Radio Maine with Dr. Lisa Belisle

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.

A California Art Instructor Shows Abstract Installations in Portland, Maine: Meet Bibby Gignilliat

Bibby Gignilliat had a varied career path, including more than two decades running her own business, before she decided to do something that would feed her soul. Heeding the advice of author Julia Cameron, well known for her book, The Artist’s Way, Bibby returned to doing something she loved as a child: creating art. She sought out the teachers and colleagues who supported this new journey, and slowly gained the confidence she needed to emerge as a mixed media collage artist. Using skills she gained through teaching corporate cooking classes and facilitating events, Bibby launched an online art course. To date this California resident has reached more than 700 students worldwide. Join our conversation with Portland Art Gallery artist, Bibby Gignilliat, 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:

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

Maine Artist Bella Weidner on Art, Homesteading, and Van Life

Artist Bella Weidner has never been afraid of doing what she wants to do–including selling her Cumberland, Maine homestead, so that she and her young  family could travel the country in their camper.  She comes by her adventurous inclinations honestly, with parents who first came to the U.S. from Argentina, and then uprooted themselves once again as they moved with their children from California to New England. Along the way, Bella developed an eye for beauty and color, which led her to pursue an art education. Bella now lives and creates art in Stockton Springs (near Belfast), where she and her husband rent cottages to Maine’s coastal visitors, all while raising their son, Che. Join our conversation with the intrepid and innovative Bella Weidner 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:

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

 

Teaching Expands Perspective and Inspires this Established Maine Artist: Dietlind Vander Schaaf

Teaching is an important source of perspective and inspiration for artist Dietlind Vander Schaaf. Through her interactions with students, she has the opportunity to reflect on her own very prolific art practice, both with regard to process and outcome. Dietland continues to experiment with colors and her signature mark-making, while at the same time acknowledging that vision often comes before the ability to execute a given idea–and that this tension is not always easy. She remains committed to her creative evolution, and carries this into the business of art-making as well. Join our conversation with Dietlind Vander Schaaf 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:

Dietlind Vander Schaaf is represented by the Portland Art Gallery of Maine. Click here to view her art.

Participating in the Thoughtful Building of Portland Maine’s Future: Meet Emily McConnell

Growing up in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine, Emily McConnell considered Portland to be “the big city.” Though she felt a certain attraction to its urban energy, Emily did not yet have a sense that she would one day be contributing to its evolution. Maine’s largest municipality has experienced increased attention nationally in recent years, both for its liveability and for its economic opportunities. Anticipating the increased demand for housing options, the NewHeight Group has been at the center of several exciting projects, including the conversion of the former Northern Light Mercy Hospital building on State Street. NewHeight partner Emily McConnell has been actively engaged in this transformation, while simultaneously working toward her own, very significant professional transformation. Hear Emily’s reflections on change 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.

Portland, Maine Artist Spreads Happiness With His Art and Hands-On Engagement: Meet Rick Hamilton

Rick Hamilton’s art brings joy to those who experience it. This is true when it is invited into the homes of those who have chosen it for their own, and also for those who are present during its creation. Such was the case recently, when Rick brought his easel, paints and a 6 x 10 foot canvas to the Portland Art Gallery, and created the piece “We’ll Always Stick Together,” with the participation of gallery visitors of all ages. This experience continued a dialogue of happiness that Rick seems always in the midst of, and produced a sizable work that now hangs on the wall of a local business. 

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.

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