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

First Friday

Walking 'the walk' gets easier

By Avery Yale Kamila akamila@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

With the lazy days of summer almost upon us, we take a break from our strenuous art walks of months past and instead head to a single venue with multiple galleries.

click image to enlarge

"Contra-brand Liquor," circa 1920 by an unknown photographer, is on view at the Maine Historical Society.

Select images available for purchase in the
Maine Today Photo Store

IN THE HEART OF THE ARTS DISTRICT

TODAY IT LOOKS like a waste of good liquor, but back in 1920, this was routine law enforcement work. Prohibition is just one of the chapters in Maine's quirky past that comes to light in "Exposed: Rare Photographs of Life in Maine" on view at the Maine Historical Society (489 Congress St.). Many of the 10 images in the exhibition come from The Portland Press Herald Glass Negative Collection, which is part of the society's archive. In conjunction with each art walk through October, a new set of images will be hung.

IF YOU GO

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK

WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Locations throughout Portland

INFO: www.firstfridayartwalk.com

We start our journey near the appropriately artsy John Ford statue and head up Pleasant Street. Before we arrive at our ultimate destination, we make a pit stop at CHELLISWILSON (17 Pleasant St.), where we check out the "15 Points" show featuring new vintage textile work from Lisa Tichy.

Next, we walk just a few feet up the sidewalk to the Bakery Building complex and dive into an explosion of art and creativity.

First stop is ART HOUSE PICTURE FRAMES (61 Pleasant St.). Here, we find a display of work created by people participating in ArtVan's mobile arts therapy programs.

Next, we scoot around the left side of the BAKERY BUILDING (61 Pleasant St.) and enter through the door toward the back. A number of artist studios are open, but we won't want to miss these venues on the second floor:

The prestigious PEREGRINE PRESS serves up a Spring Cleaning Sale with everything priced at $100 or less (and many pieces selling for under $25). The cooperative's museum-quality printmakers are clearing out their files to make room for new work, and we get to reap the benefits.

In an adjacent studio space, we find ROBIN MCCARTHY and her fabulous collage work. She often uses maps as a starting point, with books being another common theme.

Also nearby is the ADDISON WOOLLEY GALLERY, which is showing "New Eyes for Nature's Work." This exhibit features two very different takes on the natural world with photographs from Dave Wade and Fran Vita-Taylor.

The wine tends to flow freely in these studios, so the party is sure to run past the standard 8 p.m. closing time. But when we're ready to call it quits, Artemisa Cafe (in the same building) is always a solid choice for a creative dinner.

Staff Writer Avery Yale Kamila can be contacted at 791-6297 or at:

akamila@pressherald.com