fifty institutions worldwide. Adriane resides in Southern Maine, drawing inspiration from the local recycling center for her art.

Joshua Reiman’s work spans sculpture, film, video, assemblage, and photography. He authored Strange Devices, a collection of writings focused on neospatial practice. Reiman’s work has been exhibited in galleries, museums, and film festivals across North America, Europe, North and West Africa, Japan, and Australia. Joshua earned his MFA in Sculpture from Syracuse University and his BFA in Sculpture from the Kansas City Art Institute. Reiman and his family reside in an 1880s brick house in Portland, ME, with their dog Otto R. Mutt.

"As We Are" at the Portland Museum of Art

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Portland Museum of Art presents As We Are, a new exhibition featuring the work of 14 emerging artists with strong ties to Maine. On view from October 11, 2024, to April 27, 2025, the exhibition showcases a variety of artistic mediums, including painting, photography, drawing, ceramics, and sculpture.

As We Are aims to explore the intersection of contemporary art and Maine's rich artistic heritage, highlighting the diverse perspectives of young talents. The exhibition features several Maine College of Art & Design alumni and faculty. Participating artists include:

Rachel Gloria Adams '14
Elana Adler, Adjunct Instructor and Studio Technician, Textile & Fashion Design
Maya Tihtiyas Attean '23
Oscar Chacon MFA '20
James Parker Foley MFA '20
Meg Hahn '17
Dylan Hausthor '15
Jenny Ibsen
Hector Nevarez Magaña
Tessa Greene O'Brien MFA '16
Brian Smith MFA '20
Jay Stern
Holden Willard
Anna Valenti MFA '20

For more details and updates on exhibition events, visit portlandmuseum.org/asweare.

For more information on the artists participating, read this article by the Portland Press Herald.

"Objects and Power" at The Institute of Contemporary Art

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art & Design (ICA at MECA&D) is pleased to announce the opening of Objects and Power, on view from October 4 to December 13, 2024. Objects and Power will open with a public reception on Friday, October 4, from 5:00–8:00pm.

Objects and Power is a group exhibition that examines the systems surrounding collections, investigating how history is told through the processes of acquiring and presenting art, artifacts, and texts. Objects and Power features ten artists whose work examines the roots of collecting and museums; instances of extraction, theft, and erasure; themes of Indigeneity, access, and ownership; and examples of artists and community groups telling stories and giving value to objects on their own terms.

Participating artists include:

Morehshin Allahyari
Maya Tihtiyas Attean '23 (member of the Penobscot Nation)
Samuel Levi Jones
SaraNoa Mark
Nyeema Morgan
Gala Porras-Kim
Michael Rakowitz
Sara Siestreem (Hanis Coos)
Stephanie Syjuco
William Villalongo

Objects and Power was developed to serve as a living laboratory, with themes woven throughout the curriculum at Maine College of Art & Design. The work featured in the exhibition opens up a series of conversations about the role and responsibilities of institutional collections. Objects and Power challenges audiences to question one’s role in the process of making and invites agency in navigating art world systems. A key aspect of this dialogue is to examine how art history is taught and to make greater strides toward decolonization.

In addition to curricular programs, Objects and Power public offerings* include:

Public Opening Reception

Friday, October 4, 2024, 5:00-8:00pm at The ICA at MECA&D

Visiting Artist Talk with Samuel Levi Jones

Monday, October 7, 2024, 12:00-1:00pm at Osher Hall

In partnership with MECA&D’s Academic Studies department

“Objects & Indigeneity”: student-led conversation with Casey Matȟó

Tuesday, October 15, 2024, 3:00-4:00pm at The ICA at MECA&D

Student responsive exhibition led by Assistant Professor Benjamin Spalding’s OBJECT OBJECT OBJECT class

October 21 – November 21, 2024, Bob Crewe and A&GA galleries

*Additional programming to be announced.

Generous support for the exhibition is provided by the Jeremy Moser and Laura Kittle Fund.

"O Lar" at The Lewis Gallery at Portland Public Library

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Lewis Gallery at Portland Public Library presents O Lar, an exhibition featuring illustration works that explore the concept of “home” in art, on view from Friday, October 4 through Tuesday, December 31, 2024. Curated by Michaela Flint '18, O Lar, which means “The Home” in Brazilian Portuguese, showcases a diverse collection of illustrations that reflect the deep connection to one’s home.

Artists from Maine College of Art & Design featured in this exhibition include:

Mary Cruz '23
Kate Gardner '20
Jamie Hogan, Former BFA Faculty
Andrés Vera Martínez, Former Faculty
Leticia Plate, Adjunct Instructor
Katie Steere '18
Logan White '20

Curator Michaela Flint is a Brazilian American artist and illustrator whose family faced separation due to visa issues. Flint’s diverse cultural background has greatly influenced her illustration work. Growing up with the experience of her father’s deportation to Brazil, she has been inspired by the themes of home and belonging since childhood. Her illustrations reflect her mixed culture, advocacy, and love for Portland, Maine, where she resides.

Learn More

Pia Paulina Guilmoth '15 Awarded 2024 Creator Labs Photo Fund

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Pia Paulina Guilmoth '15 was announced as one of the 2024 Creator Labs Photo Fund winners. The fund, presented by Aperture and Google's Creator Labs, provides one-time $6,000 grants and a Google Pixel device to thirty photographers to help further their career development.

Guilmoth was awarded her Creator Labs Photo Fund grant for her series flowers drink the river, which reflects on her deep, evolving, and complex relationship to her surrounding landscape and community.

Learn More.

"Ultrasound Dance" at SPACE Gallery

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Thursday, September 26, 2024

7:00pm (Doors at 6:30pm)

SPACE Gallery

538 Congress St., Portland, ME

Ultrasound Dance, directed by Amelia Garretson-Persans MFA ’16 and choreographed by Dana Dotson, is an experimental dance piece that explores the intimate experience of watching an ultrasound. Inspired by Garretson-Persans' personal journey as a parent of a child with an abnormal genetic code, the performance uses light, choreography, and music to bring viewers into the powerful moment when the body's hidden world is revealed.

Ultrasound Dance is presented by UNE Art Gallery Biddeford as part of the exhibition Light and Shadow: Motherhood, Creativity, and the Discourse of Ability, on view through October 20.

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Hispanic Heritage Month Display

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

To recognize Hispanic Heritage Month, the Joanne Waxman Library in collaboration with one of our student workers curated a beautiful display featuring the works of incredible artists, authors, and trailblazers who have shaped Hispanic culture and made a lasting impact.

On view in the library through October 15, be sure to explore these titles and learn more about a culture that enriches us all. If you're unable to visit the library, the Joanne Waxman's staff have provided the full list of titles included in the display, as well as additional resources to explore.

Books on Display:

Mexican Textiles by Chloë Sayer
Guatemalan Costumes: The Head Museum Collection by Mary G. Dieterich, Jon T. Erickson, Erin Younger
Flowers for the Earth Lord: Guatemalan Textiles from the Permanent Collection by Traci Ardren
Costume and Identity in Highland Ecuador by Ann Pollard Rowe
Mexican Costume by Chloë Sayer
Cruzamentos: Contemporary Art in Brazil by Jennifer Lange, Bill Horrigan, Paulo Venancio Filho.
Frida Kahlo: The Paintings by Hayde Herrera.
Radical Women: Latin American Art, 1960-1985 by Cecilia Fajardo-Hill and Andrea Giunta
Frida Kahlo: Face to Face by Judy Chicago
Mexico: Masks, Rituals by Phyllis Galembo
Chicano and Chicana Art: A Critical Anthology by Jennifer A. González, C. Ondine Chavoya, Chon Noriega, and Terezita Romo
A History of Mexican Mural Painting by Marina Corby
In the Dream House: A Memoir by Carmen Maria Machado
Latin@ Rising: An Anthology of Latin@ Science Fiction and Fantasy
Che: A Graphic Biography by Spain Rodriguez; edited by Paul Buhle
Amigos de los Muertos: Friends of the Dead illustrated by Jeral Tidwell, Roberto Jaras Liras.
Tarsila do Amaral: Inventing Modern Art in Brazil by Stephanie D'Alessandro and Luis Pérez-Oramas.
Ana Mendieta: Earth Body: Sculpture and Performance, 1972-1985 by Olga M. Viso
Félix González-Torres: America :United States Pavilion, 52nd Venice Biennale, 2007 by Nancy Spector
Felix Gonzalez-Torres with an interview by Tim Rollins; essay by Susan Cahan; short story by Jan Avgikos
Kinesthesia: Latin American Kinetic Art, 1954-1969 by Dan Cameron
Southward Art: Latin American Art Review
Digital Latin America by 516 Arts
New Art from Puerto Rico = Nuevo Arte de Puerto Rico by Hollister Sturges
Gabriel Orozco
Form's Transgressions: The Drawings of Agustín Fernández
Painting on the Left: Diego Rivera, Radical Politics, and San Francisco's Public Murals by Anthony W. Lee.
Dangerous Moves: Politics and Performance in Cuba by Coco Fusco
Drawing the Line: Art and Cultural Identity in Contemporary Latin America by Oriana Baddeley and Valerie Fraser.
Don't be Afraid, Gringo: A Honduran Woman speaks from the Heart: the Story of Elvia Alvarado
Drawing Deportation: Art and Resistance Among Immigrant Children

Additional resources recommended by Joanne Waxman Staff:

National Museum of the American Latino: Hispanic Heritage Month
National Archives: Hispanic Heritage Month
JSTOR: 23 open collections for Hispanic Heritage Month (2022)

Hope Drenning '23 Creates a Mural in Downtown Portland

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Commissioned by Portland Properties LLC, Hope Drenning ‘23 recently completed a mural in downtown Portland titled “Life in the Big City." The piece features classic iconography and architecture of Portland’s landscapes and a narrative that follows a man on his walk through the Old Port. A unique feature of “Life in the Big City” is that it is painted with enamel on steel to create a very durable work that will last for decades to come. Drenning’s work seeks to cultivate a sense of curiosity and wonder through narrative. She hopes to bring more aesthetic value back to our public gathering spaces and light for future generations through paint.

2025 Alumni Triennial Juror Announced

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design is pleased to announce Kiko Aebi as the juror for the 2025 Alumni Triennial.

Aebi is the Katz Curator at the Colby College Museum of Art, where she oversees the presentation, care, and interpretation of the Alex Katz and Katz Foundation Collections. Aebi is an art historian specializing in postwar American art. She previously held curatorial positions in the Departments of Drawings & Prints and Painting & Sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, where she developed exhibitions including Jack Whitten: The Messenger (opening spring 2025), Ed Ruscha / Now Then (2023) and Cézanne Drawing (2021).

In addition to contributing to several of MoMA's publications, her writing has been published by The Burlington Magazine, Kunstlicht, and Metropolis M. Aebi holds degrees in Art History from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Amherst College. She was the recipient of a Fulbright Research Grant in 2019.

Applications for Maine College of Art & Design's Alumni Triennial are open until October 13, 2024. Apply here.

Maine College of Art & Design Teaches Fashion to the Next Generation

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

CBS 13 News featured the Textile & Fashion Design program at Maine College of Art & Design.

Alysha Kupferer, Chair of the the program, and Anysa Denby '25 were interviewed and discussed the uniqueness of the program, the upcoming 2025 Fashion Show, program alumni including MECA&D neighbors Loquat Shop, and the close-knit, creative community at Maine College of Art & Design.

Anysa also shared how her internship with Erin Flett, made possible by MECA&D, has now led to her first studio position at the company. Anysa also modeled one of the looks from her 2024 collection featured in the MECA&D Fashion Show.

Watch the Interview here.

Santiago Tijerina, Salt '23 Receives the Emerging Maine Filmmaker Award

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Portland-based director Santiago Tijerina, Salt '23 received the Emerging Maine Filmmaker Award for "Courts of Belonging," a documentary highlighting the futsal court in Kennedy Park. This compelling documentary explores how the South American-originated sport of futsal fosters community among immigrant and refugee residents in East Bayside, one of Maine's most diverse neighborhoods.

The film premiered at the Maine Outdoor Film Festival Selects Tour and has garnered awards and grants. Tijerina plans to expand "Courts of Belonging" into a full-length feature. For an in-depth look at Tijerina’s journey, read Sophie Burchell’s article in The Portland Forecaster.

Watch “Courts of Belonging”

"Seeing Through a Window" at Easthaus

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Easthaus is excited to announce its first exhibition, Seeing Through a Window, featuring the artwork of Jenna Girolamo MFA '25 and Trevor Toney. In Seeing Through a Window, the paintings serve as windows to interior spaces and exterior landscapes, representing abstract perceptions motivated by the artists' desire for balance and unity. Girolamo and Toney have redefined perspective, finding that metaphorical renderings of space are the markers of truth, replacing a solely geometric-based perspective.

