Recent Events

Stew Henderson, July 1-20, 2008

Opening Reception, July 4th

Stew Henderson gave a talk about his work, Tuesday July 8th at 7pm.

Statement for Graphica

The Graphica series started as a material driven idea. I had found several roles of commercially printed paper at the local transfer station. This paper with images is the by-product of the stretched fabric industry of Moss Inc. in Belfast. I rolled this paper out on the studio floor and began to cut sections and strips from huge images of corporate logos, car advertisements, abstract designs and other pictures. These fragments served as a background for my painting and linoleum block print designs. The resulting work in Graphica displays a tangible middle space between the my crude hand work and the highly polished imagery produced by a computer driven press.

Bennett Konesni and Jeffrey Lewis

Music Performance: Saturday July 5th, 2008 from 7:30-9:30pm

Bennett Konesni, Jeffrey Lewis

Scandinachian or Appalnavian is what fresh duo Bennett Konesni and Jeffrey Lewis call their unique blend of acoustic music, informed by Appalachian, Scandinavian, Work Songs, Bluegrass, Old-Time, Farming, Dancing, and exuberance for life.

Bennett and Jeff have been playing together for half a decade, in combinations such as The Free Seedlings, and Fireside. Both have picked up the ability to play almost any string instrument- and regularly carry a fiddle, a mandolin, two guitars, and two banjos wherever they go. Saturday's performance included a special musical guest.

They gave a concert at Aarhus Gallery, Saturday July 5th, 2008 from 7:30-9:30pm. A $7 suggested donation was collected at the door, and refreshments were served.

Happy Anniversary Aarhus!

Opening Reception, June 6th 2008 from 5-8pm

Some have come to say "Our House", some say 'Are Huss", the Danes say 'Oar hoose" and they mention oh so diplomatically, that it's spelled wrong. The Aarhusians are saying, Wow, it's been a year already, let's celebrate! With glee and many thanks to the community, friends and supporters, the six artists of Aarhus Gallery announce their First Anniversary Show, on the walls June 1-29th, and invite the public to join them for an Opening Reception, June 6th from 5-8pm with more crackers, more cheese, more refreshments and tasty treats.

The merry band of Aarhusians Kevin Johnson, Mark Kelly, Annadeene Konesni, Richard Mann, Wesley Reddick and Willy Reddick will wax poetic with selected works from the engaging previous 12 months and will tinker with new work in the spirit of the traditional and contemporary first anniversary motif; paper and clocks.

"She Rows The Atlantic", sculpture by Wesley Reddick

May 2008

Chaos

May 1-25
Opening reception Friday May 2nd 5-8

"Chaos and War" by Samuel Gelber

Chaos, from the Greek khaos, originally referred to the formless primordial space, the chasm of the great mystery, Einstein may have used the term, ’elsewhere’. For the past few hundred years ‘chaos’ has been scaled down somewhat and has come to mean disorder, or even just a big mess, ‘The dog got hold of a case of prune danish ...CHAOS.’ In mathematics, Chaos Theory focuses on how some systems have sensitive dependence on their initial conditions, and may attempt to plot how a butterfly wing flap in central Mexico can ultimately cause a monsoon in India, difficult to understand but the graphics are cool. The artist Sam Gelber says of his 27 foot painting ”Chaos and War” , ‘It is about violence, patriotism, confrontation, antagonism, blood and politics.’ Ten other artists join Sam at Aarhus to grab hold of this worldly word and come up with some chaos of their own; Edward Anthonis, Kenny Cole, Norman Tinker, Seth Whited as well as Åarhus artists Kevin Johnson, Mark Kelly, Annadeene Konesni, Richard Mann, Wesley Reddick, and Willy Reddick.

April 2008

Funny Lookin': A Photography Show

April 3-27

Photographer Richard Benson once said that "funny pictures aren't quite serious" and with this in mind, Aarhus Gallery invites the public to join them for an opening reception on Friday April 4 from 5-8pm as they explore the humorous side of photography. The show will run from April 3-27 and coincides with and is inspired by the Belfast Comic Arts Laugh Festival April 9-13, 2008.

