super freak species

Carol Cartier has mounted another mind-boggling installation of magical curiosities.



















She is a truly obsessed Thing Finder, and our world is better for it. She finds mystical joys in the most unexpected places, such as worn shoe soles and specimen tags.












Try to picture the pains involved in carting this amount of ephemera from one place to another, and placing it JUST SO, like Joseph Cornell waaaaay out of the box.




















Here in this Cabinet of Curiosities, she shares a love of shiny elements with David Sheppard, an artisan extraordinaire whose silver boxes hold secrets worth keeping.























Carol delights in surfaces and textures, combining here fur, leather, and funk.























Along one wall of the Gem Gallery is a row of tintypes by Cole Caswell, a photographer from another dimension. His metallic portraits capture the itinerant souls of his rogue subjects with a delicate blend of the past and future. Pure alchemy. You can find him ducking under a black cloth at the Portland Farmer's Market, or at the next Art Walk, or at We Are X on High Street in Portland.

Carol Cartier's unique installation is only on exhibit through July 28. You MUST see it to believe it.

Next up: Norm Proulx and Claudia Whitman who pair their talents in indescribable ways.

Opening reception: July 29, 5 - 8 PM.

At Gem Gallery hanging our show.

A sweet view of our beloved on a super hot summer day. Bird houses by Alfred Wood, painted children's furniture by Nancy Chalmers.

A view of the current show, KIN. Prints and animation by Jackman Wood and paintings by Diane Wiencke. In the forground is a silkscreen portrait by Jackman. At the top left are small landscape paintings by Paul Brahms .

This is a 4x8 woodcut By Jackman Wood. The image accompanies the animation piece who's content depicts a man's walkabout from and back to his home in the wilderness.

This is a still from Jackman Wood's animation piece currently showing at Gem. The flat screen monitor is mounted on a wheat pasted woodcut wall. Jackman' prints compliment the soft tonal qualities of Diane Wiencke's encaustic colorfield paintings

work in progress. d. wiencke studio

Studio view

KIN

The work of Jackman Wood and Diane Wiencke
Paintings, Prints and Animation
Opening Reception Saturday July 17th 5-8
Show runs through Wednesday July 21

carol cartier's upcoming show

I'm working on new pieces for my upcoming show at the Gem on July 23. Here's a preview of the progress.



These are pieces of coral from Coral Bay, St. John, US Virgin Islands. My family and I visited 2 years ago. I tried to find an entire alphabet. Fat chance. Must return.



Desk mess.



The deer"skull" is a broken lobster buoy. The eyes wink. The group of tags are part of a piece that celebrates the gorgeous simple specimen label.



This is an unassembled assemblage of a seal! The dude does not have his tattoos yet.



Here are 2 birds. one is made from beach-combed finds the other from tin and vintage protractors.
lots more to do. I'm out of my tree.

Come to my Cabinet of Curiosities. July 23 5-8
Secrets will be revealed.

light and water

The Gem Gallery is now showing paintings by Lavendier Myers, wood sculptures by Steve B. King, and jewelry by Betsy Stout. It makes for a fresh combination of media, forms, and purpose.

Lavendier's series of acrylics feature color rippling across watery surfaces. Perfect for a steamy summer. Her bold strokes splash across the canvas with joyful energy.

Steve works in wood, light, and time. His sculpture in the corner is whimsical and yet holds great presence, echoing the curves and elipses found in Lavendier's paintings.



The delicate silver, stone, and bead creations by Betsy hang like droplets around the gallery.

The show is up through July 14. Be sure to stop in and meet the artists, who will man the gallery from 11 AM to 6 PM daily.

Paul Brahm's show, which you may have missed, was filled to the brim with his sun-spangled paintings of people at the island shore.



Here is Paul, reflected in Dustine Price's assemblage mirror, discussing a commission in the front room of the gallery.



Summer shows change weekly, so stop in often. The back gallery rotates exhibits on Thursdays, while the front gallery houses the work of over 20 artists in the collective, with regular updates of art fresh from the hands of island makers.

The front door is blooming with flowers, and Dustine Price's assemblage mermaid beckons the curious.



Do stop in!