Radio Maine with Dr. Lisa Belisle

Empower Art: Beth Wilbur Van Mierlo

Aroostook County native Beth Wilbur Van Mierlo credits her northern Maine upbringing with exposing her to values that have become integral to her experience as an artist and educator. Like many kids in her agricultural community, Beth grew up picking potatoes from an early age. This helped her understand the importance of hard work, community and connection. Perhaps equally important to her development was Beth’s experience with dyslexia, undiagnosed until she was a sophomore in college. “There are times with dyslexia I can't spell–I can't put a sentence together–and I feel inadequate,” says Beth, who founded Portland’s Oak Street Studios almost twenty-five years ago.  “Art has given me the power to say, ‘I'm still smart, I still matter and look at what I can do.’” Beth’s non-profit, Side x Side, similarly embodies this concept. Side x Side pairs teaching artists with classroom teachers to create an inclusive environment where students feel a sense of belonging, while also empowering teachers to explore their own creative potential. Join our conversation about art, inclusivity and connection with Beth Wilbur Van Mierlo today on Radio Maine.

Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, designers, and more. 

Subscribe to Radio Maine on YouTube, so you never miss an episode.

Encaustic Energy: Artist Dale Roberts

Raised in upstate New York, artist Dale Roberts has fond childhood memories of fishing, building forts and exploring the rural area in which he lived. His early attention to the world around him has never ceased.  Dale’s exquisite work with encaustic painting reflects a careful attention to detail in his everyday life, whether he is out running near his Pennsylvania home, or traveling abroad. Dale first learned about encaustic painting at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Henrietta, New York, and found that this ancient medium helped him capture a unique perspective.  He is fascinated by the weathering and corrosion of subjects, and the possibility of embodying impermanence in art.  Join our conversation with one of Portland Art Gallery’s newest artists, Dale Roberts, today on Radio Maine.

Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, designers, and more. 

Subscribe to Radio Maine on YouTube, so you never miss an episode.

Dale Roberts is represented by the Portland Art Gallery of Maine. Click here to view his art.

Becoming a Professional Photographer: Meet Maine Creative Kari Herer

Kari Herer never intended to become a professional photographer, despite an early interest in the art form. As the director of photography at the high-end stationery company William Arthur, Kari had the opportunity to experiment with lighting as she sought to capture the beauty of their products. Time spent at the Maine Media Workshops in Rockport convinced her to pursue her craft further, and she has gone on to have her work featured on multiple platforms, from magazines and book covers, to billboards. Kari has become known for ability to help people feel comfortable in front of the camera, creating images that are both intimate and accessible. Raised in a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a graduate of the University of Idaho, Kari now lives in the Portland area with her two children. One of her recent projects is a documentary about her teacher and famed photographer, Sam Abell. Join our conversation with Kari Herer today on Radio Maine.

Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, designers, and more. Subscribe to Radio Maine on YouTube so you never miss an episode.

Modern Day Renaissance Sculptor: Andreas von Huene

Born in Bath, Maine, and raised in Brookline, Massachusetts, sculptor Andreas von Huene has been strongly connected to the region’s creative community from his earliest years. His parents emphasized the importance of arts and culture, speaking multiple languages in their home, and regularly bringing Andreas and his four siblings to area concerts and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. A graduate of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, his father, Friedrich, founded Brookline’s von Huene Workshop, Inc., in 1960, and became a pioneer in the reproduction of historical woodwind instruments. After earning degrees in engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts and Stanford University in California, Andreas returned to Maine, and his artistic roots, creating sculptures of stone, wood and metal from his studio in Woolwich. Along the way, Andreas has enjoyed the company of other renowned Maine sculptors, and participated in events such as the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium and creation of the Maine Sculpture Trail in Downeast Maine. Join our conversation with Portland Art Gallery sculptor Andreas von Huene today on Radio Maine. 

Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, designers, and more. Subscribe to Radio Maine on YouTube so you never miss an episode.

This artist is represented by the Portland Art Gallery of Maine. Click here to view his art.

