As summer in Maine lingers into its golden final weeks, Maine Art Hill celebrates Vacationland, an exhibition highlighting artists who return again and again to the sea for inspiration. Water connects their work in playful bursts of color, in quiet reflection, and in ways that stir memory and movement.
For Kathy Ostrander Roberts, the rugged coastline is at the heart of her encaustic work. “My goal is to represent the essence of Maine coastal waters in encaustic painting by capturing scenes from Southern Maine’s coastline and translating them into vibrant representations of movement and color,” she shares. The layering and sculpting of wax create depth and intrigue in her surfaces. “I hope to spark memories and longings for Maine’s rugged shores in the hearts and eyes of the viewer.”
Trip Park’s paintings bring another side of coastal life into focus, channeling the fun, color, and nostalgia of seaside summers. “When I set out to paint, coastal imagery always floats to the surface as the most fun subject matter. It’s tough not to have childhood excitement around the sea and the beach,” he explains. His work captures the brilliant turquoise greens of water, the bold primaries of umbrellas and beach chairs, and the shadowy blues drifting through sea oats. “Then there are the multicolored lobster buoys that first caught my attention up in the docks of Kennebunkport,” he adds.
Michele Poirier Mozzone dives beneath the surface, exploring the light, energy, and movement of the underwater world. “Rush is a dynamic image that I have painted variations of a few times before. It has all the elements that I love about capturing the figure underwater in the Fractured Light series: ribbons of sunlight, rushing bubbles, and bizarre reflections. For me, there is action and movement, but also a sense of serenity in this painting.” Through her use of color blocking, she balances abstraction with realism. “It allows me to flatten areas and play with abstract color relationships in contrast to the highly rendered figure. My challenge for myself was to simplify form and explore various color combinations in the painting while still having it read like water.”
Together, these three artists create a rich dialogue with water, its surface and its depths, its colors and its memories. Vacationland is a tribute to the waters of Maine that call people back year after year, inviting them to stay just a little longer. The gallery is open daily at 10 a.m., beginning Saturday, August 30, and continuing through September 17.
FMI visit www.maine-art.com, call 207-967-2803, or email info@maine-art.com.