With the long winter, high heating costs and gas prices, 8 years of the Bush Administration, and a recession, we all could use a little levity. Be it odd, ironic, strange, wry or cute, views of a not so serious world can help cure the blues. Funny Lookin' artists include Jason Crain, Derek DeJoy, Sally Dennison, Betsey Feeley, Greg Morley, Alex Morrow, Georges Nashan, Eben Ostby, Jan Rosenbaum and Mat Thorne, as well as Åarhus artists Kevin Johnson, Mark Kelly, Annadeene Konesni, Richard Mann, Wesley Reddick, and Willy Reddick.

"Lost Person Area" by Kevin Johnson

Hope Hoffman and Kittlish

Saturday April 19th, 2008 7-9pm
Hope Hoffman and Kittlish
"Original & traditional fiddle tunes and songs"
Their new CD, Infinite Winter Squash: New Maine Fiddle Music will be available
$7 suggested donation at the door

Hope Hoffman and her band, Kittlish, present her original fiddle and viola tunes, often-comic storytelling about the farming, winterizing and neighborly adventures which inspire them, and a rhythmic and lyrical repertoire of traditional Irish, Scottish, French Canadian, English and Scandinavian music.

Hope's musical style on fiddle, viola and voice is noted for its evocative beauty & rough-and-tumble playfulness, with influences including Maine dance fiddlers and early music. With a lifetime of experience as a writer, actress and dancer, Hope has been a professional musician in New England for several years, and is known for her warm and personable performances from Presque Isle to Manhattan.

Hugh McGinness is a regular performer on cittern, guitar, banjo, jaw harp, etc. He is also one third of the Irish trio Feckless, with George Fowler on fiddle and Susanne Ward on pipes.

Larry Burkett accompanies traditional fiddle players on guitar, including Fiddle-iscious and occasionally the Don Roy Trio.

Website

Listen

March 2008

Åarhus Gallery views "Architectura"

Åarhus Gallery held an opening reception on Friday March 7th, 2008 from 5-8pm as the gallery took a broad look at architecture with their show Architectura March 6th-30th 2008.

Architectura draws from Maine artists working in forms from collage and painting, to constructions, models, drawing and photography. Artists include Daniel Anselmi, Mary Baldwin Collins, Thomas Michael Corcoran, Jason Crain, Larason Guthrie, Blake Hendrickson, Greg Morley, Alison Rector, James Strickland, and David Wright, as well as Åarhus artists Kevin Johnson, Mark Kelly, Annadeene Konesni, Richard Mann, Wesley Reddick, and Willy Reddick.

Theater by Alison Rector

The Academy(detail) by Daniel Anselmi

The Yentes Brothers Duo, in concert, March 2008

Friday March 21, 7-9pm.
$5 suggested donation at the door.

The Yentes Brothers Duo brought the house down while providing celebratory music for our Extravaganza in December. We are thrilled to have the eclectic duo back for a full concert!

With Seth on Cello, and Tyler on violin, these gents expertly sample classical, original, traditional, and old time tunes- and together create a clear and hearty sound.

February 2008

LOVE

February 1-March 2, 2008

Plato described love as the desire for the perpetual possession of the good, a few years later, J Giles said love stinks. Who's to say for sure what love is, or what color it is for that matter. Aarhus hopes to shed some light on the subject.

An opening reception was held Friday February 1st, from 5-8pm.

Artists include

Rural Electric, February 16th, 2008

On Saturday February 16th, Belfast-based Rural Electric, performed at Aarhus gallery from 7:30-9:30. This hard working, local, guitar-wielding fuzz-folk, original independent rock band deals with everything from love and politics to nature. The band is a virtual vernal pool of four talented musicians, Andy Vietze (guitar, vocals, park ranger), Alan Gibson (guitar, keyboard, vocals, green builder), Andrew Carpenter (baritone, bass, guitar, soil scientist), and Eric Sanders (drums, assistant VP Bank of America). Their second album 'The Road to Hell is Paved' was released last year to much acclaim.

