The arts agency for the cities of Lewiston and Auburn, Maine

Having dabbled in the arts for the past 20 years, Jodi Raymond has stepped for her first showing.  Her works of acrylic on canvas and board are vibrant and eye catching and are now on display in the Art & Ale window outside of Gritty’s in auburn.  Stop by and take a peak, the warm colors and sunny landscapes will transport your to warmer temperatures!   Jodi’s work can be seen through the end of  March at the Auburn Gritty’s Art & Ale window

   

 

 

Winter Art Walk Lewiston/Auburn

Friday, November 29th (Black Friday)

Time: 5:00-8:00

Location: Lisbon Street and surrounding downtown Lewiston.

Get a jump start on Small Business Saturday and skip the long lines at the big box stores on Black Friday, by supporting local business and art during the Winter Art Walk on Friday, November 29th. November marks the second month of our Winter Art Walk series and thanks to the participation of local businesses and local artists, stores and restaurants will be open and buzzing with beautiful works of art, and live music performances to help keep you warm. Lisbon Street shops will have their windows decorated for the holidays, and there will be a special holiday raffle for those who shop at the Winter Art Walk and Small Business Saturday. Local, one-of-a-kind art makes unique and thoughtful gifts this time of year, and there are sure to be dozens of pieces to choose from!

This month’s Art Walk will feature the following venues: She Doesn’t Like Guthrie’s (115 Middle St.), Lyceum Gallery (49 Lisbon St.), The Vault (84 Lisbon St.), Rainbow Bicycle (84 Lisbon St.), Bread Shack (97 Lisbon St.), Forage Market (180 Lisbon St.), Chill Yoga (2nd floor, 178 Lisbon St.), Downtown Handmade & Vintage (2nd floor, 178 Lisbon St.), Life Ideals (3rd floor, 178 Lisbon St.), Kimball Street Studio (191 Lisbon St.), Dube’s Flowers (window exhibit, 195 Lisbon St.), Cooney Gallery (219 Lisbon St.), and New Beginnings (window exhibit, 245 Lisbon St.).

*Due to the Holiday, LA Arts and Lewiston Public Library will not be participating in November Art Walk

In addition to displaying artwork, many of the All-Seasons Art Walk restaurants and businesses will offer additional Art Walk features, such as live entertainment or special promotions.

The Vault will be hosting a wine tasting and will be featuring the works of Claude Bergeron.

Lyceum Gallery will be exhibiting their Precious Things, Holiday Exhibit

Downtown Handmade & Vintage will feature both music and art this month! An inventive outdoor art installation from over 50 local fiber artists, knitters and crocheters will be on display during the art walk, and over the entire weekend. Come see intricate designs as they lace their way along the fence across the street from Forage Market. They will also be providing live music from Arborea, one of Rolling Stone’s “Best Under-the-Radar Albums of 2011”. They’ve traveled the world, and are coming to Downtown Handmade & Vintage on Friday, November 29th to share their brand of folk music with you!

She Doesn’t Like Guthrie’s will be featuring the talents of local artist Janelle Demers, and the Portland Rhumba Project . The Portland Rhumba Project will perform at Guthries at 8:00pm, and there is no cover for this event. The Portland Rhumba Project plays dance music shaped and influenced by the great bands of central and southern Africa. They write, record and perform original music as well as classic radio hits from Zimbabwe and beyond. Matt Wasowski (guitar, vocals), Damon Holman (bass, vocals), Frank Tutwiler (guitar) and Cameron Lopez (drums, vocals) have recently released an EP entitled “Driving in Accra”.

Janelle Demers is a local portrait artist who will be displaying a wide range of her work, including aviation art, wild animals, and dog portraits from her “200 Faces” series, which began in 2009. She paints portraits by commission from photos of people or animals that are sent to her, and invites all members of the community to be part of the project. She has currently completed 142 of the 200. For more information please visit www.200faces.com

On the last Friday evening from May-September in Lewiston, the downtown district has been hosting crowds of people to enjoy Artwalk LA’s visual arts exhibits, live entertainment, and creative foods and drinks. Based on its success, local businesses and community organizations are proud to partner on the continuation of Artwalk through the winter, and invite the public to the ongoing celebration. This version will feature 14 visual arts gallery spaces with new artwork each month, and special events including live performances, food and drink tastings, and/or special promotions. The air may be getting colder, but the indoor art and entertainment with Artwalk LA will stay warm throughout the year.

