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

Arts Dispatches

By Bob Keyes bkeyes@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

PORTLAND

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James Mullen’s “York River,” a 2006 oil on canvas, will be auctioned at a fundraiser on June 19 to benefit the Museum of Art at the University of New Hampshire.

Courtesy of Museum of Art, University of New Hampshire

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Mark O'Connor performs March 4.

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Star-studded Ovations season announced

PORTLAND - Portland Ovations announced its performance season for 2010-11, and it includes iconic legends, national Broadway tours, international classical artists, modern dance and world music presentations, family-friendly theater and professional opera theater. The season opens on Sept. 29 with Liza Minnelli in concert at Merrill Auditorium.

Tickets for the season's events go on sale to members of Portland Ovations on Monday and to the general public on June 21.

The Broadway and Beyond portion of the lineup also includes Bill Cosby on Oct. 16; "Forbidden Broadway" on Nov. 5; the national Broadway tour of "Fiddler on the Roof," on Jan. 22; Blue Man Group, Feb. 4-6; "Avenue Q" on March 24.

Grammy-winning Kronos Quartet kicks off Portland Ovations' Classical Series on Nov. 4, featuring compositions from Ethiopia, India, Palestine and Canada. Violin virtuoso Mark O'Connor comes to Merrill with his quartet on March 4. Gilmore Artist Award-winner Kirill Gerstein and Tchaikovsky International Competition-winner Nikolai Lugansky present recitals of traditional repertoire, on Nov. 17 and March 26, respectively. The season culminates with John the Revelator, a 21st Century Mass by contemporary composer Phil Kline on May 15.

In the dance category, Portland Ovations presents STREB Extreme Action on Oct. 27. This is a dance troupe created by MacArthur Foundation Genius Award-winner Elizabeth Streb, otherwise known as the Evel Knievel of dance. She is known for her "pop action" choreography influenced by acrobatics, boxing, the rodeo, the circus and Hollywood stunt work. Acclaimed contemporary choreographer Doug Varone will bring his dancers to perform a new work co-commissioned by Ovations and the Bates Dance Festival as well as other works from his established repertoire, on Feb. 16. Additionally, Bale Folclorico da Bahia, an Afro-Brazilian cultural institution, will come to Portland on Jan. 19.

On Oct. 8, Portland Ovation begins its Global Traditions schedule with a performance by the Occidental Brothers Dance Band International, which specializes in high energy, Central and West African dance music influenced by African jazz and traditional music. The Hot Club of San Francisco performs its "Silent Surrealism" project on Nov. 16; Bale Folclorico da Bahia performs Jan. 19; and Gadelle performs on May 7.

The family portion of the schedule includes two performances: Circus INcognitus, the creation of famed circus performer Jamie Adkins, on Nov. 13; and author/illustrator Mo Willems' children's book comes to life in the stage version of "Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical" on March 13.

In theater and opera, Portland Ovations welcomes Imago Theatre and its latest work, "ZooZoo," on April 1. Universes, a poetry group, presents "Live from the Edge" meshing hip-hop, gospel and blues on April 8. And finally, on April 17, New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players bring "The Mikado" to Merrill.

For a list of ticket prices, dates, times, locations and other information, visit www.portlandovations.org.

Portland painter chosen Monhegan resident artist

Christopher Keister, a painter from Portland, has been named the 2010 Monhegan Island artist-in-residence by the Monhegan Artists' Residency Corporation.

Keister is a formalist painter with abstract tendencies. He attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 2007. His work has been featured in the Center for Maine Contemporary Art juried biennial (2004 and 2008) and the Portland Museum of Art biennial (2003 and 2007). While on Monhegan, he hopes to develop new work that focuses on "deluge myths" and dowsing in contemporary society.

The program provides lodging and stipend for a five-week residency on Monhegan Island for an emerging Maine artist each summer. This year Monhegan Boat Lines will support the program by providing free ferry passage for the resident artist.

Thirty-five artists applied for the 2010 residency. Judges were painter and printmaker Alison Hildreth; Nathaniel May, director of the Space Gallery; and painter Marguerite Robichaux, a former Monhegan residency artist.

To mark its 20th anniversary, the program is hosting "MARC @ 20," an exhibition of work by 35 previous artists-in-residence, including Robichaux, Karen Adrienne, Robert Pollien and Michael Vermette. Artists will donate a portion of sales from the show, which runs Aug. 21-27, to benefit the residency. The residency program will also present "Bill Manning in Conversation," featuring the Maine painter, at the Monhegan schoolhouse at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24.

For information, visit www.monheganislandresidency.org.