Website
Myspace page

December 2007

Saturday December 8th, 2007: Children's book signing 1-3pm

Mid-Coast Maine Children's Book Authors, Stephen Costanza, Belfast, (Mozart Finds a Melody) and Rebekah Raye, of E. Blue Hill, (The Very Best Bed, and Thanks to the Animals) read from their books, tell us about being authors and illustrators, and signed books made available by Fertile Mind Bookshop .

November 2007

Special Screening: "Everything Will Be OK"

Wednesday November 14 2007 at 6:30pm

In continuation of its on-going film series, Aarhus Gallery was proud to present filmmaker Patrick O'Brien's "Everything Will Be Okay", a series of excerpts from his upcoming documentary film "October 5, 1974".

On May 24th, 2005, Patrick was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), a terminal disease that results in the progressive degeneration of the nerves and muscles responsible for voluntary movement. It is a fatal and incurable disease. He was 30 years old. This devastating news did not put a halt to this artist's incredible spirit or productivity. He states, "Over the course of 2006 and 2007 I will document my journey with ALS on 35mm motion picture film. This challenge has given me a focal point to channel my energies, and will hopefully inspire others to keep moving throughtheir own adversities. At this point in my life my intention is to be at peace with myself, and to pursue my life's work of making a feature film about something which reaches for the truth. All of my adult life, I have been making films - films about unconventional characters, stories about vulnerable souls. Now, in the last years of my life, the film I am making, the character I tried so hard to write all these years, the story which eluded me on paper, is unfolding across my body, inside my nervous system, and in front of my eyes. I have become the character in the film which I have been striving to bring to the screen all these years".

The film was shown on Wednesday, November 14, at 6:30 pm.

There was a byob fund-raising party after the film. 100% of the proceeds from this event will go to the Patrick O'Brien Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to funding ALS research and artists working creatively to raise awareness.

For more information about the foundation, go to www.patrickobrienfoundation.org.

October 2007

Rebecca Rivers
Showing October 2nd - 28th, 2007
Opening Reception: Friday October 5th 5-8pm

The surprisingly twisted path that I am on, led me to Searsport, Maine 30 years ago. This path has included the Dayton Art Institute in Dayton, Ohio, living near Madrid, Spain for 4 years, having three sons who are my delight, painting classes at UMO with Mike Lewis, a week on Monhegan Island with 12 of my art buddies every year, visiting both islands of New Zealand and skydiving as often as I can. My home has become my sanctuary. I find solace in the quiet peace that living off the beaten path offers. It has been a gift to have the opportunity to wander the Maine shorelines. I am drawn to water, salt or fresh, and my paintings are a joyful answer to that call.

The most recent mixed media and watercolor paintings represent a departure in attitude from what is most comfortable for me. Realistic watercolor has been my medium and style of choice, but within me becoming more insistent, is the urge to let go. My artistic path has led me to the edge. I have fearfully peered over the rim and have longed to step off that edge into the vast unknown. These most recent paintings are a part of the continuing effort of adventure and discovery to artistically step off the edge.

September 2007

David Estey
Showing September 13th-30th, 2007
Opening Reception: Friday September 14th 5-8pm

David Estey is an award-winning painter/printmaker in Belfast, Maine. He has lived, taught, and exhibited around Baltimore, MD; Philadelphia, PA; Charlotte, NC; and mid-coast Maine. His work includes paintings and prints in a wide variety of styles and media, as well as an abundance of strong, expressive figure drawings in charcoal.

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August 2007

Ben Potter

Åarhus Gallery presented a selection of work by local artist Ben Potter including paintings, drawings and collage from August 13th-August 26th, 2007. A reception was held August 17th from 5-8 pm as part of Belfast's Friday Art Walks.

