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

Hundreds of people partied across three floors of the Maine College of Art tonight for the 16th annual Art Honors. The event drew major movers and shakers in Maine's art scene and introduced them to this year's class of graduating seniors. From the sushi bar in the student lounge to the molecular gastronomy cocktails in the science lab to the three artists sketching portraits of guests, the party featured lots of attractions.

But the highlight was the awards ceremony.

First off, MECA President Don Tuski, right, and trustee Andres Verzosa, left, presented state historian Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr. with the Art Honor for leadership in community service in the arts and education. Shettleworth is a prolific and sought-after lecturer and author, and THE expert on Maine history and architecture.

The second Art Honor - this one for leadership in art philanthropy - went to S. Donald Sussman, majority share owner of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram and husband of Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. In addition to saving my job and rescuing the paper, Sussman is a generous donor to numerous Maine causes, many of them art-related. He's also a self-confessed avid art collector.

The patron and sponsor ticket holders who filled Osher Hall for the presentation gave standing ovations after both presentations. The proceedings were simulcast throughout the building.

After the presentations, Vezosa kept everyone smiling, including, from left, Roxanne Quimby, who received an Art Honor last year, Margaret O'Keefe, who co-chaired the event committee with Verzosa, Shettleworth and Sussman.

If you want to see more party photos and read about what guests had to say, be sure to pick up the May 13 edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram. I'll have all the details in my Society Notebook column.

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

About the Author

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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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