Illustrating Plovers: Bruce Hutchinson

Illustrator Bruce Hutchinson has become passionate about piping plovers. This is perhaps not surprising, given that he shares an affinity for Maine beaches with these tiny endangered birds. Raised in Waterville, Maine, Bruce’s large Catholic family squeezed into their Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser and drove to Reid State Park in coastal Georgetown almost every Sunday after mass. Tuning into this deeply ingrained ocean connection, Bruce and his wife would go on to live in Cape Elizabeth once their children were grown. When local author Andrew Fersch reached out to Bruce to collaborate on a children’s book about the plovers, set on nearby Higgins Beach, Bruce was immediately intrigued. Bruce, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, and longtime professional illustrator, has put his considerable talents to use on this project, which is due to be published in August. Join our conversation with Bruce Hutchinson today on Radio Maine.

Camden Talent Group Founder Melissa Coulombe

Driven by her desire for work-life balance and her passion for entrepreneurship, former attorney Melissa Coulombe took a chance when she started a legal recruiting firm at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Raised in Lewiston, Melissa now lives in southern Maine, but her ambitions are not limited by geography: the Camden Talent Group, specializes in high-profile partner placements in the Boston and Washington, DC areas. A lover of art, Melissa applies her own creativity to working toward personal career fulfillment for herself and others. Join our conversation with Melissa Coulombe today on Radio Maine.

Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, designers, and more. Subscribe to Radio Maine on YouTube so you never miss an episode.

Defying Labels: Jack Soley

Jack Soley is reimagining the way in which Maine approaches and builds workforce housing.  This is an interesting turnaround for someone who admits that his initial entry into real estate was somewhat begrudging. In the late eighties, he was teaching at Portland’s King Middle School, working on Outward Bound courses and designing furniture, when one of his brothers first floated the idea for a new professional path. Jack eventually agreed, and approached this the way he approaches all of his varied pursuits: with robust intellectual curiosity. His interests and education in theology, service and design have contributed to his desire to make it possible for Maine people to live in beautiful, affordable spaces. Learn more about Jack Soley’s passion for this important work today on Radio Maine.

Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, designers, and more. Subscribe to Radio Maine on YouTube so you never miss an episode.

Setting the Pace: Chris Strong

Chris Strong has always lived up to her name. She grew up in Thomaston, Maine– a coastal town so small that her beloved high school (Georges Valley) no longer exists, having since merged with those in other local communities. The lessons she learned there, however, have had an outsized impact on Chris. After almost losing her leg in a freak childhood accident, Chris would go on to play alongside the boys on the town’s only soccer team, long before this was a widely accepted practice. Her resilience and tenaciousness served her well as a Division I basketball standout at the University of Maine. Chris has carried these traits into adulthood, through careers in law, athletic training/coaching, and, most recently, real estate appraisal. Join our conversation with this strong, inspirational Maine woman, today on Radio Maine.

Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, designers, and more. Subscribe to Radio Maine on YouTube so you never miss an episode.

Liz Prescott’s Art World: Creating,Teaching and Community

New England native Liz Prescott loves to teach, and her passion for painting is apparent when she talks about process and technique. Liz earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Maine College of Art in Portland, and a Master of Fine Arts from the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier. A lifelong learner, she names Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being as a recent source of inspiration. Liz loves being in nature, and incorporates beautiful settings into her teaching through her Monhegan Island workshops. Join our conversation with Portland Art Gallery artist Liz Prescott today on Radio Maine. 

Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, designers, and more. Subscribe to Radio Maine on YouTube so you never miss an episode.

Liz Prescott is represented by the Portland Art Gallery of Maine. Click here to view her art.

From Ireland to Maine: Artist Christopher O’Connor

When artist Christopher O’Connor arrived in Maine, one of the first things he did was to visit a few of the state’s many islands. A native of Ireland, he soon noted the similarities and differences between the two coastlines. Christopher spent many childhood hours exploring the Irish seashore, clambering over ledges covered with moss and lichen, due to the country’s persistent damp weather. He quickly became intrigued by the stark angularity of Maine’s rocky coast, which proved a source of inspiration for his abstract yet intricate work. Join our conversation with Christopher O’Connor today on Radio Maine.

Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, designers, and more. Subscribe to Radio Maine on YouTube so you never miss an episode.

Christopher O'Connor is represented by the Portland Art Gallery of Maine. Click here to view his art.