FREEPORT

Stratton artist Robichaux exhibit to benefit program

Marguerite Robichaux, a painter from Stratton, exhibits "From the Woods of Maine," an art show of new oil paintings and watercolors at Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers, 149 Main St., through Aug. 15. There is an opening reception from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

The art show is a benefit for the Monhegan Artist's Residency Program. The exhibition also includes new work by Tom Curry, Philip Frey and Jill Hoy. For information, call 865-4519 or (800) 708-9041.

AUGUSTA

Submissions sought for Dexter Percent for Art site

The Maine Arts Commission seeks artists living in Maine to submit proposals to design, create and install artwork at the Ridge View Community School-Percent for Art site in Dexter. The project has an approximate budget of $50,000 and a deadline for submissions of June 14.

Dexter and environs, in west-central Maine, has become a destination for recreational activities associated with its lakes, streams and forests, and the once-major industrial center remains an important commercial center in the region.

The community would like an art piece that reflects its past, its current culture and its vision for the future.

For information, contact Alison Ferris at the Maine Arts Commission at alison.ferris@maine.gov.

BELFAST

Mainers invited to submit poems for Postmark contest

The Maine Postmark Poetry Contest will be launched this year in conjunction with the sixth annual Belfast Poetry Festival, to be held Oct. 15-16. Last year more than 300 poems were received from 160 poets across the state.

Maine residents are invited to submit entries of up to two pages of poetry; each entry must be accompanied by a $5 reading fee. Proceeds will be used to support the contest and festival. Maine residents may submit more than one entry, but each additional entry is an additional $5.

The Belfast Poetry Festival Committee will screen entries and forward finalists to judge Arielle Greenberg, a poet who will choose the final winner. That winner will be invited to read the winning poem and be honored with a prize at the Belfast Poetry Festival in October.

Submissions are welcome through July 1. Only submissions received with a Maine postmark dated July 1 or earlier will be accepted.

Poems should be sent without the poet's name on the poem and accompanied by a cover letter listing the poet's name, contact information and the titles of the poems submitted. Poems sent without a cover letter will be disqualified, and all poems must be original and previously unpublished.

Send entries and a check for $5 per poem made out to the City of Belfast, to:

Linda Buckmaster, Belfast Poet Laureate, Attn: Maine Postmark Poetry Contest, 12 Huntress Ave., Belfast, ME 04915. For information, contact Elizabeth Garber at ewgarber@gmail.com.

HALLOWELL

Alna man's watercolor wins People's Choice Award

Jon Luoma of Alna won People's Choice Award by popular vote at the conclusion of Art2010, the 15th annual juried art show at the Harlow Gallery. Visitors to the juried art exhibition during the month of May were invited to vote for their favorite work of art. Luoma won a $100 cash prize for his watercolor with Chinese inks titled "At the Bend in the Road." The People's Choice Award was sponsored by the Animal Wellness Center of Augusta.

George Paton of Bowdoinham was the runner-up with his large-format photograph "Rock Waves." Paton will receive a gift certificate provided by Francesca's Italian Restaurant of Hallowell.

WISCASSET

Still space for more artists, crafters at sidewalk sale

The Maine Art Gallery hosts a Sidewalk Art Sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 26 at 15 Warren St., Wiscasset. There are still a few spaces left for artists and crafters. There's a $35 entry fee and no commissions on sales. For details, visit www.maineartgallery.org or call 882-7511.

DAMARISCOTTA

Directors, music directors needed for LCCT season

The planning committee of the Lincoln County Community Theater is seeking directors and music directors for its 2010-2011 season. Lincoln County Community Theater, performing in the Lincoln Theatre, will present two plays and two musicals during its upcoming season.

The committee has chosen possible titles for each slot and invites directors to offer an additional title of their own choosing, using the suggested titles as a guideline in terms of genre and scope of production. Directors should visit the theater's website, www.LCCT.org, to learn more.

Those interested should submit a statement of interest with accompanying supporting materials to season@lcct.org by July 1.

DURHAM, N.H.

UNH art auction includes work of some Maine artists

Several artists with Maine ties are featured in "Raising the Bar," a fine-art fundraising auction hosted by the Museum of Art at the University of New Hampshire. The auction will be June 19, and all proceeds benefit the museum.

There's a Robert Indiana print that June Fitzpatrick made available through Pat Nick; a Tom Paiement piece, and a Fred Lynch piece. Other Maine artists in the auction include Holly Brooks, Tim Beavis, Beverly Hallam, Dewitt Hardy, Wendy Turner, Sumner Winebaum and UNH alums Sam Cady and James Mullen.

For information, call 603-862-3712 or visit www.unh.edu/artauction.