Established in 2024 by Drew Eastwood MFA '24, and Alyssa Schadhauser, Easthaus is an artist-run contemporary apartment art gallery in Portland, Maine. The gallery features historic hardwood floors and angular third-floor ceilings, creating a unique viewing experience for art enthusiasts. Easthaus operates on a pop-up/invitation basis for exhibition planning and only offers appointment viewing hours.

The closing reception for Seeing Through a Window is scheduled for Saturday, September 28th, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. To RSVP, please message Easthaus via Instagram (@easthausgallery).

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Maine College of Art & Design Alumni Triennial

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Applications are open for the 2025 Maine College of Art & Design Alumni Triennial, scheduled for February 7- April 6, 2025. All current alumni of MECA&D’s undergraduate and three graduate programs are encouraged to apply. This exhibition will be juried by a special guest curator, to be announced in early October.

To submit work for consideration, send samples of available work and/or proposals for site specific work. The curatorial team may select existing work or ask to see works in progress for consideration. Deadline extended: October 18, 2024

Apply here.

Maine College of Art & Design Elects Four New Board Members

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

PORTLAND, ME — September 4, 2024 — Maine College of Art & Design today announced that it has expanded its leadership team by welcoming four new members to its Board of Trustees. These individuals possess a wealth of knowledge and experience across various fields, including philanthropy, business, technology, and art and design.

The recently appointed trustees will be instrumental in steering MECA&D's strategic direction, advancing the College's goals, and ensuring its commitment to delivering a world-class arts education.

The new additions to the Board of Trustees are Charles P. "Sandy" Butterfield, Jeana Cho, Stacey Dietsch, and Sue Lambe.

"Our new trustees bring vital expertise to our board," said President Laura Freid. "Their experience and perspectives will help us build upon the College's remarkable success and momentum as we implement our Strategic Plan."

Charles P. “Sandy” Butterfield is the Founder and current President of Boulder Wind Consulting. Before his work as a consultant, Sandy co-founded Boulder Wind Power, a startup company that developed an innovative direct drive generator technology. He also spent over 24 years at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), most recently as Chief Engineer at NREL’s National Wind Test Center and leader of the Gearbox Reliability Collaborative. As Chairman of the International Electrotechnical Commission on Renewable Energy, Sandy set global standards for renewable energy equipment. He is also a former Board Member of the American Wind Energy Association. In addition to his accomplishments in renewable energy, Sandy has a passion for crafts — particularly woodworking and furniture design. He resides in Scarborough with his wife Anne.

Jeana Cho is a lawyer and former Vice President of Marketing & Sales at Knours, a beauty brand specializing in skin care products to support women’s skin throughout their life cycles. She is an energetic senior business leader and strategist with over fourteen years of experience leading large-scale business innovations. A hands-on leader and influencer, Jeana is known for creating, implementing, and leading business strategies that enable rapid revenue growth; building brands, and marketing strategies from the ground up; and leading and mentoring high-performing teams to deliver continuous value. Jeana was an Associate Professor of Fashion Business Management at New York University from 2009 to 2012. She supports the Korean American Community Foundation and has served on the Board of the Falmouth Education Foundation. Jeana and her husband Brian reside in Falmouth with their three children.

Stacey Dietsch joined Liberty Mutual Insurance in January 2024 as Executive Vice President, Talent Pipeline. At Liberty Mutual, Stacey leads the end-to-end talent lifecycle programs, from strategic workforce planning, talent attraction and onboarding, to learning and development, performance management, and career growth for 45,000 global employees. Before joining Liberty Mutual, Stacey was a Partner in McKinsey's People & Organizational Performance Practice. During her 19 years at McKinsey, Stacey worked with clients across various industries to translate their business strategy into the Talent, Culture, and Operating Model innovations needed to accelerate and sustain performance through people – creating impact for the business and meaningful work for employees. Stacey resides in Cape Elizabeth with her husband, Niko, and their three children.

Sue Lambe is a licensed landscape architect with a demonstrated history of working in the arts and design industries. Early in her career, she had a thriving landscape architecture practice, which included designing Post Office Park in the Old Port to honor Portland's "sister city" relationship with Shinagawa, Japan. Sue co-designed the plaza at the Margaret Chase Smith Federal Building in Bangor, Maine, with Studioverde, incorporating locally sourced materials to suggest water, movement, and light. Sue directed the Art in Public Places Program for the City of Austin, Texas, supporting 150+ artists with their public art commissions. Sue curated the work of local artists for multiple SXSW Cities Summit: UNESCO Showcase of Media Arts Exhibitions. Sue has participated in Continuing Studies classes at Maine College of Art & Design, studying illustration, painting, and metalsmithing. Sue and her husband, Tom, reside in Yarmouth.

Please visit MECA&D’s Board of Trustees webpage for more information.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Major Curtailment

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design is in the process of redesigning aspects of our Bachelor of Fine Arts program to address student enrollment trends. We want our students to continue to learn at the intersections of craft, fine art, and design while integrating emerging technologies, materials, and techniques into their learning experiences.

Across the country, art and design schools have experienced growing enrollments in design and media areas and flat or declining enrollments in craft and fine art areas, and Maine College of Art & Design is no different. Therefore, we have made the difficult decision to no longer offer Metalsmithing & Jewelry, Printmaking, and Woodworking & Furniture Design as stand-alone majors at Maine College of Art and Design. Beginning in Fall 2025, new students will have the opportunity to select one of eight majors: Animation & Game Art, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Illustration, Painting, Photography, Sculpture, and Textile & Fashion Design.

Faculty and staff are collaborating to ensure our print, metals, and woodworking studio areas remain vibrant areas of study where students can access courses, facilities, and our amazing faculty in a way that best supports a post-graduate professional career in art and design.

"On Peninsula" at Maine Jewish Museum

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

On Peninsula, a solo exhibition by Adam Powers MFA '21, expresses the artist's admiration for Portland through architecturally focused documentary street photography of walls and curbside scenes throughout the Peninsula.

The photographs draw inspiration from geometric abstraction and capture the areas where nature, time, and human interaction shape the built environment. With their intentionally detached and objective perspective, the meticulously arranged images allow the ordinary and imperfect scenes to reveal the absurd, the dirty, the real, and the beautiful aspects within them.

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“Back to School” Arts Preview

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at Maine College of Art & Design was recently featured in an article titled "What you can learn from Maine's college art museums this fall" in the Portland Press Herald. The fall arts preview, written by arts critic Jorge S. Arango, showcases new exhibitions at Maine colleges and universities this fall, including Objects & Power, which will be on view from October 4 through December 13, 2024, at the ICA.

Objects & Power showcases the work of ten artists who explore themes related to museums possessing and displaying human remains, curatorial bias, cultural erasure, and the line between stewardship and gatekeeping. Iris Williamson, Director of Exhibitions at the ICA, describes the exhibition as "a selection of stories told by artists dealing with those structures."

Read the Full Article

Maine is making a name for itself in the fashion world

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Loquat, founded by Maine College of Art & Design Trustee Jordan Carey '19 and co-owned and operated by Madison Poitrast Upton '20, was recently featured in Mainebiz. The article highlights Maine-based fashion brands making a name for themselves in the industry.

Established in 2020, Loquat offers clothing, accessories, ceramics, and more from over 30 local artists. In April 2024, Loquat relocated from Exchange Street to a prominent storefront on Congress Street across from Maine College of Art & Design.

Read the Full Article

Welcoming the MAT Class of 2025

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program is wrapping up its Summer Institute this week, which began on July 29th. Throughout the course, the teacher candidates have been deeply engaged in reflecting on big-picture ideas in education, exploring their philosophy of art education and creative practice, and becoming oriented within Maine's professional education and art education community.

The cohort has bonded during the Summer Institute, creating a strong foundation for the journey ahead. They have built relationships by collaborating on lessons and engaging in creative and reflective group projects. Welcome, MAT class of 2025!

"Still Moments" at Moss Galleries

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Still Moments features the painted works of Liz Hoag and Anne Ireland '94. Anne has had solo exhibitions at various galleries and showcased her work throughout Maine. She has also participated in the "Paint for Preservation" auction for the Cape Elizabeth Farmland Trust and has been awarded several residencies. Notably, Anne has been featured three times as the cover artist for the L.L. Bean catalog.

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2024 Jenny Family Residents Announced

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design and Artists at Work are pleased to announce the 2024 Jenny Family Residents.

Established in 2008 by the family of Barbara Rita Jenny (MFA '02), the MECA&D Jenny Family Residency is open to Maine College of Art & Design degree-holding alumni, current faculty, and staff in New Edinburgh, Nova Scotia. This family-friendly residency is distinguished by its incomparable location on the rugged Atlantic Coast of Canada and by the fact that residents may bring their families to stay in the large house on-site.

The 2024 Jenny Family Residents are:

Kristina Buckley '15

Kristina is a Portland, Maine-based illustrator and printmaker who specializes in risograph printing. She received her BFA in printmaking from Maine College of Art & Design in 2015 and subsequently joined Pickwick Independent Press printshop as an engaged member. Kristina uses drawings, risograph prints, and mail art (often in the form of newsletters or her postcard subscription club) to draw connections between self, community, place, and social justice movements.

Montana Dorte van Duijn '23

Montana is a recent MECA&D graduate based in Portland, Maine. Her sculpture and video work incorporates the natural world and materials such as wax, wood, fire, and stones to bring non-denominational spirit and shadow work into the physical realm.

Nick Vyssotsky MFA '21

Nick received his BFA in 2012 from Maryland Institute College of Art and his MFA in 2021 from Maine College of Art & Design. As an artist who uses installation, video, coding, and drawing, he has shown nationally and internationally. The primary focus of Vyssotsky's work is society's relationship with technology and the physiological effects of this relationship on the human psyche.

Justine Lasdin MAT '19, Liz Hoag, and Tamara Jones

As a team, this group of artists works in various media, including painting, photography, sewing, collage, and sculpture. They will use their time at the Jenny Family Residency in New Edinburgh to explore the local surroundings and create work both independently and collaboratively.

Pickwick Independent Press Interview with Evelyn Wong MFA '19

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Pickwick Independent Press recently interviewed Maine College of Art & Design alum Evelyn Wong MFA '19 for their summer newsletter. Directed by Pilar Nadal MFA '13, Pickwick is a community print studio situated in the SPACE Studios building at 536 Congress Street, serving as a center for professional artists in southern Maine.

Evelyn is an outstanding teacher and printmaker known for her expertise in bookbinding, calligraphy, and social justice. You can find Evelyn's work on Instagram at @evwong.art and @fireballbookbindery, and you can purchase her work at the Deering Oaks Farmer's Markets and the Congress Square Market in Portland throughout the summer.

The following is reproduced from Pickwick's summer newsletter:

Where have you been drawing inspiration from lately?

Evelyn: I draw inspiration from exploring weird and/or fun things (like making Legend of Zelda fanart lol) and I really enjoy discovering traditional Chinese and Japanese papers, textiles, and patterns. I'm also very focused on Chinese American past and present history, as well as our rich history of mythology and cultural traditions.

What is your favorite printmaking tool?

Evelyn: Oof, it's hard to pick just one!

A micrometer
A good spatula
My V-gouge
A book press

If you could recommend something (anything), what would it be?

Evelyn: If you're an artist, I would recommend being in community with other artists or printmakers—whether it's joining a community print shop, starting a critique group, or just going to (print/paper/art) conferences regularly! Even if you're not an artist, being grounded in a creative community really helps you to see other people's art and hear about their perspectives on the world, and understand why they are creating art.

Maine College of Art & Design Receives Significant Historic Painting

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) is pleased to announce the generous gift by Scott and Yoon Cohen of an historic painting entitled The Heart and Conscience of America by renowned painter Edna Hibel (1917-2014) that was commissioned by the Clinton White House to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the White House. It was presented to the White House and signed by the artist on May 16, 2000. Painted in oil, fresco, and gold leaf on canvas, it is displayed in MECA&D's Joanne Waxman Library where it can be viewed and enjoyed by the public (by appointment) and members of the College community.

“We are grateful to Scott and Yoon Cohen for their generosity in choosing Maine College of Art & Design to host this significant piece of American art," said President Laura Freid.

Although Maine College of Art & Design is not a collecting institution, an exception was made to be able to share this stunning artwork with the public. Commissioned by the White House 2000 Anniversary: Celebrating Freedom and Democracy Committee, it was presented on May 15, 2000, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., with a reception and unveiling. Edna Hibel signed the painting as the attendees watched. The ceremony was tied into the First Lady’s Luncheon at the Congressional Club when first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was honored for her work with children.

The painting was used in part to help raise money for a children’s fund (HOPE). Hibel said she created the piece based on her idea of what she believes America should represent. The portrait depicts a family and includes many people of different ethnic backgrounds. "I think if everyone loved their neighbor it would be one beautiful world," said Hibel. "Although I might not live to see it, I have faith that it's possible."