Potter , originally from Tennessee, majored in Art and Biology at Williams College, where he was awarded a Mellon Grant for experimental work in the arts, and a Hutchinson fellowship. He received his M.F.A. from the California College of Arts in 1998, and has since exhibited widely in the United States and Europe. Ben taught classes in sculpture, design, photography, drawing and painting in Vermont and Wisconsin before becoming associate professor of art at Unity College in Maine. Ben's art practice stems from his interdisciplinary background, and uses subjects drawn primarily from the sciences as the basis for his formal and conceptual investigations. These 'investigations' may include plastic shopping bags, tin foil or motorcycle helmets.

September 2007

Dianne S Hire

Renowned Colorist Quilter, Dianne S. Hire showed at Aarhus Gallery

A collection of new and fabulous small quilts by Dianne S. Hire was on view at Aarhus Gallery August 28th-September 11th, 2007. To kick off Labor Day Weekend, Aarhus Gallery hosted an Opening Reception Friday August 31st from 5-8pm.

One of the quintessential artists of the art quilt genre lives right here in our own back yard. The nationally recognized, award winning quiltmaker Dianne S. Hire of Northport, will dazzle us with vibrant colors, bold exciting shapes and her outstanding design sense. "I am a colorist who intuitively responds to the joyful way colors intermingle. I require vibrancy to speak but never shout--yet boldly sing" She is at the top of her game with her virtuosity of the medium and the facility to challenge concepts and think outside the square.

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August 2007

Kris Engman , as a guest artist at Aarhus Gallery July 31st-August 12th 2007, was showing paintings, drawings and bronze sculptures. A reception was held August 3rd from 5-8 pm as part of Belfast's Friday Art Walks.

Kris Engman, a dedicated and talented sculptor, and painter, is an assistant professor of art at the University of Maine in Orono and is also the founder and director of a Belfast based school and community service cultural exchange.

Ms. Engman's figurative sculptures are the basis for her exploration of social and psychological issues. Her work suggests the "... roles and circumstances that define the female place within her culture, community, home... Each is about internal balance common to everyone despite of the fact that the perspective is female". In painting, Ms. Engman places her focus on the relationships of color. This work is the result of a study of light conditions and its effects on color within specific natural environments.

July 2007

Boat Show July 17 through the 29th 2007

In response to the national boat building challenge and the classic small boat show that was held in Belfast July 28, Åarhus Gallery featured area artists working with boat imagery, both literal and interpretive. Works shown by Guest Artists included; photographs of boats in and out of their element at The Carpenter's Boatshop by Paul McEvoy, the uncompromising sculpture of James Strickland, mixed media on paper by Vincent Abaldo, and an actual 17' Hereshoff row boat hull by the nimble hands of boat builder Steven Florimbi was hung from the ceiling.

Free Seedlings Band CD Release Performance-Party 2007

The Free Seedlings, a new and energizing acoustic band playing a buoyant mix of bluegrass, old-time and original songs, announce their new CD Uncommon Kinship with a performance-party Thursday July 26, 2007 at 7:30pm.

The Free Seedlings Band; Bennett Konesni, guitar, fiddle, banjo, David Lewis, guitar and bass, and Jeff Lewis, mandolin, will perform selections from the CD, some new jewels they are working on, and will enjoy celebrating the new release with friends old and new. For a preview visit the band's website: freeseedlingsband.googlepages.com

Norman Tinker

Norman Tinker is a sculptor's sculptor. His expressive work is marveled at daily by Miller St. travelers, but it should by all rights be in the Museum of Modern Art. It is that good. Mr Tinker is the real deal; "It is rare I set out to create beauty," he says " but sometimes that happens." Yes , sometimes that happens with work that can be as dogmatic as a dumpster but with a subtle sense of eloquence that creeps in and won't let you go.

Mr. Tinker was a guest artist at Aarhus Gallery from July 3rd-15th 2007, showing a selection of his collage, assemblage and sculptural work. An Opening Reception was held July 6th from 5-8pm as part of Belfast’s Friday Art Walk Series.

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