Please note the change in date. The Meet and Greet with William Landmesser has been rescheduled to be held Sunday, October 8, from 1 to 3 pm.
Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will present works by artist William Landmesser in an Art in the Stacks exhibition beginning Monday, October 2nd through Thursday, December 21st. The library will host a Meet & Greet event with the artist on Sunday, October 8th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm. All are welcome.
Born in Albany, New York, William Landmesser grew up immersed in the visual beauty of northern New York State and New England. Childhood summers were spent in Searsport, Maine. At Dartmouth College Mr. Landmesser studied with Hannes Beckmann, Varujan Boghosian, Ashley Bryan, and Gary Milek. For three years following graduation while teaching at private secondary schools, community art classes increased his zeal to pursue visual art. In 1977 Landmesser enrolled full time at the Art Institute of Boston, studying with Nathan Goldstein and Patricia Cobb. Eager to learn independently, the student moved to Woodstock, Vermont where the Upper Connecticut River Valley and Dartmouth College environs served as his muse.
While spending time in 1980 on Long Island’s East End, Landmesser experienced a spiritual awakening. He also began receiving recognition from Hirschl & Adler Gallery (New York City) and Martha White Gallery (Louisville), where his work was shown with that of Fairfield Porter and Robert Dash. Included in the 1981 exhibit, Sunlight on Leaves, the Impressionist Tradition (Museum of Fine Arts, Houston), Mr. Landmesser was referenced as “one of the promising young artists of the next generation.” Desiring to integrate his faith and work, he entered Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary where he led the student fine arts committee, continued painting, and received a Master’s degree in Theological Studies. In 1989 the artist and his wife moved to Stockton Springs, Maine. A former garage was moved to their land and converted into a studio/gallery. Another structure was moved onto the property and evolved over time into the home they refer to as Fern Hill.
Alluding to geographical landmarks and spiritual realities, Mr. Landmesser renamed his gallery in 2017. Narrows Art Gallery is situated near the Penobscot River as it cuts through steeply wooded hills before emptying into Penobscot Bay. Spiritually, a “Narrows” has come to denote for the artist those moments when God’s mercy awakens one to ultimate reality. The process of “seeing” is a metaphor for and manifestation of this Mercy. Looking back over his life and work, the artist acknowledges with gratitude a journey which has not been taken alone. Learn more about the artist at www.landmesserfineart.com
The sale of artwork will benefit the library and the artist. One painting will invite bids in a silent auction which will take place throughout the exhibition. The Art in the Stacks exhibit may be viewed during regular library hours: Mon. & Wed. 3 – 5 pm, Tues. 4 – 7 pm, Thurs. 9 am – noon and 6:30 – 8:30 pm, and Sat. 9 am – 3 pm. SSCL is an all-volunteer library located in the heart of downtown Stockton Springs. For more information phone 567-4147 or visitwww.stocktonspringslibrary.org