Edna Hibel (1917–2014) enjoyed a prolific career. She grew up in the Boston area and spent summers in Massachusetts and Maine studying watercolor painting. Hibel received her education from the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts. At the age of 23, she was the youngest artist at the time to have a painting purchased by a major American art museum (the Boston Museum of Art). Hibel painted every day until the age of 93. Her many achievements include receiving the Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts in 2001 from the World Cultural Council; being the first painter elected to Fellowship by the World Academy of Art and Science; and Fellowship in the Royal Society of Art.

Hibel's work has been exhibited in museums and galleries in more than 20 countries on four continents and is in the permanent collections of the United Nations Headquarters (New York City), Palais des Nations (Geneva), Harvard University (Cambridge), U.S. National Archives (Washington), and many other places.

In addition to her numerous artistic awards, Edna Hibel received many humanitarian honors for using her work to raise donations for children’s and medical charities. Since being commissioned by the Foundation of the U.S. National Archives in 1995 to commemorate 75 years of women receiving the universal right to vote, Hibel has been acclaimed as the “Heart and Conscience of America," as businesswoman and philanthropist Lucy Baines Johnson described her.

Hibel's painting was purchased by Scott and Yoon Cohen because it is a significant piece of American history painted by one of America’s masters. Scott and Yoon have a long history with Maine College of Art & Design. The Madelyn B. Cohen Visiting Artists Endowment Fund at MECA&D was established in December of 2018 by Scott A. Cohen and The Gene R. Cohen Charitable Foundation in honor of Scott’s mother, Madelyn B. Cohen, who studied at Portland School of Art prior to her death in 1986.

In Memoriam: Stephen Karl Halpert

Sat, 13 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Long-time Maine College of Art & Design faculty member Stephen Karl Halpert, 91, passed away from complications of pancreatic cancer on July 13, 2024. He was born on May 24, 1933, in Waterbury, Connecticut, and moved to Portland in 1936, where he lived the rest of his life.

Steve cherished his childhood summers at Camp Brunonia in Casco, Maine, and at Brandy Pond in Naples, Maine. As the captain of the Deering High School track team, he excelled in sprints and hurdles, graduating in 1951. After graduating from Brown University with a BA in English in 1955, he pursued his passion for film at Harvard, where he earned his MA.

Following his service in the U.S. Air Force, Steve and his wife Judy relocated with their two young children to Rome, Italy, where Steve focused on his writing. Upon returning to Portland, he taught at Deering High School and worked as a reporter for the Portland Press Herald. Additionally, Steve taught at Westbrook Junior College (now the University of New England) for over 50 years as Chair of the English Department and at the University of Maine. Moreover, he dedicated 45 years to teaching English and Film Studies at Portland School of Art (and later, MECA&D) in the Academic Studies Department until his retirement in 2018.

While at Westbrook (UNE), he started showcasing works by local and renowned photographers. This endeavor eventually led to the establishment of the Stephen K. Halpert Collection of Photography at the UNE Art Gallery in 2016. Director Hilary Irons called Steve "one of Maine's most influential collectors and curators." Notably, at 90, he curated three significant photography exhibitions.

In 1979, Steve and Judy acquired The Movies on Exchange, a beloved spot for watching arthouse and repertory films until 2009. They also owned and operated the Custom Shop, a custom drapery business founded in 1935 by the Halpert family.

Steve was involved in various organizations such as the NAACP, Baxter Society, Torch Club, Jazz at the Movies, and book clubs. He also served as a trustee of the Tidebrook Preserve in Freeport.

Known for his kindness and integrity, Steve was passionate about jazz, movies, and baseball, particularly the Detroit Tigers. Even when diagnosed with pancreatic cancer shortly before his passing, Steve drew strength from Ernest Hemingway's quote: "The world is a fine place . . . and I hate very much to leave it."

Steve is survived by his wife of 68 years, Judith Ann Venner; his sister, Joanna Kraus of Irvine, California; children Karl (Claudette) of Taos, New Mexico and Naples, Maine, Gretchen (Ron Faris) of Portland, Maine, Kate Lowry of Falmouth, Maine, and Jacob (Stacy Mitchell) of Portland, Maine; as well as several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

The Institute of Contemporary Art Presents Three Solo Exhibitions

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Institute of Contemporary Art is pleased to announce the following upcoming exhibitions: lazos terrenales / earthly bonds by Edra Soto; no breath, no breeze by Sheida Soleimani; and Stoicheion by Cole Lu. The three shows at the Institute of Contemporary Art present diverse perspectives on heritage, identity, and generational trauma. They delve into themes of human existence, antiquity, and art-making as a healing gesture. Through various materials and modes of creation, these exhibits offer a thought-provoking investigation of these vital and interrelated issues.

lazos terrenales / earthly bonds by Edra Soto

On view: July 12 - September 15, 2024
Public reception: Friday, July 12, 5:00–7:00 pm

Edra Soto's lazos terrenales / earthly bonds explores Puerto Rican architecture's patterns and materials to delve into colonial histories, diasporic identities, and social constructs. It extends Soto's "Graft" series, using rejas (wrought iron screens) for architectural intervention and social practice. Soto introduces personal and shared histories through geometric patterns in these rejas, which are common in Puerto Rican structures. The artwork investigates colonial, Indigenous, and Black lineages, unveiling family portraits, landscapes, and memorabilia, emphasizing cultural and personal memories while questioning the indoctrination methods of colonial traditions.

no breath, no breeze by Sheida Soleimani

On view: July 12 - September 15, 2024
Public reception: Friday, July 12, 5:00–7:00 pm

Sheida Soleimani reconstructs her mother's stories through tableaux photography, portraying her resistance to the Shah's and Ayatollah's regimes in 1970s/80s Iran. The artist weaves personal histories, political conflicts, and accounts of defiance, using motifs like "Snakes and Ladders," vegetation, fruit, and injured birds. These symbols depict not only her family history but also the impact of trauma. no breath, no breeze considers intergenerational damage caused by geopolitical violence, the formation of complex identities, and responses to trauma.

Stoicheion by Cole Lu

On view: July 12 - September 15, 2024
Public reception: Friday, July 12, 5:00–7:00 pm

In Stoicheion, New York-based artist Cole Lu examines social hierarchies and their origins. "Stoicheion," the Greek title of Euclid's Elements and Aristoxenus's Elements of Harmonics, holds various meanings. Cole Lu's dodecahedron shelter presents an otherworldly space to consider "humanity." The installation features cast concrete reliefs and an excavation sheltering system covered by linen. Imagery is burnt into the fabric, incised into concrete, and charred into the wood. Stoicheion tells the story of a new possible foundation through material, language, and mark-making gestures.

For updates and more information, please visit ICA at MECA&D.

MAT Students Awarded Top Honors by Maine Art Education Association

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Two alumni of the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Maine College of Art & Design were recognized by the Maine Art Education Association for their contributions to the field of art education at the association's spring conference at the University of Maine, Orono.

Philippa Adam '21 received the 2024 "New to the Profession Art Educator of the Year" award. Philippa is an art teacher at Mount Desert Island High School in Bar Harbor, Maine, where she teaches various elective courses, including Art 1, Dungeons and Dragons Illustration, Sculpture: Flora and Fauna, and more. When asked what she likes best about teaching, she explains, "My favorite thing about teaching is giving students a safe place to experiment with art and who they are. I love having kids who had negative experiences in art find their creative voice and see how art can benefit their lives."

Rachel Carswell '23 was honored as the 2023 Preservice Art Educator of the Year. Rachel teaches art at Biddeford Middle School in Biddeford, Maine, where she instructs students in grades 5-8 in Foundations of Art—an introductory course that includes learning about art history and various art mediums. When asked what she enjoys most about teaching, she shares, "I love working with kids. More importantly, I love working with my students and watching them evolve and grow into themselves. It is rewarding as a teacher to see your students enjoying the process and recognizing the endless opportunities the visual arts offer them. I'm only a small part of their journey, but I think it's pretty cool."

"Congratulations to both of these shining star art educators," says Dr. Rachel Somerville, Chair of the MAT program. "Maine College of Art & Design is proud of all you have accomplished, your service to your students and community, and all that lies ahead in your careers."

Maine College of Art & Design Announces 2024 MFA Visiting Artist Summer Lecture Series

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Each year, graduate candidates in the Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art (MFA) program at the Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) descend on the city of Portland for an eight-week intensive during the summer trimester. During this time, students bond as an artistic cohort and engage in interdisciplinary conversations that will challenge and inform the art created throughout the program.

Central to the MFA Summer Intensive is the intimate exchange between our emerging artist candidates and the prestigious talent of the Visiting Artists on site each week for lectures, critiques, and studio visits.

We are pleased to announce the 2024 Summer Visiting Artist Lecture Series, running June 17–July 31, which will include the thinking and work of:

Sonya Schönberger, a visual artist whose practice deals with biographical fractures against the background of political or social upheavals. Monday, June 17, 5:30 pm.
Heather Guertin, paintings contain a diverse variety of mark-making and reference a large collection of visual subject matter, she uses abstraction in her work as a passageway to better understand form. Monday, June 24, 5:30 pm.
Annika Earley, makes intimate works on paper about the gendered gaze, the demands and joys of motherhood, sensuality, and the measures women take to protect themselves in a patriarchal world. Wednesday, June 26, 5:30 pm.
Andrew Roberts, a visual artist exploring the material dimension of horror through digital animations, installations, sculptures, and poetry. Monday, July 1, 5:30 pm.
Deepanjan Mukhopadhyay, works within various object and image-based practices, investigating shifting meanings within post and neocolonialism while still reflecting on the very mediums of representation that he uses. Wednesday, July 3, 5:30 pm.
Anina Major, a visual artist who utilizes the vernacular of craft to investigate the relationship between self and place as a site of negotiation. Monday, July 8, 5:30 pm.
Tawni Shuler, is a painter inspired by life in the ranchlands of Wyoming and the history of American landscape painting. Monday, July 15, 5:30 pm.
Aaron T Stephan, work explores the role of public monuments, the impact of their history on public discourse, and the possibility to reposition them for a new future. Wednesday, July 17, 5:30 pm.
Jane Wong, a poet, visual artist, and author of the memoir, Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City. Monday, July 22, 5:30 pm.
Summer J. Hart, an interdisciplinary artist and writer from Maine living in the Hudson Valley, New York. Wednesday, July 24, 5:30 pm.
Demian DinéYahzi, is an artist, poet, curator, and founder of R.I.S.E. (Radical Indigenous Survivance & Empowerment), an artist/activist initiative dedicated to the education, dissemination, and evolution of Indigenous art and culture. Monday, July 29, 5:30 pm.
Edra Soto, a Puerto Rican-born artist, curator, educator, and co-director of outdoor project space The Franklin. Wednesday, July 31, 5:30 pm.

In 2023, the MFA Visiting Artists Series featured names such as Chiara No, Jen Liu, Tra Bouscaren, Leon Benn, Lourdes Correa Carlo, Monique Long, Alicia Eggert, Sebastian Black, and Gina Seipel.

Visiting Artist lectures are open to the public on a space-available basis. For more information, visit meca.edu/academics/visiting-artists.

Barak Olins MFA '04 Wins James Beard Award

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The James Beard Foundation announced its 2024 winners Monday, June 10, with Portland's ZUbakery receiving the "Outstanding Bakery" award. ZUbakery founder, Barak Olins MFA '04, received his Master of Fine Arts from Maine College of Art & Design in 2004.

Olins started his business in a barn in Freeport in 2000, and after exclusively selling at farmer's markets in Brunswick for over two decades, opened ZUbakery at 81 Clark Street in Portland's West End in 2022. The bakery offers delicious rustic breads and pastries and has a minimalistic 650-square-foot space with an open kitchen. The menu includes morning pastries, bread in the late morning to early afternoon, and pizzettes and focaccia until closing at 5 p.m. They also offer housemade biscotti and granola, local honey, olive oil, wine, and ceramics made by Olins' wife, Mimi Olins '99.

"Thank you to my loyal and lovely customers, many of whom are now friends," Olins said in his acceptance speech. "Thank you to the nearby businesses for being part of a beautiful neighborhood cluster."

For the full list of winners and more information, visit The James Beard Foundation.

Above & Beyond Grant Awardees

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

About the Grant

Thanks to the generous support alum Ed Friedman '08, the Above and Beyond Grant provides current students with access to professional opportunities outside the walls of the college.

Learn more

Awardees

The spring 2024 awardees are Wills Phillips '25 and Ryan Swedenborg MFA '25. Phillips, a sculpture major, will take glassblowing classes and Swedenborg will take a sculptural woodworking workshop at Penland School of Craft.

Two Painting Majors Awarded Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

About The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation

Since 1955, The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation has provided support to young artists from around the world. Established by distinguished Montreal lawyer and amateur artist Charles Glass Greenshields in memory of his mother, Elizabeth, the Foundation has to date provided financial assistance to more than 2,000 students from 80 countries.

