Crash Barry

Travel writer Janet Mendelsohn finds treasure right under our noses: Nearly 80 Maine museums, from the world-class to the slightly wacky.

“Quinton Deane had a reputation around the paddock. The other grooms usually shot their horses up with diuretics or mixed drugs. Quinton had his own method of coaxing a sore horse.” From the first paragraph of his interesting second novel, “Parts North: A Back-Roads Noir,” Kevin Cohen creates a dark, brooding atmosphere that’s consistent throughout this […]

• Portland artist Toni Wolf shows recent work in “Skateboards and Storyboard,” on view through September at Trinket and Fern, 172 Middle St., Portland. The exhibition includes original hand-painted skateboards from Wolf’s new line called Honeyslide, as well as charcoal drawings from “Car Dealer’s Daughter,” a graphic novel she is writing. The decks are bold […]

Among the shows of summer, two are privileges of a high order. They provide the work of artists that we have applauded for decades. One show is at the Colby College Museum of Art in Waterville, the other is at Bowdoin College Museum of Art in Brunswick, and both are warmed by familiarity. The Colby […]

When I reviewed the 2011 Biennial at the Portland Museum of Art, I called Carly Glovinski’s “Cheeseburger Wrapper” — a crumpled drawing pretending to be disrespectfully discarded detritus — the “wittiest piece in the show.” I also lauded her walkway of sheared phone books for its ironic invisibility, as it was trod upon by all […]

The comprehensive look at the family, ‘L.L.’ and the iconic business makes for a good read.

Several community art shows are on the schedule in coming weeks, including South Portland’s 32nd annual Art in the Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Mill Creek in the heart of downtown. The juried art show features original art work and photography by up to 185 artists in a variety of styles. […]