Stepping off Monument Square and descending the stairs of the Portland Public Library, the space below gives the impression of entering a living room with art hanging on the walls.
On Oct. 4, the annual illustration exhibit in the Portland Public Library’s Lewis Gallery opened, revealing interpretations of the theme of “home” by local artists hung amidst life-size line drawings of furniture on the walls of the gallery. The exhibit titled “O Lar,” which means “The Home” in Brazilian Portuguese, was curated and “furnished” by Portland illustrator Michaela Flint.
“A lot of people have different ideas what home is, and I’m so excited about the variety of different interpretations of that,” said Flint.
The Portland Public Library has held illustration shows annually for 11 years, with some exhibits showing multiple artists under a theme and other years displaying the work of a single artist. The annual illustration exhibit is displayed twice as long than other shows in the Lewis Gallery and is the show that most closely links books and art, said the library’s Gallery and Special Programs Coordinator Rachael Harkness. For this year’s show, Harkness put out a call for BIPOC curators and selected Flint from the applicants.
Flint moved to Portland in 2016 from where she grew up in Connecticut to attend the Maine College of Art to study illustration. She now is working in pottery and combining it with illustration, she said. Flint has assisted in the curation of exhibits before and wanted to try leading the curation herself, leading her to apply to the Lewis Gallery.
Flint’s connection to the theme of home began when she was a child and her father was deported back to his homeland of Brazil because of visa difficulties. Being of two cultures and in a family split across such distance led her to focus on themes of belonging and home through her artwork. Many of her own illustrations focus on the idea of home or are set inside, she said.
“I often find myself drawing the characters in a home, or possibly finding home, in my illustrations. That’s something that really inspires me,” said Flint.
“I wanted to give artists the opportunity to show how their home inspires their illustrations,” said Flint. “I truly believe artists are the backbone to any communities and homes and the things that we make brings opportunities to bring people together. So that’s what inspired me to put the show together,” she said.
The exhibit features 14 artists with a wide range of illustration styles and interpretations of home. The gallery walls show excerpts from a graphic novel about a family migrating during the Great Depression, a chickadee entering a nest, and scenes of children playing on a Maine beach.
“O Lar” will run through the end of December, said Harkness. The Portland Public Library will host First Friday events for the exhibit in November and December as well.
The Lewis Gallery, which is free and open during library hours, gains a lot of foot traffic from library visitors who may not frequent other art galleries in the city, said Harkness. She said she tries to make events in the space welcoming to everyone who is curious.
“We try to make all of our exhibits accessible, but also something that’s thought-provoking,” said Harkness. “You can really take your time with these pieces. There’s a lot here, but … these big illustrations are kind of fun and kind of invite people in.”
The exhibit’s pieces are set against blocks of bright blue and yellow painted gallery walls. Around them are large drawings in thick black lines by Flint of classic household objects and fixtures: a couch, a lamp, a plant, even a cat.
“I wanted to give a really simplified idea of what home is. I was a little inspired by when you have art inside your own home and how it looks … So, I wanted to give the viewers the idea of walking in an artist’s home,” said Flint.
The simple thematic illustrations not only showcase the curator’s own connection to art and home, but curate an atmosphere of being inside that signals the theme of the show to visitors.
“I think it’s really fun and visually very gratifying to see her exhibits enlarged,” said Harkness.
“But it’s also helpful, because a lot of people that in this gallery are non-native English speakers, a lot of them are children, a lot of them are people that maybe don’t go into the private galleries in town, but find themselves in here or feel comfortable in here. So again, we’re just always trying to, without maybe a big written description, cue people into the theme of the show,” she said.
Artist Erika Jamece is showing three illustrations that depict abstract birds, fish and flowers in vibrant yellows and blues. Her artwork depicts both the beauty and struggles of her home country of Angola, she said.
“I am trying to explain to people my origin from my country where there is poverty, in the streets and in the water,” Jamece said through a translator.
“Birds are something that shows a lot of freedom and are very interesting to me. I’m inspired by the liberty and freedom they had, and put that on paper,” she said.
Having lived most of her life in Angola, Jamece now lives Saco and frequently visits the Portland Public Library. Librarians connected her to the show after seeing the artwork that she often carries with her in her art bag.
In the back of the gallery is the Camden National Bank Community Gallery, where members of the public can contribute their own artwork to “O Lar.” Both adults and children in the Portland area are encouraged to respond to the theme of home and drop off their artwork at their local library branch, after which Harkness will add the pieces to the wall.
Flint said that in addition to making art about home, she thinks of home as a space for the creation of art itself.
“I just say everything starts at home, when it comes to art,” said Flint. “Home is where you find yourself, and home is where your safety is, and the safest place is where you always feel the ability to create.”
“I really hope that people are inspired by illustrations and recognizing illustrations as artful,” continued Flint. “And just realizing that home is also a place where you feel anywhere. It doesn’t actually have to be a home, but it’s anywhere that you feel safe and inspired to create.”
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