Each year, young artists from around the world working in painting, sculpture, drawing, or printmaking and demonstrating the talent and dedication to pursue a lifetime career in their practice apply for a grant.

This year, Maine College of Art & Design is proud to announce that two of our painting majors, Fran Woolson '25 and Jaden Kyung-Moon Bauch '25, have been selected as grant recipients. Professor and Chair of Painting at the College, Philip Brou, shares, “Having two of our painters compete on an international level and receive Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation grants is, first and foremost, a testament to the exceptional work of Jaden Kyung-Moon Bauch and Fran Woolson. I believe it also says a lot about [Maine College of Art & Design] and our Painting program. It shows the great results that can happen in a small, supportive community of artists all pushing one another to grow.”

About Francesca Woolson '25

Francesca Woolson '25 is a painting major at Maine College of Art & Design whose early work was influenced by painters like Salvador Dali and Georgia O’Keefe and who now looks to contemporary surrealist artists like Edward Povey, Michael Taylor, and Denis Sarazhin for inspiration. On receiving the grant, Fran shares, “This grant has provided me with the opportunity to focus all my efforts on my art and college, so when I graduate I can continue this momentum in my art practice and not have to worry as much about outstanding loans.” Says Fran, “The painting professors at [the College] always push me to think differently about my work and where I want to take it next. I am seldom sure of the direction I want to grow my art. However, I do know that whatever direction my art goes, I want to expand upon my current skills while challenging myself to throw away my conceptions of my art.”

There's Flowers in My Room

This piece explores the separation from body and consciousness through surrealist depiction. It is a companion to a poem I wrote: “There’s Flowers in My Room.” Dissolving child-like hope is displayed in the use of oil pastel. Contortion of the figures shows a perpetual discomfort and motion through space – causing a subconscious discomfort in the viewer. I create dissonance by the use of oil pastel juxtaposed with oil paint. This use of pictorial space and subconscious empathy aims to cause affect in the viewer.

Aftermath

This piece is the third in my "Emergence" 3 painting series. "Aftermath" reflects on the emotional intensity of the series, how gravity can be portrayed in a painting, and the breaking apart of figure and gesture. Illness, recovery, and rest are investigated through forms associated with the internal and external.

The Farm

This piece is the first of my "Emergence" 3 painting series. "The Farm" depicts a fractured memory, based on half-forgotten instances from growing up on my Grandparents’ farm in New York State. It examines intense memories and the revisionist act of remembering. Ambiguity in emotion is used to show the merging of joy and sorrow, the convergence of the traumatic and innocent, and the comfortable and uncomfortable.

Sinking

This piece is part of a 5 part series which investigates feelings of isolation, desperation, and horror – through the use of material, color, and interaction of the subjects. These portraits dissolve the subject through the emotional atmosphere depicted in the ground. By painting a self-awareness in my portraits, through blending of figure and ground via drips, I emphasize their interaction with the viewer. Meaning that by confronting the viewer either by material or the gaze of the figure, it opens a connection between the real and the depicted.

About Jaden Kyung-Moon Bauch '25

Jaden Kyung-Moon Bauch '25 is a painting major at Maine College of Art & Design who also studies the securities industry and is interested in the intersection of finance and art. Jaden is inspired by painters of the Hudson River School and their use of color and atmospheric perspective, as well as ideas about the American Dream and what that means as a South Korean immigrant. On receiving the grant, Jaden shares, “Cost efficiency and budgeting have always been huge considerations in my practice as it often restricts the creature ventures I seek out and the materials I utilize. The Elizabeth Greenshield Grant, above all else, gives me time and creative freedom by lessening financial constraints. I plan to utilize the funds for tuition and fees payable to the College which allows me to budget more of my earned income towards materials and creative experiences.”

German Apple Pancake

In this painting, a plate of crisp apples and a warm German apple pancake evoke more than just culinary delight; they serve as a poignant tribute to the cherished memories and intimate bonds shared with a close friend, infusing the artwork with a sense of warmth, nostalgia, and the enduring richness of interpersonal connections.

My Top Holdings April 2024

This work presents an iconic landscape featuring mountains, clouds, and trees. Upon closer inspection, numerical annotations are visible along the canvas edges. This painting serves as a visual representation of my personal investment portfolio, with the zig-zagging contours depicting various holdings. The inclusion of numbers guides the viewer to understand the financial context behind what initially appears as a traditional landscape, transforming it into a representation of a financial landscape.

New York 1

This painting captures the essence of my partner's grandparents' home in upstate New York, a locale steeped in profound memories for their family. Situated within this expansive field, I discovered a sanctuary of peace and solace amidst the tranquil surroundings. The atmosphere exuded an ethereal quality, with the crispness of the air enveloping me in a sense of awe-inspiring beauty. In my endeavor to portray this atmosphere on canvas, I meticulously sought to encapsulate the breathtaking tranquility and serenity that pervaded the landscape. Every brushstroke aimed to evoke the profound stillness and quiet grandeur of the environment, ensuring that the viewer is transported to this sacred space of cherished memories and tranquility.

Maine College of Art & Design Welcomes University of the Arts Students

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design offers a small, tight-knit and inclusive community with a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, state-of-the-art facilities, 24-hour studio access, and a central location in Portland's creative community. We’d love to help you find your home here.

Exclusive Transfer Process for UArts

Guaranteed admission if in good academic standing at UArts
All eligible credits earned at UArts will be accepted at Maine College of Art & Design
Expedited and Free Transfer Application
Dedicated transfer counselors for UArts students
Letter of recommendation and essay optional for scholarship consideration
Scholarships ranging from $12,000–$22,000 per year
On-campus housing is available

Next Steps

Schedule a call with dedicated admissions counselor, Emily Brighi at ebrighi@meca.edu or 207-699-5028
Book a Campus Tour
Register for our Open House on June 22
Send your unofficial transcript to ebrighi@meca.edu to receive a transfer evaluation for degree completion
Apply to Transfer

Educational Pathways for UArts Students

Animation & Game Art, BFA
Graphic Design, BFA
Illustration, BFA
Painting, BFA
Photography, BFA
Sculpture, BFA
Master of Arts in Teaching

We also offer seven minors to personalize your educational journey, including Art & Entrepreneurship, Drawing, Music, and Writing.

About Portland

Learn from world-class practitioners while living in Portland, Maine with access to culture, community, outdoor recreation, and great food at your fingertips. Beaches, lakes, and forests are just minutes away, and major cities like Boston and New York City are just a short trip. Portland is also an art town packed with galleries and studios open for Art Walk on the first Friday of every month.

Commencement Speaker Rebecca Sugar Debuted Original Song for Class of 2024

Wed, 15 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Renowned animator, director, singer, and songwriter Rebecca Sugar delivered an inspirational Commencement address and debuted an original song for graduates at Maine College of Art & Design's 113th graduation ceremony on Friday, May 10, at Portland's Merrill Auditorium.

As part of a collaborative search process between students and leadership for the 2024 Commencement Speaker, students in the Animation & Game Art program contacted Sugar via a video message, expressing their wish for her to speak at their commencement ceremony. Says Sugar, “I was so touched by the video message from the students at Maine College of Art & Design, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to support the class of 2024.”

After initial remarks framing her message, Sugar's speech took the form of an original composition entitled "Love The Way It Feels." Through her thoughtful lyrics, Sugar encouraged graduates to stay true to their creative instincts and nurture the feelings they inspire, even when the act of creation seems insignificant or impossible. "I feel foolish handing out advice; I struggle with this daily. Searching for the well of inspiration—sometimes only one appears," Sugar sang. "When the competition's fierce and the fire's burning, it's up to us to tend it and remember, if we can, to love the way it feels—even when it isn't easy."

A video of the performance is available on MECA&D's YouTube page.

Sugar, best known as the creator of the groundbreaking animated series Steven Universe, paved the way for authentic LGBTQIA+ storytelling in animation. She imparted encouragement and advice to over 100 up-and-coming artists from across the country and worldwide. Sugar also received an Honorary Degree alongside Diane Garthwaite, Vice Chair of MECA&D's Board of Trustees.

BFA Graduates Transitioning to Educators through the MAT 4+1 Pathway

Tue, 14 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Fresh off their graduation from the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program at Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) last Friday, Sophie Masters, Ella-Mae Spinali, Zane Feyler, and Bella David are gearing up for an exciting new adventure as teacher candidates.

Armed with their creativity, passion, and artistic expertise, we are excited to nurture and support their goal of becoming art educators.

Learn more about the MAT 4+1 Pathway

Visiting Artist Jeremy Frey featured in New York Times

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Baskets Holding the Identity of an Indigenous People

The baskets of Jeremy Frey from the Passamaquoddy tribe in Maine have caught the attention of the art world.

Loquat to Debut New Storefront in Mechanics' Hall

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Opening Friday, April 26, 2024

Loquat, a fashion brand operated by Madison Poitrast-Upton ’20 and MECA&D Trustee Jordan Carey ’19, will officially open its new retail location in the ground floor storefront of the Mechanics' Hall building — located across the street from Maine College of Art & Design.

Loquat is known for its slow-fashion, artist-led approach that emphasizes quality clothing, bags, and home goods made with a mission to elevate marginalized voices. The brand has previously collaborated with Mechanics' Hall, serving as the costume designer for last summer's production of CarmXn by Hogfish as well as the 2022 little house dance production Hour Wolf.

Browse Loquat

Press

Mainebiz: Retailer relocates to Mechanics' Hall in Portland’s Arts District

Professor Sharon Portelance '82 is Artist-in-Residence at The Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

About Sharon Portelance

Sharon Portelance was born in Norwich, CT. Her passion for jewelry making led her to the Maine College of Art & Design in Portland (1982) where she received her bachelor’s degree (BFA) in jewelry and silversmithing. Furthermore, she holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the State University of New York at New Paltz (1992) with a specialization in metal. She is currently a professor at the Maine College of Art & Design in Portland. During her residency she practices stone cutting techniques to create a ‘loose’ mosaic brooch.

About the Program

The Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum (ILJM), inaugurates the first Jewelry Artist in Residence Program in a museum, worldwide. The Residency applies to artists that wish to engage in cultivating their art and developing in public activities with visitors and other artists.

The Jewelry Artist Residence program (JaIR) invites artists and public to a dialogue of creation and development exclusively on artistic studio jewelry. It provides a time of reflection, research, production, and immersion into a new culture of contemporary studio jewelry. Residents are encouraged to explore their practice within a public space; meeting new people, using new materials, experimenting in a new location and potentially integrating elements into their art. Art residencies emphasize the importance of meaningful and multi-layered cultural exchange and immersion into a unique environment, with live feedback and immediate enhancing of knowledge.

Learn More

Dylan Hausthor '15 Awarded Guggenheim Fellowship

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Photography Dylan Hausthor '15 has been awarded one of 188 Guggenheim Fellowships bestowed to a distinguished and diverse group of culture-creators working across 52 disciplines. Chosen from a pool of nearly 3,000 applicants, Hausthor is part of the Class of 2024 Guggenheim Fellows, selected based on their prior career achievements and exceptional creative promise.

The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, established and initially funded in 1925 by US Senator Simon and Olga Guggenheim in memory of their son John Simon, aims to "further the development of scholars and artists by assisting them to engage in research in any field of knowledge and creation in any of the arts, under the freest possible conditions."

Learn More About the Class of 2024 Guggenheim Fellows

Jess Jeffries ’15 featured in Garden Party exhibition at Dyden Gallery in Rhode Island

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Garden Party is Jeffries’ first major exhibition in Rhode Island. Her paintings in the show effortlessly become a vivid focal point. A departure from more painterly abstracts common in Rhode Island, Jeffries stains raw canvas and layers other media on top of paint to meld the sensibilities of both drawing and painting into an exciting whole. She also often engages the edges of her paintings, inviting the eye to travel around the corner of the stretcher to look for more. Her works are lyrical.

On View

April 6th – June 15th, 2024

Learn More

New podcast produced by Isaac Kestenbaum

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Director of our Salt Institute of Documentary Studies, Isaac Kestenbaum Salt '08, produced Alaska is the Center of the Universe along with collaborators, James Dommek Jr. and Josie Holtzman.

About the podcast

At a time of great change for Alaska, James Dommek, Jr, a rock-n-roll drummer, Iñupiaq storyteller and podcaster, sets out on a journey across the whole state of Alaska to find old myths, stories about cryptids, and forgotten history, to learn what they can teach us about the world as it is today.

Listen to Alaska is the Center of the Universe

Deborah Santoro MFA ’23 featured as Best in Show in Juniper Rag's PULP exhibition

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Deborah Santoro MFA ’23 was recently featured as Best in Show in Juniper Rag’s Pulp online exhibition. The show will be accessible through Juniper Rag’s website until April 30, 2024.

