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

L/A Arts welcomes you to summer, and the official 2013 Art Walk Lewiston Auburn season! Downtown Lisbon Street will once more become an active arts district on May 31 from 5-9PM. Over 20 venues will host 300+ pieces of local art work. A free musical performance by local rock and roll musician, Peter Alexander and friends, will occur at 6PM in Dufresne Plaza, adjacent to 84 Lisbon St.

This summer’s Art Walk features five, signature themed events, the last Friday May – September. The May 31 kick off event unveils a newly developing community garden and venue in a vacant lot off of Lisbon Street. This Roman Ruin inspired “Arts Garden” has inspired the inaugural art walk theme to be a Garden Party. Dress in your Garden Party bests and take a walk with Art Walk Lewiston Auburn. Other themes include June: Color ME (Lisbon St. Mile Run), July: Diner en Blanc, August: Block Party, and September: Perform It!

Art Walk has increased their gallery list with six new additions including: Harold Strout Photography, Prose Gallery, the Cooney Gallery, Chill Yoga, Downtown Handmade and Vintage, She Doesn’t Like Guthries and Creative Trails. The twenty+ venues boast over 30 artists work in various medium, including acrylic, oil and water color paintings, photography, masks, sculpture, fibers arts and found art.

Artists presenting for the May 31 Art Walk include: Alexander Adams, Scott Ainsworth, Wais Ali, Claude Bergeron, Don Bernard, Stephanie Berry, Kate Casparius, P.V. Collins, Jeanelle Demers, Chris Eaton, Danielle Gerber, Noah Grenier-Farwell, Leon Gin, Kenneth Harvey, Kerry Landry, Stephen Lanzalotta, Mike Libby, Jennifer Locke, Margaret Murphy Center for Children, Matthew Newbeck, Erin O, Nancy Preble, Judith Prentice, Anita Poulin, Alana Ranney, Richard Segar, Adam Tice, Nancy Trider, Peggy Volock and YES Art Works. A full listing of presenting artists, assigned venues, and galleries of work can be found online at www.artwalklewiston.auburn.com.

Art Walk Lewiston Auburn is seeking qualified and energetic volunteers to assist with Art Walk. Learn more.

The 6PM free musical performance by Peter Alexander and friends takes place in Dufresne Plaze, adjacent to 84 Lisbon St.

Peter Alexander is well known as a solo performer and songwriter and is often featured at public events and on local television and radio shows around Maine. Many of his original songs are about the coast of Maine where he spends as much time on the water as he can. Over his long musical career he has shared the stage with many of the greatest names in folk and rock music, including Chuck Berry, Tim Hardin, Poco, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, and members of the Animals, Phish, The E Street Band, and others. Peter is highly regarded for his ability on the 12-string guitar and his versatile and emotive vocals. He has served since 2009 as president of the Maine Songwriters Association and when not playing music works as Executive Director of the Maine Alliance for Arts & Education.

L/A Arts is excited to host artists Wais Ali and Don Bernard as their first Community Gallery exhibit for the 2013 Art Walk Lewiston Auburn season. The work, which ranges from beautiful African landscapes to surrealist depictions of well-known Lewiston Auburn landmarks, will be unveiled at an opening reception, held at L/A Arts 221 Lisbon Street, Lewiston beginning at 5PM on May 31. Light refreshments will be served. L/A Arts Community Gallery is open Monday-Friday 10am-4pm.

About Wais Ali
Wais Ali sends viewers on a journey to his hometown in the East African country of Djibouti. Utilizing gouache paints, Ali displays a colorful and beautiful portrayal of tradition and culture juxtaposed with desert landscapes beneath Mt. Kilimanjaro. Ali’s journey from Djibouti inspired his body of work “Africa”; he hopes to show how different life is beyond the day to day American landscape.
Ali moved to the United States in 2010, first living in Minnesota and then moving to Maine.

About Don Bernard
Don Bernard does not ascribe to any preconceived notions of the definition of art. A fiercely unique artist with a flair for colorful and dramatic works, Bernard exercises his talent in various mediums, ranging from surrealist acrylic paintings to mosaics, ceramics to woodworking. Comparable to the work of Picasso and Dali, Bernard’s collection of work immerses viewers into a world reimagined through his eyes. “My work is located in between the spectrum of old masters and something new,” states Bernard.

Bernard presents an eclectic collection of abstract self-portrait, surrealist reinterpretations of Lewiston Auburn landmarks, and even an alien abduction. “Ideas for work are frequent, there is no end in sight. My art today is a secret and intimate look into my mind; I bare my imagination for all to see,” says Bernard.

Bernard has a long history in the arts, beginning as early as his enrollment in Dingley school where is teacher Ms. Wilson kept him afterschool, diligently mentoring him to improve his artistic ability. In the 1960s, Bernard began making ceramic, shifting into oil and later in the early 2000’s, after open heart surgery, began endeavoring in acrylics. He continues to paint daily, creating a unique world for all to enjoy.

Interested in purchasing work found in the L/A Arts Community Gallery contact [email protected].

Kathleen Murphy has had a long love affair with photography, first dabbling into the art of pictures ten years ago. Her first camera was a 35mm Canon film camera, right before the age of digital photography began. Recognizing her own desire for instant gratification, Kathleen joined the movement and purchased her first digital camera and began snapping photos of the natural beauty around her.

Kathleen is not formally trained in the art of photography, but has a natural eye and keen sensibility. She views the world with child like wonder, perceiving beauty around her and using her camera as a tool to capture and share it.