Right Now! Processing the Moment

We believe there is power in witnessing how our community of artists respond to the moment. Many of us feel despair over the erosion of our rights and the integrity of our democratic process, as each day brings another onslaught. Our new feature in the Maine Arts Journal: “Right Now!: Processing the Moment” presents some of the creative responses to these difficult times including what is happening in Maine artists’ studios, on social media, or in the streets. It is increasingly difficult to focus on other issues when the threats to our daily lives feel both immediate and globally exponential.

“Right Now!” is intended as a primarily visual feature, interspersed with brief reflections from contributors. Our Fall 2026 will have a different approach to the feature. Stay tuned for updates.

In our 250th year, I find myself forced to imagine I might only be able to dream of the America I’ve loved all my life, the flag and our ideals that “so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming.” Those ideals that have suddenly become so tattered, abused, and dragged through the mud.

—Alan Crichton

Although this photo was taken back in 2020, it sure looks like a portrait of the USA today, at least to me. It was during those last days of forty-five’s presidency and the height of Covid when I noticed a flag that a neighbor was flying was torn and half hanging on a nearby tree branch. It became My Country Tis of Thee. And now “déjà vu all over again,” to quote that poet of the ballpark, Yogi Berra. But this time it’s even worse with the insane, misogynistic, eugenic, illegal, and racist actions of the 2026 administration being greeted as normal by legacy media. It makes my blood boil as a former member of the fourth estate. So, I continue to call and email to prod our elected officials to take action.

—Ann Tracy

The I.C.E Man is essentially a frigid human that kills dreams.  A snowman represents that force which has now been unleashed . . . essentially killing the dreams of people who come to the US with a hope of a better life. My snowman is gory, cut in half to expose colorful innards which are an interactive marble chase for viewers to engage with. For me the ultimate question regards whether we as a people are going to uphold a certain level of humanity for our fellow humans. The snowman is a stand in, a jolly nonhuman . . . suggesting the act of dehumanizing in order to deny humanity.

—Kenny Cole

 

This image exploded out of me one morning in May. Relief flooded me when I finished a quick sketch. Getting the image out of my mind and body onto the paper allowed me to see the dark humor of it. Trump wipes his ass with the hard earned money of his MAGA base. His puppeteers float on clouds of cash, while the environment and institutions burn and ordinary humans suffer.

—Nora Tryon

I am a Maine-based metalsmith. I create jewelry inspired by the tiny creatures I find in my pollinator garden. I was inspired to create entomology-inspired works because of the rapidly declining insect biomass I am seeing firsthand in my garden over the past five years. I like to show my viewers that insects, although often overlooked, are the most important building blocks of earth life.

—Danielle Goulette

 

In this time of chaos and impermanence, I visited Kinderdyjk in Holland and saw the windmills. And I was reassured.

—Laura Waller

 

 

My POTUS8647 project evolved: the unframed paintings were shown in Zero Station’s two-part exhibition, American Grotesque. They hosted a Happening where the audience tossed tomatoes at selected paintings. After that I burned the works. The carcasses were stabilized on wood panels and framed in polyurethane foam. A QR code attached to each frame links to a video of the project courtesy of Christopher Andrew.

—Michael Torlen