Deborah Santoro MFA ’23 engages visual and material strategies to unravel colonialistic understandings that imply separation. She uses stardust to draw, edit, and echo light waves—engaging with materials and tools that utilize haptic sensibilities to delight the primate eye. The transitional spaces between media initiate pathways into neuron networks, generating new narratives that allow for multispecies flourishing in a rapidly changing climate. In Perseverance Amidst the Regolith, Santoro collaborates with an alien robot on Mars by recognizing its agency in the images it sends back to earth.

Learn More

Announcing Rebecca Sugar as 2024 Commencement Speaker

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design today announced renowned animator, director, singer and songwriter Rebecca Sugar will deliver the Commencement address at the College’s 113th graduation ceremony. During the ceremony, which begins at 10:00 am on Friday, May 10, 2024, at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium, we will bestow honorary degrees on Sugar and Vice Chair of Maine College of Art & Design’s Board of Trustees, Diane Garthwaite.

As part of a collaborative search process between students and leadership for the 2024 Commencement Speaker, students in the Animation & Game Arts program reached out to Sugar via a video message, expressing their wish for her to speak at their commencement ceremony. Says Sugar, “I was so touched by the video message from the students at Maine College of Art & Design, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to support the class of 2024.”

About Rebecca Sugar

Best known as the creator of the groundbreaking animated series Steven Universe, Rebecca Sugar (she/they) is an animator, director, singer, and songwriter whose work has paved the way for authentic LGBTQIA+ stories in animation.

Sugar grew up in Silver Spring, MD, and attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City, earning a BFA in Animation in 2009. During college she wrote, directed, and collaborated on several animated short films, including Singles, which she completed for her senior thesis.

As an artist, writer, and songwriter for Adventure Time, her unique combination of humor and heartache caught Cartoon Network’s attention. It led to the creation of her own show, a sci-fi fantasy action comedy dedicated to her brother Steven. Steven Universe became a way to explore her complex relationship with popular cartoons as a queer kid who felt at home with her vibrant, creative family, but alienated by the wider world.

“I am very pleased to welcome Rebecca Sugar to Portland to address the Class of 2024,” said Dr. Laura Freid, President of Maine College of Art & Design. “Rebecca and her work mean so much to many students here, and her career as an animator is both inspiring and reflective. Rebecca is the perfect person to send our students into the world, as she was once in their very same shoes.”

About Diane Garthwaite

In addition to bestowing an honorary degree to Sugar during the Commencement ceremony, the College will also confer an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree to Vice Chair of Maine College of Art & Design’s Board of Trustees, Diane Garthwaite.

An avid arts patron and supporter of education, Garthwaite also chairs the Board’s facilities committee and has shepherded initiatives to increase and improve campus housing, including the development of our new Erlang Residence Hall, which opened in 2023 and houses more than 100 students.

Said President Freid, “As we plan for the College’s future, Diane’s leadership support for capital projects will enable Maine College of Art & Design to expand our educational reach and create space for artists and designers of all ages and backgrounds to connect, collaborate, and thrive.”

Prior to her work with the College, Diane served as Board Chair of the Cambridge School of Weston from 2000 to 2005 and chaired the school’s “Changing Lives” capital campaign from 2006 to 2009. She was also a trustee on the Board of the Fayerweather Street School in Cambridge, Mass. for nine years, and was Chairperson of the Board for an additional five years. She is President of the AlGar Foundation, her family foundation.

Diane earned a BA in English from Connecticut College and a Landscape Design Certificate from Radcliffe College. Following her successful career as a landscape designer, she enjoys gardening and tending chickens in her retirement. She and her husband, Dr. Matthew H. Liang, share a passion for theater and museums. When they are not visiting their six children and ten grandchildren, Diane and Matt divide their time between Scarborough and Boston.

About Maine College of Art & Design

For 140 years, Maine College of Art & Design has activated students of all pursuits to make art, make an impact, and inspire change. Located in Portland's Arts District, students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, 24-hour-a-day studios, a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and a community-based Artists at Work program—making the College the right place for students who want to make their mark and be seen. Maine College of Art & Design offers BFA Majors and Minors, Graduate Programs, Continuing Studies, Pre-College, and includes the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies and the Institute for Contemporary Art. Follow us at @mecaart.

Announcing the 2024 Merit Exhibition & Scholarship Competition Winners

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

This year’s jury panel included:

Patrick Coughlin, Associate Professor & Ceramics Program Chair
Adriane Herman, Professor & Printmaking Program Chair
Sarah Shaw, Assistant Professor, Illustration
Ryan Wight MFA '23, Adjunct Professor, Sculpture

Submissions are exhibited on three floors of the Porteous building and feature work across majors including sculptures, prints, illustrations, animations, paintings, and more.

Learn more about the exhibition

The Merit Exhibition & Scholarship Competition is made possible thanks to the generous contributions of Charles E. Culpeper, and Ed Friedman ’08 and Carole Friedman, Hon. DFA '22.

Congratulations to all participants including this year’s winners:

Best in Show

Fran Woolson, Junior, Painting

2nd Place Overall

Wills Phillips, Junior, Sculpture

3rd Place Overall

Carly Browdy, Sophomore, Illustration

Best 4D Work

Autumn Noel, Junior, Animation & Game Art

Best 3D Work

Seraphina Gillman, Junior, Ceramics

Best 2D Work

Mac Craig, Sophomore, Illustration

Jury Select

Abbey Mills, Junior, Painting

Honorable Mentions

Carnation Dusk, Junior, Ceramics
Margaux Lewis, Junior, Sculpture
Lee Nadeau, Junior, Woodworking & Furniture Design
Kadence Puckett, Sophomore, Printmaking
Abby Sprague, Junior, Metalsmithing & Jewelry

Award-winning journalist, Zahir Janmohamed, will lead Salt Writing Track

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Salt Institute for Documentary Studies at Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) is pleased to announce that award-winning journalist, Zahir Janmohamed, will lead the Writing track, relaunching in Fall 2024.

Janmohamed is a Visiting Assistant Professor of English at Bowdoin College and co-founder of the James Beard Award-nominated podcast, Racist Sandwich. The podcast, which explores the intersection of food, race, gender, and class, was selected as one of the best 100 podcasts by Vulture, and in 2020, Esquire UK named it as one of the best podcasts. He has received fellowships from MacDowell, Tin House, the Arab American National Museum, The Mesa Refuge, the Djerassi Resident Arts Program, the Norman Mailer Center, and the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto, and his articles have appeared in many publications including The New York Times, Foreign Policy, Guernica, The Washington Post, CNN, and NPR.

Drawn to the program because of Salt’s reputation, Janmohamed shares, “I had heard of Salt long before moving to Maine—it has a storied history and there aren't many other places in the country like it.” He goes on to say, “There is a certain bar that is set by the graduates, so you can challenge Salt students to go further which results in work that tends to get so much deeper and more complex.”

Drawing from journalism, personal essays, narrative storytelling, and even fiction techniques, students in the Salt Writing track will produce three submission-ready pieces: a short essay, a profile, and a long narrative. Janmohamed hopes to teach students the value of having a diverse toolkit as a storyteller, sharing, “Regardless of what an artist’s medium is, I think it’s useful to learn alternative ways of storytelling when you hit a wall.”

In the writing track, students will learn how to identify, research, and report compelling stories. They will gain an understanding of narrative structures, master the art of critique and revision, learn how to pitch story ideas, handle documentary ethical issues responsibly, and promote themselves as writers. He says, “I believe that art, writing in particular, requires structure, so one of the values I try to impart is to give artistic practice structure, deadlines, peers and accountability.”

Students can expect the program and the classroom to be different from traditional settings. Janmohamed describes the classroom as, “Like a writer’s room, where we’re hashing out ideas, thinking through them in real-time, and giving each other feedback. It’s much more of a peer environment, and one that I don’t get anywhere else.”

In addition, students will have the opportunity to meet editors and other industry leaders and will work on publishing their stories. At the end of the semester, the final pieces will be publicly presented and included in the Salt Story Archive.

Janmohamed goes on to say, “There is tremendous power in the written word, and specific personal narrative is something that Chat GPT has yet to clone. Throughout history, there have always been ways that artists and writers reinvent themselves, and right now we’re in one of those shifts.”

The priority enrollment deadline for Fall 2024 is April 7, with the general application deadline following on May 5, 2024. Learn how to apply to Salt here.

The Portland Show at Greenhut Galleries

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The 12th Biennial Portland Show is currently on display through April 7, 2024, at Greenhut Galleries, located at 146 Middle Street in Portland. This exhibition celebrates the dynamic and evolving city of Portland, Maine, and showcases a diverse range of styles, media, and approaches. This year's Portland Show features the work of 43 Maine artists, each presenting a unique perspective on our city.

Participating artists include:

Rachel Gloria Adams ’14
Matt Blackwell ’77
Thomas Connolly ’87
Jim Flahaven, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Foundation
Ellen Gutekunst ’82
Cade Jarvis ’20
Margaret Lawrence ’93
Daniel Minter, Hon. DFA '19
Sandra Quinn ’87
Jenny Scheu, Trustee

Explore the Show

Research & Inquiry Students Commemorate Associate Professor Bob Jenkins

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Research & Inquiry is an interdisciplinary course conceived to recognize the vital, reciprocal relationship between studio and academic courses. In the class section named Invasion of the Replicants, students built houses for a scale model figurine which they then assembled to form a neighborhood.

This year's neighborhood also serves as a tribute to Bob Jenkins (1947 – 2024), a cherished faculty member of our Academic Studies Program for 35 years and an avid scale modeler. Bob is represented at the heart of the diorama as the mayor of the neighborhood, which will be on display in the front window of the Porteous Building through April 12, 2024.

Participating artists include:

Loki Cannon '27
Bee Scarborough '27
Jade DiGioia '27
Abby Seff '27
Basil Hinnen '27
MacK Smith '27
Maddux Hinson '27
Avie Touchette '27
Ryan Jones '27
Bea Wallace '27
Lyra Miller '27
Addison Wedgeworth '27
Calvin Sandberg '27
Luna White '27

Learn more about Bob Jenkins

Meet Denham Ward of the Abbagadasset Foundation

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Thanks to the generosity of Denham Ward and the Abbagadasset Foundation, this semester ten students at MECA&D will receive stipends to participate in internships that would have otherwise been unpaid.

Denham Ward is Secretary/Treasurer of the Abbagadassett Foundation, a family foundation started through the generosity of his wife, Debra Lipscomb's (now deceased), family. The foundation provides grants to non-profit organizations to facilitate student participation in enhanced educational opportunities like internships.

Ward believes internships are critically important because real-world experience “gives students insight into what the job actually is, which may further enthuse them of their choice or make them rethink their current goals.” Ward goes on to share that internships increase access to networking within their chosen field and can lead to enhanced opportunities post-graduation.

Historically, many internships have been inaccessible for students who may not be able to accept unpaid opportunities due to financial constraints. Ward believes that internships must be paid, which is why the partnership between the Abbagadassett Foundation and the Artists at Work program at MECA&D is a great match.

The Artists at Work program at Maine College of Art & Design is designed to help our students use their studio practice and creativity to both make a difference and make a living. The program cultivates opportunities inside and outside the classroom. Jessica Tomlinson, Director of Artists at Work at MECA&D, shared, "These internship stipends are critical to a student's ability to do an internship or not. Already we have seen increased interest from students who did not think these opportunities were available to them because of finances. Early access to any industry is fundamental in creating connections, building skills, and learning about possible career paths."

Thanks to the generosity of the Abbagadassett Foundation, this semester ten students at MECA&D will receive stipends to participate in internships that would have otherwise been unpaid.

A retired physician and self-proclaimed “STEM-person”, Denham is excited to be involved in these creative endeavors and partner with MECA&D to provide opportunities for students in the arts. Learn more about the Artists at Work program here.

The internships for the Spring 2024 semester are all 135 hours, earning three studio elective credits, and include the following:

Sophie Erickson

Senior, Animation and Game Art

Internship Site: Made Up Games (Portland, ME/Brooklyn, NY)

Working remotely on “Pine: A Story of Loss,” a narrative video game that follows a woodworker through grief and loss, using animation, music, and interaction to create an accessible experience that takes the user on an emotional journey. As an intern, Sophie will have a direct impact on how effectively Pine tells its story and contribute to the animation pipeline from rough to color.

Charlotte Hardy

Senior, Animation and Game Art

Internship site: Puckerbrush Animation (Rockland, ME)

The studio is owned by alum and faculty member Hanji Chang who specializes in narrative animation. They will be working on translating Bhutanese oral history into animation for an upcoming exhibition at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC.

Makena Schwab

Senior, Animation and Game Art

Internship site: Puckerbrush Animation (Rockland, ME)

Charlotte Martin

Senior, Illustration

Internship Site: Katie Fischer Design (Cape Elizabeth/NYC)

Charlotte will be supervised by alum Cyra Bernal, who interned at the company a year ago as an unpaid intern and was subsequently hired on after graduation. The studio creates luxury invites and stationary for discerning clients.

