Spring 2017: Light in the Dark

Welcome to the new online edition of the

Maine Arts Journal: The UMVA Quarterly

Light in the Dark: Art as a Sane Voice in an Insane World

From the Editors Light in the Dark: Art as a Sane Voice in an Insane World What are your symptoms: sleeplessness, anxiety, panic attacks, vague sense of fear, very specific fears, loss of appetite, uncontrollable sobbing, uncontrollable laughter? (click to read more…)

Visual Essay: Matt Blackwell As the presidential election ended I was encouraged by several recent exhibitions…

Visual Essay: Dan Mills Finding a moment of light within the darkness of poor human behavior is the role of the art of political satire…

Visual Essay: Vivien Russe The word Ubuntu, meaning “I am myself because of who we all are”, is a call and a reminder that we, as individuals, are connected to all people, especially in an increasingly globalized world…

Our Saudi Moment  By Daniel Kany I was invited to join a group of 20 “culture influencers” on a week-long art tour through the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in February...

Hell’s Gate Illuminated: A Tribute to Paul Oberst By Kathy Weinberg When people talk about tragic events they often start with where they were and what they were doing as if by introducing the mundane back-story one could perform some crude magic and reverse the outcome.

Nasty Maine Women Artists By Edgar Allen Beem Six artists explain the impact of politics on their art

Philip Guston’s Hysterical Laughter By Jeffrey Ackerman “To paint, to write, to teach in the most dedicated and sincere way is the most intimate affirmation of creative life we possess in these despairing years.” — Philip Guston…

Poetry Feature: Betsy Sholl IT WAS a squirrel flicking its tail,

Poetry Feature: Gibson Fay-LeBlanc A Preponderance of Evidence

Feature: Todd Watts: Blanchard Weather Report

Feature: Maine Artists Anonymous in Brooklyn Eight Maine artists have made six paintings about immigration issues that are now hanging in public spaces in Brooklyn,

Feature: Natasha Mayers: A Personal Collection of Post-Election Images In the spirit of the Spring Journal’s theme (Light in the Dark: Art as a Sane Voice in an Insane World), I present the viewer with this personal collection of images assembled since the election.

Feature: Insight/Incite: Mark Melnicove: Falmouth High School I feel as if I have always been teaching in dark times, no matter who has been in power in Washington, Moscow, or other capitals of the world.

UMVA Member Submissions, Light in the Dark: Art As a Sane Voice in an Insane World Union of Maine Artists members respond to the Spring 2017 theme

UMVA: Feature: Ava Moss-Civello: The UMVA’s littlest benefactor! When faced with the prospect of doing a “citizen of the week” project for school, Ava Moss-Civello, daughter of the art dealer Elizabeth Moss, chose — completely on her own — to raise money for the Union of Maine Visual Artists.

UMVA: Light in the Dark Exhibit at CTN Gallery, April 7 – 29 Opening: Friday, April 7 during First Friday Art Walk.

UMVA: ARRT! Update: Spring 2017 This quarter ARRTists could be found outside the studio working in communities in a variety of ways in addition to the banner making collaborations they have become known for.

UMVA: Suzanna Lasker, ARRTist Suzanna Lasker, prolific designer member of ARRT! also creates digital images for progressive and political groups.

UMVA Update, Maine Masters Ashley Bryan’s response to war and racism was to shine a light upon those evils and create beauty and joy, awe and wonder.

UMVA Update, L/A Chapter Report UMVA-Lewiston/Auburn Chapter had a wonderful event this past February 18th.  “For the Love of Art”…