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| Ocean Park Beach Erosion, by Carol L. Douglas |
On Monday morning, I will drag David Blanchard out at 6:30
AM to ride with me to Augusta. Dave is the organizer of the new Knox County Art
Society and one of nine regional coordinators for Plein Air Painters of Maine
(PAPME). He’s coming with me to the first Arts + Culture Day to show our
legislators just how much the arts mean to our state.
You don’t have to get up that early, but I’d like it if you’d
join us. The event runs from 9 AM to 11:30 AM at the Maine State House
Hall of Flags. It’s free and open to the public, and there’s lots of free
parking in the area.
This is a new legislature and a new administration, and we
want them to know how seriously we support art, and how art supports
us. It’s an opportunity to strengthen relationships between arts leaders and
public officials and to discuss cultural policy here in our state. Your voice
and your face, are needed.
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| Clary Hill Blueberry Barrens, by Carol L. Douglas |
But all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. There will be performances and presentations through the program, and many cultural organizations from across the state will be represented.
I’ll be there representing plein air painting. PAPME has about 600
members, about three-quarters of whom are Maine residents. The majority show
and sell their work in commercial galleries, festivals and plein air events.
Members meet weekly in different locations around the state
to paint. There are no dues and no activity requirements. Currently, there are
nine chapters statewide. More are always welcome.
There are around 150 commercial art galleries in the state
of Maine. The painters dotting the landscape and the galleries that represent
them are key attractions to visitors to our state.
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| Sea Fog, by Carol L. Douglas |
Arts and culture are a recognized regional development
driver, one that Maine has exploited successfully. Rockland is a great success story, but it’s
not the only one. Too often, public officials think of art as a luxury, but it’s
serious business. The arts in America contribute more than $800 billion a year
to our economy. That’s around 4% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
There is a myth that artists congregate in big cities. These
may have the highest density of artists, but many artists are attracted to
rural living, especially in Maine. Artists like affordable housing, vibrant art
scenes, educated communities, and access to markets for their art.
Because art is handmade, it is tied to the place it’s
created. That means art can’t be outsourced. An artist is unlikely to leave for
another state because the Economic Development people offer him a better deal.
If you’re an artist, a fan of art, or someone interested in
economic development, your presence on Monday is vital.
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| Snow at higher elevations, by Carol L. Douglas |
The State House is located on the corners of Capitol and
State Streets in Augusta. The west entrance, facing the Cross Office Building,
is open to the public.
To get there from I-95 get off at exit 109 and travel east
on route 202 (Western Avenue). Continue to the first rotary where you take the
first possible right turn onto State Street. Proceed to the traffic light where
you will see the State House in front of you on the right. Turn right at the
light onto Capitol Street for access to parking behind the Cross Office
Building or in the Sewall Street garage. Parking may also be available
south of the State House, behind the State Library, Archives and Museum
building.