Emerson Frost

Junior, Illustration

Internship site: Maine Audubon (Falmouth, ME)

Working with Audubon’s communications team to create illustrations for different publications, assets, and collateral, both for print and digital use. Potential uses include a guide to flora and fauna of the Presumpscot River, a young person’s guide to birds, a schoolyard guide for birds in the Bangor area as well as signage for sanctuaries with artwork about the birds on site.

Troy Meir

Senior, Illustration with Music Minor

Internship site: John Fireman Studio (Portland, ME)

Working with sound artist John Fireman on creating specific sound installations for a collaboration with the Maine Film Association.

Zachary Liljeholm

Junior, Graphic Design with Public Engagement Minor

Internship site: Sierra Club (Portland, ME)

Zach will use his graphic design and animation skills to assist the Sierra Club with their advocacy efforts to address environmental challenges.

Olivia Moore

Senior, Photography

Internship site: Dylan Hausthor Studios (Portland, ME)

Olivia will intern with practicing artist and alum Dylan Hausthor to learn about how to manage a studio, including organization, storage, maintenance, and management skills.

Margaux Lewis

Junior, Sculpture

Internship site: Love Lab Studio (Portland, ME)

At this internship with a children’s art making studio, Margaux willI work with young people to make a difference in their lives, help them develop a positive relationship with art and assist them with expressing and working through difficult emotions using art.

Emily Burnham

Senior, Illustration

Internship site: Love Lab Studio (Portland, ME)

Emily will assist the owner, and former MECA&D faculty member Christina Bechstein. She will help her prepare the materials for the activities as well as teach them to the students for the after-school program. Emily is interested in pursuing a career as an educator and this will help inform her decision.

Maine College of Art & Design welcomes new Emeritus Trustees and Trustees

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) today announced the election of three new Emeritus Trustees and four new members of the Board of Trustees. These individuals bring a wealth of experience in higher education, philanthropy, business, and arts to the Board.

As part of the College’s governing body, the new trustees will support the College’s mission to deliver the highest quality of arts education and to drive the growth and development of the College.

Joining the board as Emeritus Trustees are Daniel N. Crewe, Hon. DFA '21; Alison Hildreth '76, Hon. DFA '17; and Paula Crane Lunder, Hon. DFA '17. The College also welcomes new Trustees Michael Boyson; Roberta March, MFA '21; Marianna Pierce, and Gimbala Sankare.

“These exceptional individuals are joining the Board at a pivotal moment in Maine College of Art & Design’s history,” said President Laura Freid. “Their personal and professional perspectives will be invaluable as we work together to guide the College through the next phase of its development.”

Full biographies for each new Trustee are included below. Please visit MECA&D’s Board of Trustees website for more information on the full Board.

Daniel N. Crewe, Hon. DFA '21

Daniel N. Crewe is a passionate humanitarian and philanthropist; his leadership in the arts, education, and human rights, including LGBTQ support, has had an enormous impact on the lives of countless Mainers. Dan has been a generous supporter of Maine College of Art & Design for many years. He served faithfully on the Board of Trustees for ten years, including five years as Chair of the Advancement/Development Committee, and has remained an active community member on the Advancement Committee since concluding his board service in 2021.

Dan is the president and chair of the Crewe Foundation. He is the past chair of the USM Foundation and chaired the Great University campaign. He has served on the board of and is the former president of the ACLU of Maine and served on the Board of and is a member of the President’s Council of the Portland Symphony Orchestra.

In 1992, Dan co-founded Gateway Mastering Studio in Portland which brought Maine to the forefront of the national music business. Since his move to Maine in 1991, he has served on the Susan Curtis Foundation, the Maine Children’s Cancer Program, Breakwater School, Equality Maine, and the Maine Audubon. Dan is the father of two daughters and grandfather of four spectacular children. Dan is a United States Naval Academy graduate and a retired captain of the United States Air Force.

Alison Hildreth '76, Hon. DFA '17

Alison “Wooly” Hildreth faithfully served as a Trustee of Maine College of Art & Design from 1995 through 2006. She also taught as a non-resident studio instructor in the College’s MFA program, as well as in our Continuing Studies program, in addition to teaching in the MFA programs at Vermont College and Lesley College in Boston. Maine College of Art & Design is indebted to Alison and her family for her commitment to supporting MECA&D students and faculty through multiple endowed funds, including the Hildreth Family BFA Scholarship, the Hildreth Family MFA Scholarship, and the Hildreth Family Faculty Development Fund. In 2017, the college formally recognized Alison’s many contributions by awarding her an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Fine Arts.

Alison embarked on her artistic journey after earning a B.A. in Art History from Vassar College. While in New York, she attended night school at the Art Students League and the National Academy of Art. Later, Alison relocated to Maine, where she continued her artistic pursuits and graduated from the BFA program at Maine College of Art & Design in 1976.

Alison has since established herself as a prominent figure in the Portland art community, with her practice encompassing mixed media drawing, painting, printmaking, and installation work. In 1991, Alison and Katarina Weslien (former MECA&D MFA Director) purchased the Bakery Studios to create affordable studio space in Portland. She also helped found the non-profit fine arts printmaking cooperative Peregrine Press.

Alison has also been involved in various public art initiatives, serving as a member of the Portland Public Art Committee and participating in the re-envisioning of Congress Square as a public space for the city. Notably, she currently sits on the committee responsible for selecting Sarah Sze to create a work for the park. Furthermore, Alison is a partner with Katarina Weslien in owning and running the Bakery Studios.

Alison Hildreth's exceptional artwork has been exhibited both in the United States and internationally. Her pieces are proudly displayed in numerous prestigious permanent collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, Farnsworth Art Museum, Portland Museum of Art, and the New York, Boston, and Portland Public Libraries.

Paula Crane Lunder, Hon. DFA '17

Paula Lunder joined the Board of Trustees of Maine College of Art & Design in 2003 and served faithfully for 12 years. During her tenure on the Board, Paula served as co-chair of The Campaign to Advance Maine College of Art & Design in the late 2000s, which concluded in 2010 with $5.8M raised in capital and $4.2M in endowment.

Paula and her husband Peter Lunder established the Lunder Foundation in 1988 to support educational, arts, and healthcare organizations, with scholarship support of Maine students at the core of their philanthropy. In 2002, the Lunder Foundation established the Lunder Scholars program at Maine College of Art & Design, providing need-based aid to undergraduate students from Maine. Since its inception, more than 150 scholarships have been awarded, making a lifelong and transformative impact on MECA&D students. Additionally, The Lunder Foundation has been instrumental in helping the College increase the value of its endowment significantly through multiple matching challenges and played an instrumental role in growing the college’s endowment to more than $15MM. In 2017, Maine College of Art & Design recognized Peter and Paula’s extraordinary leadership and profound commitment to education in the State of Maine by awarding them both the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Fine Arts.

Paula Lunder graduated from Lesley University with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1959. Over the past 50 years, Paula has volunteered in many Maine-based organizations, including the Waterville Boys and Girls Club and the Kennebec Valley Mental Health Organization, and has served as a board member of the Maine Holocaust Center for Human Rights and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. She received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree in 1996 from Colby College and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2010 from Thomas College. At Colby College, Paula Lunder is a Lifetime Trustee and a member of the Colby College Museum of Art governing board.

Michael Boyson

Mike was born in Bangor, Maine. After a two-year stint in West Africa in the US Peace Corps followed by consulting work for the United Nations Development Programme, Mike started his investment career with the firm of EF Hutton in 1984. Initially building an equity and bond trading business, Mike gravitated to institutional and high-net-worth consulting in 1988 when his firm was acquired by what would eventually become Morgan Stanley. Ever since, Mike has had the opportunity to help affluent investors, businesses, and institutions, including investment committees, trustees, and financial officers meet their financial goals.

In 2000 Mike was awarded the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and has been a member of the Investment Management Consultants Association for the past 18 years. In February 2009, Barron’s named Mike the #1 investment advisor in Maine. More recently, Morgan Stanley recognized Mike’s consistent creativity and excellence in providing a wide range of investment products and wealth management services to his clients.

Mike and his wife Nancy Grant have been supporters of MECA&D since early 2017. Current Trustee Sue Rogers and former Trustee Dan Poteet have been a part of cultivating this relationship. Mike's son Oscar took two animation courses at MECA&D in the early 2000s and credits the experience with helping his career producing films in New York City.

Mike is active in the Portland community. He served on a committee of the Greater Portland United Way for 25 years and as president of the Center for Cultural Exchange. He currently serves on the Board of Directors at Portland Ovations and was Board Chair from 2013 to 2015. In his free time, Mike indulges his passions for biking, skiing, sailing, and hiking mostly within the beautiful confines of his native state of Maine. Mike and Nancy have been married for more than 40 years and have two children, Oscar and Elise.

Roberta March MFA ‘21

Roberta March was born and raised in Brazil. She started to pursue her art education later in life and graduated from Maine College of Art & Design’s MFA program in 2021. Her first degree was in business administration and she received a master's in marketing, followed by a career in human resources in banking.

Roberta began taking art courses while living in London in 2013 and went on to attend the Hampstead School of Art, earning a foundation diploma in Fine Arts. After relocating to Houston, she studied at the Glassell School of Art from 2016–2018.

Portland, Maine, became Roberta’s new home in 2019 and she became an American citizen the same day she started her MFA program at Maine College of Art & Design. While earning her MFA, Roberta participated in the College's Graduate Teaching Assistantship program, which allows students to experience different types of teaching environments, from foundation level to advanced Art history or studio courses.

After graduating from the MFA program, Roberta joined the staff of Maine College of Art & Design for the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 academic years as a Studio Technician in the Painting Department. Roberta recently secured a studio in Congress Square and is excited to focus on her own work while maintaining close contact with the College.

Marianna Pierce

Marianna has worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology since the early 2000s and currently serves as Senior Advisor to the Vice President for Human Resources. Marianna was previously selected to lead the Office of Labor and Employee Relations as its Director after serving as Director of Labor Relations.

Before working at MIT, Marianna held legal positions at Harvard University and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Marianna holds a JD from Harvard Law School and a BA in Romance Languages and Literature from Harvard University. She serves on the board of the Ignatian Spirituality Project, an organization that provides spiritual support for those recovering from homelessness and substance use addiction.

Gimbala Sankare

Gimbala is a diversity and talent acquisition leader with a decade of experience building high-performing teams in the fintech and technology industries. He currently serves as Head of Human Resources at Preti Flaherty, a law firm based in Portland. He is also the founder and CEO of StashUp, an organization whose mission is to strive to make financial prosperity more accessible to those who have been excluded from traditional wealth-building systems.

Prior to transitioning to focus full-time on launching StashUp, Gimbala spent two years in New York City as Vice President and Head of Talent Acquisition for the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the NBA, Gimbala was Head of Global Talent Acquisition and Diversity at WEX, where he managed the company’s global talent acquisition and diversity and inclusion strategies. Gimbala also held the Head of Early Career Talent Pipeline Programs and Recruiting positions at WEX.

Before joining WEX, Gimbala served in public diplomacy, public affairs, consular, and counterintelligence in an official capacity through domestic and international assignments with the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Army. He also held workforce planning and engagement roles with both the Maine and U.S. Department of Labor.

Gimbala earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from Austin Peay State University, a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in human resources and non-profit organizations from Northeastern University, and strategic human resource leadership and diversity and inclusion certificates from Cornell University.

Gimbala joined Maine College of Art & Design as a trustee in July of 2020 and served for two years before taking a step back from trusteeship due to his professional relocation to New York City. He remained on the Finance Committee as a community member for the 2022–2023 academic year and is excited to return as a full trustee now that he is back in Maine full-time.

Salt and Maine Public

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The Salt Institute for Documentary studies, in collaboration with Maine Public, introduces Essential Salt, a podcast that brings you stories reported on by students at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies.

Each episode presents stories that go beyond the headlines to capture something true, something unexpected, something...essential about the state of Maine and the people who live here. Essential Salt is available at mainepublic.org/salt and wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, and on Maine Public’s YouTube channel.

This podcast series is produced by Lucy Santerre and Lucy Soucek, and hosted by Lucy Soucek. Isaac Kestenbaum, the Director of Salt, is a contributing writer and editor of the series.

All episodes are available now.

Statement of Solidarity

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Photo courtesty of CNN featuring MAT Maine College of Art & Design Alumni Miia Zellner '22

We are deeply saddened and disturbed by the tragic events that unfolded in Lewiston, Maine on the evening of October 25, 2023. Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of the victims, who are surely experiencing unimaginable sorrow in the wake of this senseless act of violence.

While we know that words can neither properly express our grief nor heal the wounds caused by this horrific event, we want to offer our support to the families and friends of the victims, and let them know that we stand united with them during this dark hour.

