Finding True North is the title and theme for the new art show hanging at the Bangor Public Library on Harlow St. in Bangor, Me. This show is a compilation of new works created over the past 3 years. I want each piece to be part of a whole that reminds us of who we are, where we are and where we are headed, what influences may have helped to develop the place that we find ourselves in at this time. The compass designs are literal representations of how to find your way. The mixed media pieces use vintage photographs, paint and ephemera to tell stores from the past. Each of these stories will be interpreted differently depending on what your vantage point is at the time. The oil paintings tell a story in a different format but I have chosen places that have been very meaningful to me and perhaps to some of you. For me the art all represents a way-point that helps me to mark the direction of my life, one way or another.
Finding true north in my life seems to be a constantly evolving process and one that has been influenced by my experiences with people, places and things. When this series began I was on a very different route then I was this past winter when I began to bring all of the work into a cohesive vision.
The direction of our lives sometimes seems to be totally out of our hands, things happen that we can not control.
Our world is suffering turmoil and strife. Our community is facing issues with growth, seasonal strains on the infrastructure, drug use and the fall out from those behaviors and change over which we have no control. In our town we have seen changes that some people like and some people mourn. We have no control over those changes but we do have control over how we process the information and how we let it become part of our journey. I see families make long term goals and decisions based in values and goals, it not only helps their immediate family life but also the individual members as they become adults and decision makers. I have seen communities who decide the direction of their community and make plans and goals in order to meet those goals. These plans and decisions are way points in the journey towards “True North”. Is it possible to make growth and development a part of a community plan?
These are things to think about, things to talk about if you wish.
Please join me on Thursday, July 26 at noon to talk about building a narrative and direction from an artist’s perspective. This talk is at the Bangor Public Library on Harlow St in Bangor. The show is open M-Th from 10-7 and Fridays from 10-5 located in the Stairwell Gallery and the Stairwell Extension Gallery for your viewing pleasure.
