A celebration of Southern Maine artists

A large crowd enjoyed the opening reception Sunday evening, July 31, at the Westbrook campus, University of New England, art gallery, for the Artists of Southern Maine exhibition. The hors d’ouvres are always a treat there. The art works are on the first and second floors. I decided to return again to the gallery, to jot down some of the works exhibited by the 40 Southern Maine artists. The show will run until Sept. 26. Hours are Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m. and Thursday from 1 to 7 p.m., or by appointment. Admission is free!

Among the artists and their works are the following: Jeanne LaChance, “Lupin,” a watercolor. Kim Casey, “Cloud Dancing with Stream,” deep blue and pale blue colors in the stream. Robert Eric Moore, “Intertidal Ledge, Maine,” with many heavy rocks and the water beyond, in large frame. Sumner Winebaum, “Woman, Book, and Cat,” small bronze statue with a naked lady, seated, with a book on her lap and a cat crawling behind her on the armchair. Lindley Briggs, “Field of Faces,” cast aluminum with more than 50 small faces. Katherine Doyle, “First Night,” oil on panel, with a bass player plucking strings and a man beside him holding a violin. Tanya Fletcher, “Ripples,” oil on birch, a very long frame with a man’s shoulder, lips and one ear, his neck and part of his head (well done, but I would have liked to see the rest of his head). Don Corvett, “Mayflower II on the Waves,” in a large frame. Michael Walek, “Quarry in Vinalhaven,” in a long frame, with rocks and trees – a nice, calm scene. Fran Scully, “Change of Season,” with small trees and underbrush, in lovely colors. Gary Mulnix, “Bronze Pears,” three large pears just fitting in the small frame. Hara Harding, “Crow,” a woodcut on handmade paper. And the two paintings pictured on the announcement postcard for the exhibition, “Landscape with Gold Appearing,” mixed media by Salazar, and “Yellow Field,” oil on linen by Christos Calivas. On the card listing the various works each of these two is marked with a small red dot, meaning it has been sold.

I hope that some of you readers can see this exhibition. There are many varied subjects to enjoy.

The plaque in Mayor Baxter Woods

On Sunday, I hiked again in Portland’s Mayor Baxter Woods to read and write down the works on the bronze plaque, on a large granite rock. I first had to pause, at the Forest Avenue entrance, to again admire the pink and white water lilies at the little pond there. Many are still in bloom.

The granite rock with the bronze plaque is located on one of the many trails, and there is a flagstone walk in front of the rock, and there are some heavy logs around it, below the flagstone walk.

This is the inscription printed on the plaque:

MAYOR BAXTER WOODS

Donated to the city of Portland by

Percival Proctor Baxter

Governor of Maine 1921-1924

In memory of his Father

James Phinney Baxter

1831-1921

Six times Mayor of Portland

Forever to be held in Trust

For Public Park Purposes and as

A Sanctuary for Wild Birds.

Many people I have encountered on my walks there have high praise for these beautiful woods.

John H. Rich’s 89th birthday

On Aug. 5, D.Lee Rich entertained to celebrate her husband, John Rich’s 89th birthday at their Cape Elizabeth home. Even though the weather was still muggy in much of Maine, we had cool breezes there, as we admired the ocean view.

D. Lee had asked that guests not bring gifts, but “Please bring a flower,” that was fun! In a large vase on the porch were the flowers, an azalea, a red carnation, and a few wildflowers – a bluebell, black-eyed Susan, bladder campion, and blue vetch.

The refreshments included dainty cucumber sandwiches, and two platters of sushi.

We all sang as the birthday cake arrived; it was a white cake with white frosting, and inscribed to John, in blue letters. Also Mrs. Robert Knapp, a neighbor and one of the guests, brought another popular cake, a blueberry buckle.

We were pleased to see the Riches’ daughter Barbie and her husband, Toshi Okumura, who had just arrived from London for a visit here. Also present were the Riches’ oldest son, John III; Ed and Peggy Stafford; Bill Simons and his daughter; Leslie Fissmer; Lois Carlson; Herbert and Sarah Hicks; Mrs. Knapp; and Harry, Anne and Susan Foote.

I had written recently about the longevity of Okinawans, many of them centenarians, and among John’s guests, two of the men were 90 and 91, both living right here in Maine!

Recipe

Rose McDermott called to tell me that the blueberries on the powerline near her Highland Lake cottage were ripe. So she and I hurried last week to start picking – big and blue, they were plentiful and delicious. I made the blueberry cake recipe given to me years ago by my Hanover, N.H., friend, Kate Hay guest (who grew up in Cape Elizabeth). This recipe is very popular at our house.

Katie’s Blueberry Cake

1 cup sugar

3 Tbls. shortening

1 egg

5/8 cup milk (1/2 cup and 2 Tbls.)

1/2 tsp. soda

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1-1/2 cups flour

Little salt

1 cup blueberries

Separate egg, white last

Roll 1 cup berries in flour, (we use almost 2 cups)

Bake in 400 oven for 35 minutes.

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