Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

When Godzilla shows up at a cocktail party, you know you're not at an ordinary soiree. Tonight the Artist Studio Building in downtown Portland attracted hundreds of collectors, curators, artists and gallery owners to a fabulously funky spring open house party. Many of the building's artists welcomed guests into their private studios, while much of the mingling happened in the central hallway and stairwell of the top two floors.

Artist Greta Bank created a stir when she emerged from her studio dressed in a Godzilla costume and hung out with the crowd. She obligingly posed for photos. But since the night was in the mid-70s, Greta could only last so long inside the latex and foam suit.

The heat was not only in the air, it was visible in the way people were dressed. For possibly the first time at a Maine party held in March, guests wore open toed shoes, short sleeves and bare legs.

Everywhere we looked there was art, and it was further enhanced by the ability to see the spaces where it was created and talk to the artists. The man behind this creative building is noted architect and co-owner of music venue One Longfellow Square Christopher Campbell.

Not only did everyone I speak with praise him for providing studio space in the heart of the Arts District at below market rents, he's also quite good at serving hors d'oeuvres to party guests. Earlier in the evening, I spotted him tending bar. Shortly after I snapped the photo above, Jessica Tomlinson from the Maine College of Art, relieved him of his appetizer passing duties.

The Artist Studio Building is located at 536 Congress Street, above SPACE Gallery and next to the Maine College of Art and Reny's.

Be sure to pick up a copy of the March 25 edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram, where I'll have more details and snapshots from the party.

Until then, I hope to see you out and about.

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Avery Yale Kamila dishes about southern Maine's hottest parties.

Avery can be contacted at 791-6297 or akamila@pressherald.com
On Twitter: @AveryYaleKamila

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