This month’s Art Walk will feature the following venues: She Doesn’t Like Guthrie’s (115 Middle St.), Lyceum Gallery (49 Lisbon St.), The Vault (84 Lisbon St.), Rainbow Bicycle (84 Lisbon St.), Bread Shack (97 Lisbon St.), Forage Market (180 Lisbon St.), Chill Yoga (2nd floor, 178 Lisbon St.), Downtown Handmade & Vintage (2nd floor, 178 Lisbon St.), Life Ideals (3rd floor, 178 Lisbon St.), Kimball Street Studio (191 Lisbon St.), Dube’s Flowers (window exhibit, 195 Lisbon St.), Cooney Gallery (219 Lisbon St.), L/A Arts (221 Lisbon St.), and New Beginnings (window exhibit, 245 Lisbon St.).

Featured Venue: She Doesn’t Like Guthrie’s

During the October Artwalk, stop by She Doesn’t Like Guthrie’s to view found object artist Terry Grasse’s work, and head back after the event for some live music beginning at 8 p.m. Guthrie’s will be featuring the talents of two artists: John Elliot and Terry Grasse. Elliot, who hails from the “other L/A”, is a singer/songwriter and producer. According to the San Diego Troubadour, Elliot’s songs are “well-crafted, concise, and very catchy” and his voice has a “stylistic melancholy tone and charisma.” He has been featured on television shows (Grey’s Anatomy, One Tree Hill); Neil Young’s “Living with War” website; radio stations across the country; in cars, on iPods, and around the campfire. Grasse is a found-object sculptor from Brunswick, ME. He works with recycled and found materials to make masks of characters, ranging anywhere from forest creatures to futuristic creations.

September

Featuring visual art in over 23 venues, live music from Turner Templeton, Boys and Girls Club special exhibit, live storefront visual art making from Grow L+A, onsite Pretty in Paint Party, $500 L.L. Bean gift card raffle, fashion show from Tree Street Youth, and creative foods and entertainment from local restaurants, all together on one night…

Art Walk: Friday, September 27th, 2013
5:00-8:30PM

DUFRESNE PLAZA – LIVE MUSIC (Lisbon Street)
Rain Location – Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library
5:30-7:30pm Turner Templeton
6:15-6:45pm Tree Street Youth Fashion Show

Art Walk Lewiston Auburn is excited to announce its Art Walk finale! On Friday, September 27th, musicians, artists and art appreciators will hit the streets of downtown Lewiston, Lisbon St. and the surrounding area for the last Art Walk of the season. Art Walk Lewiston Auburn will offer art from local artists in 23 different venues, live storefront visual art making from Grow L+A, a special Boys and Girls Club exhibition featuring beautiful scenic photography from Boys and Girls members, LL Bean gift card raffle, food, drink, music and much, much more.

At 5:30 p.m., musical duo Turner Templeton will kick off the event in Dufresne Plaza. This two-man band from Western Maine brings together influences of rock n’roll, jazz, blues, country and bluegrass, to create an organic style of electrified Americana. Also at Dufresne, from 6:15-6:45 p.m. a local youth designer Sahro Hassan from Tree Street Youth will display her latest fashions live. Down the street at LA Arts from 5:30-8:30 p.m., there will be an onsite Pretty in Paint Party will take place with host CarlaRose Dubois. For a small fee, you can join this mobile “art party” to create an original work of art.

L/A Arts Strategic Fund Raffle: $500 GIFT CARD

As part of the September Art Walk, L/A Arts will be raffling off a $500 gift card generously donated from L.L. Bean. Tickets will be sold by L/A Arts Board members for $5 each, or 5 for $20, and can be purchased at two locations throughout the Art Walk: L/A Arts (221 Lisbon Street) and Lamey-Wellehan Gallery (113 Lisbon Street). The actual raffle will take place at LA Arts at 8:00 p.m. and participants need not be present to win! All proceeds from the raffle will go directly to the L/A Arts Strategic Action Fund. For more information please visit laarts.org.

