Visual Artist
As an editor of this publication I am excited to announce that the summer issue of the Union of Maine Quarterly is now online.
“Art in a Time of Pandemic and Quarantine” is the theme and it is a powerful issue. It can be viewed at:
maineartsjournal.com
Strange times. I spent the past 8 months in California with my husband, our son and his family. We went there in August 2019 to respond to a medical emergency. My lovely daughter-in-law was struck down by a devastating reaction to an antibiotic, Cipro (ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone drug, avoid these at all cost!) She is now able to participate in much of what is important to her, parenting, music, family life, although it is uncertain what the long term implications on her health will be.
Our son is a film maker, he had unavoidable international travel, which he put off as long as he could. We stayed to provide care and coverage for the family. Then the coronavirus hit. He nearly got stranded in Armenia, then on his return, needed to quarantine for 2 weeks. When he was finally home and virus free, we were ready to come home to Maine but the virus was ramping up.
We returned to Maine yesterday, after nearly 7 weeks of quarantine with grandchildren and family in California. We were suited up, covered, protected and sanitized. We took every precaution we could take and feel confident that we remain healthy, but will happily quarantine for at least 2 more weeks in the comfort of our own home.
I am so grateful to the masses of essential workers, healthcare workers and all citizens who have been sacrificing to make us all safer.
The image above is a piece I worked on periodically for a couple of years. While in California I often thought of it and how it fit the current state of the world. This morning, I looked at it, here in my Maine studio, and realized I had titled it “Isolation”. It takes on new meaning now.
Earth Day 2019. LumenARRT! our group of wonderful artists and activists has been really busy. During 2018 we did about a dozen events, projections and even an installation at the Center of Maine Contemporary Art. Always seeking to create awareness about issues of social, political and environmental justice, LumenARRT! recently joined the Extinction Rebellion call for action on 4/15 with a virtual projection on a South Portland oil tank. You can view it by clicking on the image below or going to:
https://lumenarrt.wordpress.com/
More to come.
As layout editor of the MAJ, I have been working hard with a wonderful team of artists and writers on the Maine Arts Journal Fall issue. (Natasha Mayers, Dan Kany, Kathy Weinberg, Jeff Ackerman, Jessica McCarthy and myself) The theme is “Regionalism”, which, if you are a Maine artist, can be a prickly issue. As editors, we have been all over the map on this theme and kept pushing it away, with different attitudes and perceptions. Finally, we tackled it this Fall, agreeing to take in and examine all sides of the issue. Actually the work started in July right after the Summer MAJ was launched. We hope to encourage discourse and would love to hear everyone’s thoughts on the topic. Many artists have shared their viewpoints and experience in this issue.
Check it out! maineartsjournal.com
Click on the image below to see a short video of the LumenARRT! projections in Biddeford September 15. Richard and I are delighted to be part of the crew and add our own energy to the mix. September 22 we appeared on Congress St in Portland to project, draw and interact with passersby to bring attention to the Community Television Network’s annual telethon. CTN is now Portland Media Center, going strong and a great collaborator with the UMVA Gallery at their 516 Congress St location. More projections to come this Fall.
Friday, July 14 LumenARRT! projected multiple videos, interactive large scale drawings and social media feeds at the grand opening night celebration of MIFF’s 20th festival. Exciting night! Waterville was alive and buzzing with people and creative energy. We Lumenarrtists were delighted to be part of it and helped to bring the big screens outside and allow participants to join in. I had a chance to play with electronic graffiti and project directly on to the festival tent! Great fun and
an exciting new tool to learn and share.
Thanks to Anita Clearfield and Geoffrey Leighton, we had amazing videos and incredible coordination of the crew and equipment. They also have been teaching myself and other ARRTISTs to create animations and design imagery for a variety of media. Love to learn new stuff! Thanks to Transformit we had awesome constructions to assemble and project on. 
The things that keep me going in these crazy times are my work, my friends and family. Our Artists Rapid Response Team! has been in great demand since the fall, with the increased activism on every front. The last couple of weeks climate change, health care and immigration related banners have been displayed in town halls, marches, galleries and store fronts.
LumenARRT! projects have been difficult to perform lately due to weather but see info below from the website for a glimpse what’s happening with building projections. I am involved with
and inspired by the team of artists I work with at LumenARRT! I am learning new things about video projection, creating video animation from Anita Clearfield and Geoffrey Leighton. Mostly, my husband Richard and I are hard working crew helping to set up and take down equipment.
LumenARRT! is a project of the Artists Rapid Response Team (ARRT!). We work through the Union of Maine Visual Artists (UMVA) to advocate for artists and further the work of progressive non-profits in the state of Maine. Our video projections create a visual voice for these organizations and like electronic graffiti, bring awareness to issues of social, political and environmental justice.
Our latest video projection, “Air Story,” reminds people that climate change is an undisputed fact among scientists and that there are many toxic substances in our air. The brief video projections will be showing at venues throughout Maine in 2017. Stay tuned for the next showing! You can see videos of some of our projections at Lumenarrt.org
An interactive component will allow viewers to find out the air quality in their zip code. Try it now! Visit the 10Green project at the University of Maine –> http://10green.org/ #WhatsYourBreathableNumber
The ARRT! (Artists Rapid Response Team!) met on Sunday and we painted 3 beautiful banners that were put to use immediately. Anita Clearfield and I worked on this one most of the day with help from our fearless co-ordinator Natasha Mayers and others in the group. This is my first post for my new website. I hope to be able to keep it current and would love feedback.
