Category: Maine Artist

Anne Spencer Art in the Stacks Exhibition at Stockton Springs Community Library

Stockton Springs Community Library will present works by artist Anne Spencer in an Art in the Stacks exhibition beginning Monday, October 31st through Thursday, December 22nd.

Spencer moved to Maine in 1972. While working as an occupational therapist at EMMC in Bangor, she also painted and exhibited with the Bangor Art Society. She received a degree in Fine Arts at Wilson College and an MA in the Interdisciplinary Program of Liberal Studies at University of Maine, Orono. Along with her painting career she has taught classes in watercolor and art history at Belfast Senior College.

Glen Cove Tide, a watercolor by Anne Spencer

Anne Spencer’s art has had a strong connection to SSCL as she was a longtime member of the weekly painting group at the library. She was the first artist to exhibit her work to help support the SSCL endowment fund and she helped to launch the library’s Pie & Art Festival, which will celebrate its 10th year in 2023. A percentage of any sales in the exhibition will benefit the SSCL endowment fund.

The exhibition will be on view during regular library open hours, which are Monday 3 – 5 pm, Tuesday 4 – 7 pm, Wednesday 3 – 5 pm, Thursday 9 am – noon and 6:30 – 8:30 pm, and Saturday 9 am – 3 pm.

The library will host a Meet & Greet with the artist on Saturday, November 5th from 11 am to 1 pm. All are welcome.

Stockton Springs Community Library is an all volunteer library located in the historic Colcord House at the corner of Main and Station Streets in downtown Stockton Springs. For more information phone 567-4147 or visit www.stocktonspringslibrary.org.

Local Authors Night at Stockton Springs Community Library August 17th

The Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will present three local authors from Maine Authors Publishing and Cooperative on Wednesday, August 17th at 6:30 pm. The participating writers are William Anthony, Hans Krichels, and Janet Williams.

William Anthony lives primarily in Maine with his wife and an English Lab and a Maine coon cat. When he’s not writing or painting, he’s out on the Damariscotta River in the Susan B., a Maine-built wooden boat. His book Farnsy is a novel featuring William Phineas Farnsworth (Farnsy), a young police officer in his hometown on the Maine Coast. He loves police work, but his relationship with Lucy is off again, and with his 35th birthday looming, he feels trapped in a life as predictable as the tides – until some Necco wafers appear mysteriously in summer cottages on nearby lakes. Anthony paints a rich picture of a Maine town and its vibrant characters.

Hans Krichels is a teacher, writer, and woodcarver who lives with his partner, Nancy, in Bucksport, Maine, where he has lived and worked since 1971. His recent book, We Have Met the Enemy is a collection of essays, screeds, and story-poems all based on observations and happenings during the days of the pandemic in the author’s town. His recent work also includes pieces in Goose River Anthology 2019 and Willie Knows Who Done It, a collection of Maine Based Stories. 

Janet Williams grew up in England and immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 20. She worked and raised her family in Cleveland and retired to Maine in 2007. Always an animal lover, all of her dogs and cats come from a shelter or off the street. Her recent book, Maxx and Mrs. Queen is a heartwarming and unusual animal rescue story. Maxx, Harry, Greta, Tootsie, and ZaZa were themselves homeless until Uncle Oscar found them one cold, dark night and took them home. At the invitation of Mrs. Queen, Uncle Oscar takes his family to the palace for tea, and so begins this imaginative animal rescue story.

All are welcome. Autographed copies of the books will be available for purchase following the presentation.

Visit www.maineauthorspublishing.com for more information about Maine Authors Publishing and Cooperative.

For more information visit www.stocktonspringslibrary.org or 207-567-4147.

Art in the Stacks at Stockton Springs Community Library Features Binders Keepers Altered Books

Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will present a special Holiday Art in the Stacks exhibition featuring altered books by Stockton Springs artist and entrepreneur Chelsea Porter from Monday, November 29th until Thursday, December 23rd.

Porter’s business, Binders Keepers, features books cut and folded into intricate designs. She started using this art form in 2017 when she learned the basic technique from her mother and aunt. Each book is measured, marked, and then folded page by page to make the design. Porter is able to create nearly any design imaginable and is able to personalize the artwork by folding in names or special dates.

Crafting an image or word into the book can take between four and twenty hours to complete. Porter acknowledges that it is time consuming yet therapeutic. Though each design varies, each requires a hardcover book with a minimum of 500 pages. She mainly uses books that are poised to be thrown away. 

Porter markets her work through an Etsy site: www.etsy.com/shop/BindersKeepersArt

Despite the pandemic, Porter has seen her online sales increase, and since joining the platform in 2017 she has shipped her creations to customers in 43 states.

Holiday Art in the Stacks will be open for viewing during library hours: Monday 3 – 5 pm, Tuesday 4 – 7 pm, Wednesday 3 – 5 pm, Thursday 9 am – Noon and 6:30 – 8:30 pm, and Saturday 9 am – 3 pm.

Sale of Porter’s work will benefit the library and the artist.

SSCL is an all volunteer library located in the heart of Stockton Springs. For more information visit www.stocktonspringslibrary.org or phone 207-567-4147.

8th Annual Pie and Art Festival at Stockton Springs Community Library August 21st

Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will host its 8th Annual Pie and Art Festival on Saturday, August 21st from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. This popular fundraising event provides an opportunity to feed your body and soul, offering a variety of homemade pies and fine art from outstanding Maine artists.

Participating artists are Judy Belasco, Mary Braun, Sarah Faragher, Sue Garrett, Bill Landmesser, Scott Moore, Chelsea Porter (aka Binders Keepers), Betty Schopmeyer, Anne Spencer, Dawn Staples-Knox, Jo Swift, Peter Walls, and Anne Marie Welsh.

Following the event, remaining artwork will be displayed in the library’s non-fiction room for “Art in the Stacks.” It will be available for viewing and purchase during the library’s open hours through August 28th. Sale of artwork will benefit both the library and the artists.

2021 Copyright Judy Belasco. Painting. Stockton Springs Maine

SSCL is an all-volunteer community library. For more information call 207-567-4147.

“Art in the Stacks” artist Anne Spencer

Anne was named the Featured Artist for the 2020 Senior College Art Festival, held at the Hutchinson Center in Belfast each year.  She had an early interest in drawing, painting, and lettering. She received a BA in Fine Arts from Wilson College including courses in art history, aesthetics, oil painting, and graphic design. She received professional competency in Occupational Therapy from the University of Pennsylvania. 

During her 45 years of OT practice, 26 years in Maine, Anne continued painting and exhibiting, as well as traveling extensively. She received an MA from the University of Maine, at Orono in Liberal Studies, in areas of art, history, and health. 

“I continue to exhibit paintings and enjoy teaching watercolor classes to students who are interested in drawing and painting yet fearful to begin.”

Anne Spencer

Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) is please to be partnering with Anne Spencer in presenting her work at the upcoming “Art in the Stacks” event, which is to be held during SSCL’s open hours: Monday and Wednesday 3-5; Tuesday 4-7; Thursday 9-12 and 6:30-8:30; and Saturday 9-3 from September 3 through October 8. For more information contact the library at 207-567-4147.