Radio Maine with Dr. Lisa Belisle

Maine Healthcare Professional Laura Mrazik Discusses her Enduring Passion for Art

Artist Laura Mrazik is a person of many talents. Her educational background includes an undergraduate degree in community health education and a master’s in public health from the University of Maine system. She currently works as the manager of telehealth for one of Maine’s largest healthcare organizations. Most evenings, after her young children are in bed, she can be found in her home studio, engaged in something for which she has always had a passion: painting. Join us to learn more about emerging artist Laura Mrazik, her ongoing commitment to art, and the contribution that it has made to her life and the lives of others, 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.

Quincy Hentzel Discusses What’s New with the Portland Maine Regional Chamber of Commerce

Quincy Hentzel had been leading the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce for three years when the global pandemic dramatically shifted the landscape. Previously Quincy had been highly regarded, and known to be proficient at leading the effort to support business in Maine’s largest city, but this put her leadership skills to the test. In a time of great uncertainty, multiple stakeholder groups had proposed initiatives that could negatively impact economic viability. Quincy met this significant challenge unphased, while continuing to address other important issues such as affordable housing, workforce and inclusivity. Join our conversation with Quincy Hentzel 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.

From Northern Maine To Commander of US Naval Forces Europe. Meet Admiral ”Grog” Johnson USN Ret.

Growing up in a small town in Northern Maine, Admiral Gregory Johnson, USN, Retired, could not have foretold that he would spend more than three decades traveling the world with the United States military. With a BA in political science from the University of Maine in Orono, and an acceptance letter to attend law school in his home state, it seemed his dream of becoming an attorney was within reach. Then Greg got word that he would soon be drafted to serve in Vietnam. He rescinded his law school acceptance and joined the Navy, where he would go on to become a pilot, with the call sign of “Grog.” Continuing on this path, Grog Johnson eventually became the commander of the United States Naval Forces Europe and Allied Forces Southern Europe, working with several well known diplomats, including the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs Colin Powell, and former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen (himself a son of Maine). Along the way, Grog shared his love of literature and Maine art with embassies across the globe. Learn more about Greg “Grog” Johnson on today’s episode of 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.

Maine Interior Design Meets the Optimism of Brady-Anne Winn at Nineteen Skies

Interior designer Brady-Anne Winn has approached her life with both unbridled optimism and unwavering persistence. Despite a few setbacks, and occasional advice from others that did not ring true, she has remained committed to her vision, and provided the space for her clients to do the same.  In naming her most recent venture Nineteen Skies, she pays homage to the global pandemic, reflecting her belief that a seemingly ominous horizon may portend unseen opportunities. With that commitment, and a high degree of humility, Maine native Brady-Anne has become a respected member of the state’s interior design community. Join our conversation with Brady-Anne Winn 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.

Classical Uprising: Dr. Emily Isaacson Is Immersing Maine in Classical Music

Maine native Dr. Emily Isaacson is the founder and artistic director of Classical Uprising, a group of immersive community-oriented music programs that include the popular Portland Bach Experience. Emily is passionate about creating access to classical music, and illuminating its meaningful intersection with contemporary culture. Her original doctoral work in conducting and music literature provided her with a unique–and occasionally uncomfortable–perspective on leadership and inclusivity that has strengthened her resolve to have a more open and appreciative approach within this competitive field. Join Dr. Emily Isaacson’s conversation with Dr. Lisa Belisle 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.

Portland, Maine Art and Culture: Cooper Dragonette Discusses his Artistic Path and ”Plein Air” Style

Known for his plein air landscapes, artist Cooper Dragonette has spent recent months experimenting with a different reality: that of time past. His newer pieces draw upon his unique background as an teacher and instructor, exploring Maine’s remote outer islands with the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School. Considering this contrast of approaches–integrating one’s self and memories into one’s work, rather than focusing solely on the present moment–provides an opportunity for reflection on the nature of being human, and how art is uniquely positioned to capture this experience. Please join our conversation with Cooper Dragonette on this episode of Radio Maine with Dr. Lisa Belisle.

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.

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

Iconic Maine Artist Philip Barter on Painting His Former Place of Employment: The Working Waterfront

"Philip Barter turns 83 in 2023, and the Portland Art Gallery is celebrating his 60 years of creating iconic Maine art with a solo exhibition. Much of the work presented will be from Philip’s private collection that he has meticulously stored away for decades. This is what Carl Little, Maine art critic and author, says about Philip Barter "Barter's art harks back to Marsden Hartley and other American Modernists and their abstracting ways; a kind of school has sprung up in his impressive wake. You can hear the gallery-goer point to a brashly painted Maine landscape by a contemporary and say, 'I see a bit of Barter there.'

"Like Andrew Wyeth, he has his emulators. And you can understand why: the appeal of Barter's stylized renderings of trees and rivers, mountains and clouds, is powerful. His ability to extract the essence of the landscape provokes marvel. He sees the geometry of a peak, the jagged coursing of woodland streams, and a snowfield's curving contours. His palette, often not for the faint of hue, underscores his lively vision."

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.

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

New England Artist Moves to Utah. Catching Up With Julia Blake on Radio Maine with Dr. Lisa Belisle

Julia Blake’s family and faith have had a profound impact on her art. She often returns to images of bright red poppies, which represent seasonal rebirth, and trees that represent the female deity. As a mother of six, Julia also strives to create a consistent and long lasting identity for herself as an artist. She has similarly encouraged her children to go out into the world to find their own paths. While Julia’s family considerations have recently prompted a move back to Utah from New England, she remains a vibrant member of the Portland Art Gallery community.

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.

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

Beloved Torpedo Factory Artist Moves to Maine: Artist Sheep Jones

Sheep Jones is much beloved by art collectors across the United States. Raised in Waterville, Maine, she was affiliated for many years with the acclaimed Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia. When her husband, Charlie, died in his early 60’s, Sheep returned to Maine, to be near her sister, Julie Cyr (also an artist), in coastal Belfast. Following Julie’s death due to cancer in December 2019, Sheep once again restructured her life to spend more time with her sons and grandchildren. She now alternates between their homes in California and Texas, and her own in Belfast, while maintaining art studios in each location. Join our conversation about art, resilience, and their intertwining, 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.

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

Career Communicator with an Intriguing Personal Trajectory: Jon Foley Sherman

Jon Foley Sherman has an intriguing academic and professional background.  A self-described “career communicator,” his formal education includes an undergraduate degree from Middlebury College in Vermont, a Diplôme from L'École International du Théàtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Jon draws additional expertise from his background in theater, teaching, and consulting. He now works in a mission-driven healthcare organization, where he brings his passion to understanding and improving patient and staff experiences. Join our conversation with Jon Foley Sherman 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.