We recognize the broad impact these events may have on our Maine College of Art & Design community—students, faculty, and staff. Our community’s physical and mental well-being is of paramount importance to us. As we all process last night’s tragedy, Maine College of Art & Design will continue to provide remote counseling services and student support. While we have closed our campus today (Thursday, October 26) out of an abundance of caution, we strongly encourage our students, faculty, and staff to familiarize themselves with campus safety procedures, and follow all local and state protocols as the search for the suspect unfolds.

In the hours and days to come, we will all grapple with the questions that tragedies such as the events in Lewiston inevitably raise. As we forge ahead, let us remember the resilience that defines the people of the great state of Maine. We encourage everyone to remain steadfast in our compassion for each other, and united by the hope that this situation will resolve without further violence.

Laura Freid, President
Beth Elicker, Executive Vice President
Ian Anderson, Vice President of Academic Affairs & Dean of the College
Paul Gebhardt, Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Melvin D. Adams III, Dean of Student Life

President Laura Freid Featured

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design's President Laura Freid was a guest on the most recent episode of architectural photographer Trent Bell's podcast, Architecture, Design & Photography.

The interview encompasses Dr. Freid's views on the creative process, arts advocacy, her approach to arts education, and Maine College of Art & Design's unique position as "the right-sized school in the right-sized city." One need only look at the statistics to see that this identity has been well-received by young artists from far and wide: From 2016 to 2019, applications to the College's BFA program went up 53%, and the selectivity of the program increased by 24% while the diversity of the incoming class increased by 7%. During that time, the MFA program grew from 17 to 38 students.

"I think we're all born to be creative and to express ourselves through art," says Dr. Freid. "So, I just encourage everyone to assume they are an artist until proven otherwise, and to keep perfecting their ability to express what's in their mind."

The full interview is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and in video form on host Trent Bell's website. The interview is sponsored by Maine Home+Design magazine, to which Dr. Freid contributed an article for the September 2023 issue.

Estelle Roberge '84

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at Maine College of Art & Design is pleased to announce the This Is Out of Hand carving symposium, taking place September 11-13, 2023.

Estelle L. Roberge on The Book of Covid: Unbound and The Book of Cranes:

In Memory of Philip Stevens

"Like many of us, because of the pandemic, I spent much time alone, and because I became more cautious of my social associations, I intensely missed human interaction. As an artist, it became difficult to focus on painting and I experienced various states of panic. But because I practice book binding, I had an empty textblock in my studio and began to make collage entries, a visual diary that became an essential part of my artistic practice.

The process of making a collage involves cutting and recutting, measuring, tracing, drawing, coloring and pushing various colored and patterned papers on a surface. As I became more deeply involved in the collage process, a calming element emerged and I began to overcome that underlying sense of panic. I found myself entering states of quietude and tranquility, even though everything around had seemed to fall to pieces: jobs, schools, hospital care and most of all the enormous loss of life. Images in the collages began to reflect my experiences of isolation, of memory and melancholy, of hope, and of nature.

I worked for hours at my studio table, examining and re-examining compositional arrangements, yellow juxtaposed to red, orange juxtaposed to patterns of violet and green, areas of marbled paper, repeated patterns and textures. The content included my observations of wildlife at a nearby bird refuge which I frequented. I found myself drawing birds, photographing them, especially cranes and images of dancing cranes emerged. Slowly, I felt a renewed sense of well being. I traversed between inner voices and outer observations when frequenting the nearby refuge. When I returned home, I felt uplifted, like having visited a friend.

Along with observations and gestures of birds in flight, I read The Birds of Heaven, Crane Music, and watched numerous films of cranes. Thus, two artist books evolved: The Book of Covid: Unbound which led to The Book of Cranes through which I found balance and creativity during a very insecure time."

After the opening, this exhibition is open only by appointment. To schedule an appointment, please email jmcgee@meca.edu

Carving Symposium

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at Maine College of Art & Design is pleased to announce the This Is Out of Hand carving symposium, taking place September 11-13, 2023.

Carving has been found among the earliest known records of Homo sapiens. From stone to wood, metal to synthetics, and soap to sand, carving continues to offer new perspectives in spatial thinking. This Is Out of Hand features an array of sculptures, utilitarian objects, and two-dimensional works by 33 artists from around the world, all united through the common practice of carving. Whether utilizing traditional tools and techniques, or digital technologies such as physical computing and video, all of the works in This Is Out of Hand challenge the norms surrounding reductive processes.

As part of the exhibition, This Is Out of Hand features a carving symposium Monday, September 11 through Wednesday, September 13, 2023. The three-day symposium–which is free and open to the public–includes artist lectures, panel discussions, carving workshops and demos, and live performances.

Monday, September 11, 2023

9:00am – 10:00am
Performance and Gallery Talk with Gina Siepel
Institute of Contemporary Art, Portland, ME

10:00am – 11:30am
Spoon Carving workshop and demo w/ Ben Gancsos
Maine College of Art & Design: Room 507

12:00pm – 1:15pm
Catalina Ouyang Artist Lecture
Maine College of Art & Design: Osher Hall

2:00pm – 3:30pm
Public Art Studio talk with Addy Smith-Reiman and Jesse Salisbury
Meet at Gathering Stones – Sculpture by Jesse Salisbury for TEMPOart Maine. The sculpture is located at Fish Point along the Eastern Promenade Trail, an easy walk from both Fort Allen Park and Commercial Street.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

9:00am – 10:00am
Ken Payne Artist Lecture
Maine College of Art & Design: Room 507

10:00am – 11:30am
Spoon Carving workshop and demo w/ Ben Gancsos
Maine College of Art & Design: Room 507

12:00pm – 1: 15pm
Lewis Colburn Artist Lecture
Maine College of Art & Design: Osher Hall

1:30pm – 2:50pm
Physical Computing in Art and Craft Panel Discussion
Moderated by Kyle Patnaude: with John Gardiner and Lewis Colburn
Maine College of Art & Design: Osher Hall

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

10:00am – 11:30am
Out of Hand – Wood Carving Panel Discussion
Moderated by Joshua Reiman: with Raul De Lara, Gina Siepel, Lewis Colburn, Lin Lisberger, Napoles Marty, Kieran Kinsella and Duncan Hewitt
Institute of Contemporary Art, Portland, ME

12:00pm – 1:00pm
Kodai Hihara Artist lecture (presented by the Schoodic Sculpture Symposium)
Maine College of Art & Design: Osher Hall

1:30pm – 3:00pm
On Stone, Place, and Process
Moderated by Kazumi Hoshino: with Mark Herrington, Andreas Von Huene, Sam Finkelstein, Isabel Kelley, Mari Beltran, and Jesse Salisbury
Institute of Contemporary Art, Portland, ME

4:00pm – 5:00pm
Closing Reception for This Is Out of Hand with Artists
Institute of Contemporary Art, Portland, ME

This Is Out of Hand will remain on display during ICA gallery hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 11am–5pm, and Thursdays, 11am–7pm. For more information, please visit the exhibition website.

Liveable Worlds

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art & Design is pleased to announce the opening of Liveable Worlds, on view from October 6 to December 15, 2023. A public performance will be held by Futurefarmers artist collective Friday, October 6 from 12:00-4:00pm, followed by a public reception in the ICA from 5:00–8:00pm.

Curated by Julie Poitras Santos, Associate Professor of MFA, and Sabine Malcolm, Assistant Professor and Chair of Sustainable Ecosystems in Art & Design at Maine College of Art & Design, Liveable Worlds is an exhibition that uses environmental art and design as a starting point for imagining how we can make liveable worlds in challenging conditions. The exhibition presents the work of nine artists who work in painting, sculpture, photography, video, performance, public projects, and installation. Parallel to the exhibition, Liveable Worlds will host events focused on community engagement surrounding environmental justice, on regional and global scales.

“By any measure, our world is becoming increasingly unliveable,” writes co-curator Sabine Malcom. “Liveable Worlds turns our attention to practices of repair, strategies of adaptation, and world-building. The exhibition asks: what forms of visualization, survival, collaboration, and community appear when climates and environments approach conditions that seem unliveable?”

The works in the exhibition argue that to create in a time of environmental disruption is primarily to reimagine and rebuild. Be it by splicing salvaged rope with many hands, imagining a reclaimed landscape, invoking utopian communities, or thinking about one’s mind as an earthly topography, Liveable Worlds engages with both common and conflictual histories of land, water, and air to consider how we can make our worlds liveable.

The ICA will host public art and cultural events associated with the exhibition, including the symposium Making Liveable Worlds: Climate, Community, and Art on November 3-4, 2023. “Crucial to the ideas explored in the exhibition are the creative efforts of our local community members to make our worlds more liveable,” states co-curator Julie Poitras Santos. “In the context of the exhibition, artists, environmental justice organizations, and climate activists will share challenges and successes, highlighting our collective endeavors and strengthening connections between organizations and individuals”.

On Friday, November 3, Mary Mattingly will kick off the weekend symposium with an Artist Lecture. On Saturday, November 4, community organizations will gather in the ICA to collaborate with the sentiments and aims of the exhibition. These organizations are oriented to social justice, and their practices are part of an effort to make our city and our state more “liveable.” During the afternoon, a series of hands-on workshops will be offered to participants. The intent is that audience members will leave with a new form of knowledge that they can implement and disperse into their own environments. The symposium is free to the public, and registration is requested.

Participating artists include:

Futurefarmers

Sky Hopinka

Athena LaTocha

Patte Loper

Mary Mattingly

Pamela Moulton

Oscar Santillán

Cauleen Smith

Will Wilson

Participating community organizations include:

Greenhorns

Bigelow Labs

Fresh Food Gardens

Wild Seed Project

Plant Office

Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions

Liveable Worlds encompasses a number of events that are free and open to the public:

October 6, 12:00pm — Futurefarmers Procession, East End Beach to the ICA
October 6, 5:00-8:00pm — Opening Reception for Liveable Worlds, [ICA at Maine College of Art & Design]
October 16, 12:00-1:00pm — Visiting Artist talk, Athena LaTocha, [Osher Hall, Maine College of Art & Design]
October 19, 5:30pm — Friends of Casco Bay, Water Reporters Program, [ICA at Maine College of Art & Design]
November 3, 5:00pm — Keynote Speaker, Mary Mattingly, Making Liveable Worlds: Climate, Community, and Art [ICA at Maine College of Art & Design]
November 4, 9:00am-4:00pm — Symposium, Making Liveable Worlds: Climate, Community, and Art [ICA at Maine College of Art & Design]

For more information about the exhibition and accompanying events, please visit the ICA website.

Saudade

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The Artists at Work program at Maine College of Art & Design is pleased to host a summer pop-up shop in conjunction with Portland-based fine art floral studio, Saudade Flore. Located on the First Floor of the College’s historic Porteous Building at 522 Congress Street, the pop-up is the entrepreneurial effort of alum Jodi Ferry ’14, who graduated from the college with a degree in Printmaking.

The First Floor of Porteous is typically used for classes during the academic year and has served as an experimental location for students and alumni, managed by the Artists at Work program to support professional development. Past projects include an internship residency with Gulf of Maine Eco Arts; a Loquat pop-up shop for alum Jordan Carey ’19, and an exhibition retrospective for alumni in the Metals Collective.

Saudade is a Portuguese word meaning a deep longing—usually brought up by beautiful things in life—and is what Ferry hopes to evoke with Saudade Flore: a queer, Portuguese, woman-run floral design and printmaking business that represents what it means to be a Portuguese woman.

In staging the Saudade pop-up shop, the back half of the space within the First Floor of Porteous serves as a fully functioning floral design studio and print shop, while the front end functions as a retail shop. In addition to work by Ferry, Saudade offers art by local printmakers and Maine College of Art & Design alumni, goods made by local flower farmers, and work by queer and marginalized members of the Portland community.

Hours of operation for the Saudade pop-up are Tuesday through Thursday from 10am to 6pm, and Friday through Sunday from 11am to 7pm. For more information, contact Artists At Work.

ABOUT MAINE COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN

For 140 years, Maine College of Art & Design has activated students of all pursuits to make art, make an impact, and inspire change. Located in Portland's thriving Arts District, students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, 24-hour-a-day studios, a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and a community-based Artists at Work program—making the College the right place for students who want to make their mark and be seen. Maine College of Art & Design offers BFA Majors and Minors, Graduate Programs, Continuing Studies, Pre-College, and includes the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies and the Institute for Contemporary Art. Follow us at @mecaart.

MEDIA CONTACT

Alex Koch, Public Relations, akoch@meca.edu

"Halftone"

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design is proud to present Halftone, an exhibition featuring prints by alumni. The exhibition will be on display from August 4 to September 9, 2023, at the College's 49 Oak gallery and exhibition space. An opening reception is scheduled for August 4 from 5:00-8:00PM.

Maine College of Art & Design recognizes the importance of printmaking as a vehicle for vernacular culture, social dissent, and cultural identity. In today's world of instant reproduction and ever-changing definitions of authenticity, printmaking remains an essential format for elastic experimentation. The artists selected for this exhibition, through a rigorous open-call process, collectively embody this commitment to exploration and experimentation.