Boys and Girls Club: Southern Maine Photo Exhibition

LA Arts Community Gallery (221 Lisbon St.) is excited to host the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maine annual Photo Exhibition. More than 60 photos taken by local youth ages 7-17 will be on display. This celebration of scenic vistas, downtown landscapes, summer sunsets and winter hikes features works from members of Boys & Girls Clubs Southern Maine Auburn-Lewiston Clubhouse who have participated in photography and hiking programs through The Boys and Girls club. Gallery visitors will be asked to vote for their favorite photographs, and the top 13 photographs will be used in the 2014 Boys and Girls Club calendar. For more information on the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maine, visit http://www.bgcmaine.org/.

Grow L+A Preservation Pictionary

As part of the ArtWalk, visitors can enjoy Grow L+A’s Preservation Pictionary. Stop by the Grants Building display window and watch as it is remade into a live artist studio. Local artists will depict historical landmarks around Lewiston-Auburn, and it’s up to you to guess the location. Grow L+A works to connect people and facilitate change in our community, while respecting our history and the needs of future generations. Watch them work, win prizes and engage and important conversations about L/A’s past, present and future.

Grow L+A Live Visual Art Demonstration – Artwalk August 30th, 2013

Performer Bio: Turner Templeton –
5:30pm Dufresne Plaza

Hailing from Western Maine, Turner Templeton is a two-man band whose sound is greater than the sum of its parts. In addition to punchy rhythm guitar and rollicking bass lines, Tom Stevens provides percussion from a mini tambourine on his left foot and a Mississippi drum machine on his right, while Joe Hodgkins cultivates flourishing leads and rhythms through his semi-hollow electric guitar. Both men sing, their unique voices blending together influences from rock ‘n’ roll, jazz, blues, country, and bluegrass, creating an organic style of electrified Americana. They play toe-tapping originals and covers ranging from John Coltrane to Charlie Daniels – all with the ease and intimacy of a duo that has been playing together for years. Want a preview? Check out http://turnertempleton.com

Pretty in Paint Party

5:30-8:30pm L/A Arts (221 Lisbon St)

Pretty in Paint in pleased to announce its expansion into Southern and Central Maine. Specializing in at-home painting parties, Pretty in Pink is designed to bring out the artist in everyone. These mobile “art parties” are a novel way for people to spend time together in a relaxed social atmosphere, all the while creating an original masterpiece on a 16”x20” canvas. Interested? Sign up by contacting L/A Arts at 207-782-7228. Participation costs $35 per person, and all art supplies will be provided. For more information on Pretty in Paint parties, please visit http://www.prettyinpaintparties.com/

Live Fashion Show – Tree Street Youth

6:15-6:45pm Dufresne Plaza

Lewiston-Auburn ArtWalk and Tree Street Youth are pleased to present a fashion show featuring local fashion line Fashionuji. Last year, Sahro Hassan, then a junior in school, began Fashionuji as part of the Youth Entrepreneur Academy (an Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce program). Fashionuji is a traditional clothing line that designs and sells handmade formal dresses, intended to provide a locally-made clothing line for girls and women who value modest – while still fashionable – dress. Sahro has been designing her sophisticated formal-wear since she was thirteen, and she has recently started sewing her dresses at Tree Street Youth. Be sure to stop by the Fashionuji show and support this rising star!

ARTWALK BUSINESSES AND VENUES

In addition to displaying the artwork, many of the ArtWalk restaurants and businesses are also offering special promotions and/or food and beverage tastings. Stop in to see what surprises are in store!

