PORTLAND

‘Two Maines’ authors will read at St. Lawrence Arts Center

Local authors Crash Barry and John McDonald will host a reading of their books at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress St., Portland.

The event is titled “Two Maines.” Admission is $10.

Barry and McDonald will present an evening of their blunt, charming and comical local tales from their most recent publications.

McDonald has been telling stories around the state for years, and his weekly column is published in many Maine newspapers. Barry worked for a decade as a print and radio reporter in Portland.

A former media critic, talk show producer and guidebook author, he also labored as a janitor, bartender and bouncer. For information, visit www.twomaines.com. 

Spang chosen to serve as city’s new poet laureate

Bruce Spang has been named the new Portland poet laureate. Spang, a teacher and book reviewer, will serve in the position from 2011 to 2013. Spang lives in Falmouth with his partner and son.

The Portland City Council will welcome Spang with the reading of a proclamation at 7 p.m. June 6 at City Hall.

At 7 p.m. June 18, Spang will be feted at a free inaugural ball at Mayo Street Arts in Portland.

Spang is also the author of the collection, “The Knot,” and the chapbooks, “Tip End of Time” and “Once the First Berries Dissolve.”

His poems have appeared in magazines and journals across the country, including “The Cafe Review,” “Fairfield Review,” “Rattle,” “Off the Coast,” “Patterson Review” and “Puckerbrush Review.”

Maine Poetry Central established the Portland Poet Laureate Program in 2007 to select a poet laureate for greater Portland.

The laureate serves a two-year term and is charged with establishing and nurturing the bonds between poetry and the general public. 

Gray hired as Lucid Stage’s new development director

Lucid Stage hired Donovan Gray as development director. Gray has experience in the arts and fundraising.

He served as executive director of the Arts Network of Washington State, and on the staffs of the Oregon and Nevada state arts councils, and the King County Office of Cultural Resources in Seattle.

Donovan was also director of the Western Arts Management Institute in Ashland, Ore., for five years, and served as historic preservation planner for the state capitol campus in Olympia, Wash.

At Lucid Stage, he will work with the board of directors and board of advocates to generate individual, corporate and foundation support for operations and capital funding needs.

WASHINGTON

Downtown Gallery opens with reception on May 27

The Downtown Gallery kicks off its season with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. May 27. The theme of this first show is the Medomak Trail and will feature paintings, fabric, found object collages, pastels and drypoints.

The old Medomak Trail, called “the alternate route Downeast,” follows route 220 from Waldoboro to Route 3 in Liberty and was the road the original settlers pioneered to open up the interior of the state.

The Downtown Gallery has invited artists affiliated with other galleries on the trail to show works in the Paula Green Gallery following the same theme.

Included are Audrey Bechler, Pam Cabanas, Karen Jelenfy, Julian Sachs and Carolyn Wiley. Collages by Deb Arter and Anne Metcalf and sculpture by Richard Whittier will also be shown.

In keeping with the theme at the opening, there will be samples of products from along the trail, which will include specialties from John’s Ice Cream, Washington Farmers Market, Sweet Season Farm and Sweetgrass Winery.

Gallery hours for the season are Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 5.

VINALHAVEN

‘Winter Works’ will open summer season for New Era

New Era Gallery will open its summer season with “Winter Works,” a look at what’s been going on in local studios over the winter.

The show will include works by gallery artists in several media, including painting, sculpture, printmaking, pottery, photography and fiber arts.

In celebration of the gallery’s 10th season, it will host a series of installations and events in the Windy Way Barn adjacent to the gallery. The inaugural installation will feature paintings and drawings of seasonal changes in the restored Vinal Cove Marsh by gallery director Elaine Austin Crossman.

The show will run May 28 to June 22, with an opening celebration from 4 to 7 p.m. May 28.

Gallery hours for late May through early June will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

For information, call 863-9351, or visit neweragallery.com.

SACO

Museum raising admission for adults; expanding hours

Beginning June 1, the Saco Museum will raise its adult admission price from $4 to $5 and offer expanded hours from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday through December.

The new museum hours will be noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday; noon to 8 p.m. Friday, with free admission after 4 p.m.; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Other admission levels will remain the same, and admission is always free to Dyer Library/Saco Museum cardholders and their guests under the “One Card, Two Doors” program. This program, begun in 2006, offers unlimited free admission to the Saco Museum for the cardholder and his or her guests, as well as borrowing privileges at the Dyer Library.

All Saco residents may sign up for free; those from outside Saco may get a card for a $25 annual fee. All proceeds benefit the Dyer Library and Saco Museum.

WISCASSET

Gallery looking for artists for sidewalk sale on June 25

The Maine Art Gallery is seeking artists for its sidewalk art sale, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 25 in Wiscasset Village.

This will be the third year of the festival, and organizers seek Maine artists and craftsmen and their original work in a variety of media, including fiber, ceramic, wood, glass, paintings, drawings, sculptures.

The entry fee is $30, or $20 for members. Call 882-7511 for details. The deadline is June 17.

BETHEL

‘Breaking Ground’ author will have talk, book-signing

William D. Andrews will celebrate the release of “Breaking Ground” with a talk and book-signing at 2 p.m. June 4 at the Bethel Historical Society, 10-14 Broad St., Bethel.

The event will be at the Mason House exhibit hall on the Bethel Common.

“Breaking Ground” is Andrews’ second novel.

The first, “Stealing History,” introduced readers to Julie Williamson, the inquisitive director of a historical society in a western Maine mountain town.

In “Breaking Ground,” Julie is embroiled in another mystery set at the historical society.

Andrews is the former president of Westbrook College in Portland. Now a consultant, freelance editor and writer, he divides his time between Newry and Portland.

For information, contact the Bethel Historical Society at 824-2908.

For information about the book, contact Islandport Press at 846-3344 or email info@islandportpress.com.

FALMOUTH

Historical Society to open museum season on June 11

The Falmouth Historical Society will open its museum for the 2011 season with a celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 11.

The opening program is focused on sustainable living and reducing the use of the earth’s natural resources. It will include sheep shearing, Alpaca petting, wool spinning, herb gardening and displays of 1800s cooking utensils and Baker’s Chocolate memorabilia.

Baked goods and herb plants will also be for sale.

The museum is at 60 Woods Rd., Falmouth.