The exhibition includes prints by 15 talented artists, all of whom are Maine College of Art & Design alumni. The artists featured in this exhibition represent a diverse range of styles and ideas. Through their work, they explore the many facets of printmaking, and demonstrate that it is still a relevant and valuable form of artistic expression in today's world.

Artists featured in the exhibition include:

Shawn Brewer ’12
Ian Colwell ’20
John Costello ’19
Jodi Ferry ’14
Peter Haller ’80
Andy Jones ’22
Martha Miller ’06
Benjamin Moreau ’99
Bennett Morris MFA ’07
Debbie Schmitt ’06
Judith Schneider MFA ’14
James Sylvester ’18
Jude Valentine ’78
Storm Welch ’17
Evelyn Wong MFA ’19

Select works will be available for purchase. 49 Oak is open to the public Wednesday through Friday, 10:00am-2:00pm or by appointment. For more information, please contact Jenny McGee Dougherty ’05, Associate Director of Artists at Work & Alumni Relations, at jmcgee@meca.edu.

For more information about 49 Oak, and to see what is coming up next for the space, visit https://www.meca.edu/49Oak.

MEDIA CONTACT

Alex Koch, Public Relations, akoch@meca.edu

2023 MFA Visiting Artists

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design today announced the roster of the 2023 MFA Visiting Artist Summer Lecture Series. Each year, first and second-year students in the Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art (MFA) program at Maine College of Art & Design come to the College campus in the heart of the Arts District in Portland for an eight-week summer intensive. These summer trimesters provide candidates with an opportunity to bond as an artistic cohort while holding interdisciplinary conversations that challenge candidates and inform their personal practice.

"As the challenges of the 21st century unfold, art remains a powerful tool to build an engaged culture of creativity,” says Tracey Cockrell, Summer MFA Chairperson and Adjunct Associate Professor. “Our Summer Visiting Artist Lecture Series brings cultural 'evolutionaries' into dialogue with our students and our community."

A critical piece of what inspires candidates’ creativity in the two months of the MFA Summer Intensive–which began June 12 and runs through August 4, 2023–is the intimate exchange between emerging artists and the Visiting Artists who come to campus each week for lectures, critiques, and studio visits.

The College is pleased to announce that for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Visiting Artist lectures are once again open to the public. Lectures take place Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:30pm in Osher Hall in the College’s historic Porteous Building. This year’s roster of Visiting Artists includes:

Monday, June 19: Sebastian Black, American Postwar & Contemporary painter;
Wednesday, June 21: Leon Benn, Portland-based artist;
Monday, June 26: Chiara No, research-centric artist and educator;
Wednesday, June 28: Jaime DeSimone, artist and Chief Curator at the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine;
Monday, July 3: Jason Lazarus, multimedia artist and Assistant Professor of Art and Art History at the University of South Florida;
Monday, July 10: Lourdes Correa Carlo, sculptor and art historian;
Wednesday, July 12: Tra Bouscaren, post-disciplinary artist focused on spectacle at the crossroads of waste culture and the surveillance state;
Monday, July 17: Gina Siepel, interdisciplinary artist, designer, and woodworker;
Wednesday, July 19: Patricia Brace, feminist performance artist;
Monday, July 24: Monique Long, independent curator and writer;
Wednesday, July 26: Alicia Eggert, installation artist;
Monday, July 31: Andrew Roberts, research-based artist specializing in multimedia narrative and speculative fiction; and,
Wednesday, August 2: Elana Adler, multidisciplinary artist and co-founder of contemporary art space Adler & Floyd located in Chicago, IL.

“Art is not a singular focus; it is a field and a conversation," says Administrative Director of Graduate Programs Rachel Katz MFA ’00. "Part of what sets our program apart is that we offer an interdisciplinary approach that gives our artists the freedom and flexibility to follow their work where it needs to go and make something they never expected to create along the way."

For more information about the 2023 MFA Visiting Artist Summer Lecture Series, click here.

ABOUT MAINE COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN

Maine College of Art & Design has been activating students of all pursuits to make art, make an impact, and inspire change since its founding as Portland School of Art in 1882. Located in Portland's thriving Arts District, students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, 24-hour-a-day studios, a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and a community-based Artists at Work program—making Maine College of Art & Design the right-sized school in the right-sized city for every student who wants to make their mark and be seen. We offer BFA Majors and Minors, Graduate Programs, Continuing Studies, and Pre-College, and includes the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies and the Institute for Contemporary Art. Follow us at @mecaart.

Maine College of Art & Design Announces 2023 Commencement Speaker Janet Echelman

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) today announced renowned sculptor and visual artist Janet Echelman will deliver the Commencement address at the College’s 112th graduation ceremony. During the ceremony, which begins at 10:00am on Friday, May 12, 2023, at Portland’s State Theatre, MECA&D will bestow honorary degrees on Echelman, her husband and collaborator David Feldman, and President of the Stephen and Palmina Pace Foundation Cathy Claman.

Janet Echelman is an artist who creates experiential sculpture at the scale of buildings that transform with wind and light. Her art shifts from being an object you look at to something you can get lost in.

Echelman’s work defies categorization as it intersects across disciplinary boundaries, from Fine Art, Architecture, and Urban Design, to Material Science, Computer Science, and Structural and Aeronautical Engineering. Using unlikely materials from fishnet to atomized water particles, Echelman combines ancient craft with original computational design software to create artworks that have become focal points for urban life on five continents.

“I am very pleased to welcome Janet Echlelman to Portland to address the Class of 2023,” said Dr. Laura Freid, President of Maine College of Art & Design. “I know that our graduating students will be inspired by how Janet’s journey as an artist was influenced by the world around her and led her to create art that inhabits the intersections between technology, sculpture, engineering, and design to impart beauty and wonder into urban landscapes.”

Recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship, Harvard Loeb Fellowship, Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellowship, and Fulbright Lectureship, Echelman was named an Architectural Digest Innovator for "changing the very essence of urban spaces." Her TED Talk "Taking Imagination Seriously" has been translated into 35 languages with more than two million views. Echelman recently received the Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award in Visual Arts, honoring “the greatest innovators in America today.”

Echelman’s permanent commissions have transformed urban environments worldwide and include Bending Arc at the newly renovated Pier in St. Petersburg, FL (2020), mist sculpture Pulse (2018) in front of Philadelphia City Hall, Dream Catcher (2017) on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, CA, Impatient Optimist (2015) at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, Every Beating Second (2011) at San Francisco International Airport, Her Secret Is Patience (2009) in downtown Phoenix, and She Changes (2005) in Porto, Portugal.

In addition to bestowing an honorary degree to Echelman during the Commencement ceremony, MECA&D will also confer Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degrees to Echelman’s husband and collaborator David Feldman and Cathy Claman, President of the Stephen and Palmina Pace Foundation.

Currently a Distinguished Visiting Technologist at MIT, David Feldman has served as Chief Technologist at Studio Echelman for more than 25 years, working with his wife, artist Janet Echelman, on the design, engineering, and software development of computational tools for her studio.

Prior to his work at Studio Echelman and Feldman Advisors, David previously wrote code for Apple, where his voice audio was used for the famous "quack" sound on all early Mac computers around the world. He later graduated from Harvard Business School with distinction, then cofounded a computer graphic software startup that was sold to a Nasdaq-listed company. He dedicated the next decades to helping many others bring their ideas to the public marketplace. Together Janet and David build living, breathing sculpture environments that respond to the forces of nature and become inviting focal points for civic life.

Cathy Claman is President of the Stephen and Palmina Pace Foundation in New York City. During her tenure, Cathy has organized exhibitions of Stephen Pace’s work and overseen acquisitions of his art by numerous institutions, including the Denver Art Museum, Brown University, McMullen Museum at Boston College, and Farnsworth Museum in Rockland, Maine. Under her leadership, the Foundation has funded annual programs to support mid-career artists, including an artist-as-entrepreneur seminar at the Katzen Arts Center at American University and an artist’s residency at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

In 2007, on behalf of the Paces, she facilitated the gift of their Stonington home and studio to Maine College of Art & Design for use as a residency and gallery and to ensure its continued use as an artistic haven. Since 2010, more than 100 alumni artists, as well as faculty and staff, have used the Pace House for residencies and faculty have brought hundreds of students to the Pace House to participate in intensive coursework and special projects.

Prior to her work at the Foundation, Cathy held positions at the College Board and in publishing. She earned her BA from Bowdoin College and MPA from New York University.

Media Contact

Alex Koch, Public Relations Specialist
akoch@meca.edu

Iris Williamson Appointed Director of Exhibitions

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Maine College of Art & Design today announced the appointment of Iris Williamson (she/her/hers) as Director of Exhibitions, effective Monday, February 6, 2023. This appointment was made after a competitive national search.

Williamson, a curator, arts administrator, and educator, comes to the College from serving as director and curator for the New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art at the University of Southern Indiana, a notable gallery, historical site museum, and center of contemporary art, design, and research. In her new role, Williamson will be responsible for overseeing exhibitions across Maine College of Art & Design while also managing the exhibitions and other programming at the Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art & Design (ICA).

"Iris really impressed us with the set of values Iris foregrounds in her work, her creativity, and her passion for working with artists,” said Ian Anderson, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College. “We know she will be a great addition to the College, and will continue the long legacy of excellence and innovation in the Institute of Contemporary Art while simultaneously supporting and serving students, faculty and our extended community through our many college-wide exhibitions.”

Williamson is the Founding Partner and Director of HOLDING Contemporary in Portland, Oregon and previously taught Contemporary Art Theory at Portland State University. Between 2021 and 2022, Williamson served as Curator-in-Residence at the University of Oregon's Center for Artistic Research. Williamson’s deep experience in arts administration, business, non-profits, and education combined with her art practice and deep understanding of art history and museum studies provide a solid grounding for creating moments steeped in research and methodical preparation.

“Art is a transformative tool and a catalyst for change,” said Williamson. “Art brings people together, and it can set an individual on a life-changing journey of discovery. It is my passion to support spaces where the community can access art and ideas.”

Williamson holds an MA in Critical Theory & Creative Research from Pacific Northwest College of Art, a BFA in Painting and a minor in Art History from the University of Florida, and a Certificate of Museum Studies from Northwestern University.

The public can meet Williamson at the ICA, located on the street level entrance of the Porteous building. The ICA, which cultivates engagement and dialogue regarding contemporary visual art practices to foster discourse on the critical conversations of our time and enhance visual culture, is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 11:00am to 5:00pm. On Thursdays, gallery hours are 11:00am–7:00pm.

Welcoming Nora Saks to the Salt faculty roster!

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

We are thrilled to introduce new Salt faculty member Nora Saks to our team. Nora – notable journalist, audio producer, educator and radiophile — has been heard and read on NPR, Here & Now, 99% Invisible, the Outside Podcast, Montana Public Radio, Yellowstone Public Radio, Alaska Public Media, the Coast Alaska network, and The Missoulian.

She currently serves as a podcast producer at Boston's NPR news station WBUR, where Nora is involved in developing and producing a range of shows including Last Seen, Endless Thread, and Circle Round in addition to some other projects baking in the podcast oven.

Before joining WBUR, Nora was a host, reporter and producer with Montana Public Radio, where she created Richest Hill, a limited-run narrative nonfiction podcast about the past, present and future of one of America's most legendary Superfund sites in Butte, Montana. The New Yorker called Richest Hill a "must-listen" and one of the best podcasts of 2019. For her efforts, she was awarded WBUR's 2020 Daniel Schorr Journalism Prize, which recognizes rising talent in public media.

Nora worked on Season 1 and Season 2 of Threshold, a Peabody Award-winning podcast that tackles one pressing environmental issue each season. She was also a news reporter and Morning Edition host at KFSK - a tiny public radio station based in an island fishing community in Southeast Alaska. Whenever possible, she volunteers as a music DJ on Southern Maine's Community Radio station, WMPG.

Nora holds an M.A. in Environmental Science and Natural Resources Journalism from the University of Montana (2018). She is also a proud graduate of the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies (Creative Nonfiction Writing and Multimedia, 2013) and the University of Toronto's School of the Environment (2008).

About the Salt program

Maine College of Art & Design's Name Reflects a Design-Forward Future

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

President Laura Freid spoke with News Center Maine about the College's creative identity, Strategic Plan, and our students' growing interest in design studies.

Within the past decade, interest in design has skyrocketed, not just at Maine College of Art & Design, but across the country. Our name reflects the reality of who we are at Maine College of Art & Design.

Interest in the College comes from all over the country, and over the last 10 years, an increasing number of our students have been coming from further away. We remain focused on academic excellence along with inclusivity. This means authentically telling our story to students who may be further away, and being able to offer tremendous financial aid packages, thanks to our growing endowment that has more than doubled over the past five years.

Watch the segment