September ArtWalk locations include: She Doesn’t Like Guthrie’s (115 Middle St.), J. Dostie Jewelers (4 Lisbon St.), Gateway Window Exhibit (11 Lisbon St.), Lyceum Gallery (49 Lisbon St.), Poliquin Hearing & Optical Window Exhibit (50 Lisbon Street), The Vault (84 Lisbon Street), Norman Hanson & Detroy (100 Lisbon St), Lamey Wellehan Gallery (110 Lisbon St.), Rainbow Bicycle/And soon to be Bread Shack! (97 Lisbon St.), Lamey Window Exhibit (113 Lisbon St.), FISC Window Exhibit (168 Lisbon St.), Forage Market (180 Lisbon St.), Chill Yoga (2nd Floor-178 Lisbon St), Downtown Handmade & Vintage (2nd Floor-178 Lisbon St.), Life Ideals (3rd Floor- 178 Lisbon), Hardy Wolfe & Downing (186 Lisbon St.), Kimball Street Studio (191 Lisbon St.) Dube’s Flowers Window Exhibit (195 Lisbon St.), Lewiston Public Library (200 Lisbon St.), Cooney Gallery ( 219 Lisbon St.) L/A Arts (221 Lisbon St.) Prose Gallery (223 Lisbon St.), New Beginnings Window Exhibit (245 Lisbon St.), Creative Trails (124 Canal St. suit B).

Special thank you to our season underwriter: Austin Associates and additional sponsor Center Street Dental

We are always on the look out for friendly and hardworking volunteers. To get involved with Art Walk Lewiston Auburn: send an email to [email protected] or call (207) 782-7228.

If you would like to make a donation to L/A Art’s Strategic Action Fund visit https://laarts.org/?p=2850.

May 31st
June 28th
July 26th
August 30th
September 27th

  The board of directors, interim executive director, and staff at L/A Arts are working hard to address the challenges they are facing, and are dedicated to moving forward with their valuable arts programs. “We have been meeting regularly, roughly 40 hours this week alone, to get a clear picture of our finances, prepare a new business plan, and to begin immediate measures to stabilize,” says board chair Judy Vardamis.

  The board takes responsibility for the financial situation, and has identified three areas for its downturn: a very challenging economic climate which reduced its funding, a recent initiative to extend L/A Arts mission in a new and dynamic way through larger public programs which fell short, and a lack of financial controls. The combination of these factors has caused the financial trouble the organization faces.

  Currently, L/A Arts is maintaining several key programs. Artwalk will continue with its 25 gallery exhibits, free arts performances, and creative foods. It is hosting three performances in its downstage space — two from local playwright Linda Britt as well as a theater piece by local high school students. “We are cutting costs,” says Vardamis, “while making the absolute best out of the programs we have.”

  The organization is asking for donations from the community and sponsors to help through this phase of strategic planning, continuation of existing programs, and to assist in paying down its debts. “We are asking all of our funders from the five dollar donor to the well resourced foundation to help us,” Vardamis says. “This will take time, but we are committed to satisfying all of our responsibilities. We know we can rely on the value this organization has had on the community, with the wonderful cultural, educational, and civic benefits our programs have been delivering for 40 years.” Each member of the board of directors has pledged their own individual financial contribution to begin what they are calling their “Strategic Action Fund”.

  L/A Arts also welcomes Marc Roy to the board, a CPA from Austin Associates, to assist in the finances. He has already shown his ability to define the fiscal issues in concrete terms and ensure that L/A Arts is using best practices. “These are undeniably difficult numbers, but the ship can be righted with a sound business model, strong internal controls, and the faith and support of the community, ” Mr. Roy says.

  As part of the plan to move forward, the board has appointed a new interim executive
director, Joshua Vink, who was formerly the director of arts in education. He and the board have been developing a new business plan, which will clarify the direction and goals of the organization for its partners and supporters. “We are working to refocus our mission towards Arts in Education programs and arts advocacy,” Mr. Vink says. As for his new role, he states “I am grateful for the kind words, the phone calls of support, and the input from community leaders and friends of the organization who want to help.” Mr. Vink brings successful leadership and experience in the non-profit arts sector and as an educator. In his role as director of education, this past school year L/A Arts served 75% of the students in the Lewiston school district with performances, residencies and/or workshops in multiple arts disciplines.

  At the beginning of its 40th year, L/A Arts is working diligently to solve its challenges and plan for the future. It is committed to rebuilding the trust of the community and fostering the wealth of artistry right here in Lewiston and Auburn for another 40 years.

For more information on L/A Arts, including how to donate to their “Strategic Action Fund”, go to www.laarts.org or call Board Chair Judy Vardamis at 207-782-7228.

Make a Donation to L/A Arts’ 2013 Strategic Action Fund