Homes
Artist of the Outdoors
Inspired by a love of Maine and the outdoors, painter Jessica Ives records outdoor experiences—swimmers cutting across the water, a surfer bearing his board toward the waves, snowboarders resting on the slopes, a man casting a fly over a river.
From Awkward Spaces to Glorious Vistas
Artists Fred and Hope Angier use murals and other painted touches to add life to otherwise empty spaces.
From Boats to Art
Artist Dan West has taken skills he learned as a boatbuilder to make whimsical and timeless sculptures.
Aliens Among Us
Non-native plants such as burning bush may look pretty but they can cause problems by pushing out native stock. We take a look at a few invasives in Maine.
Bohemian Princess
A mystical gypsy caravan, built as a garden folly, features fine boatbuilding touches and is perfect for parties or afternoon naps.
Saltwater Foodways: That Old Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a tough perennial; along with some humans, deer and woodchucks don’t eat it. It is one of the first edibles to appear in May, with long red stalks ready for use in desserts and, increasingly, in the 21st century, in savory dishes, too.
Playing By Heart
In an era of YouTube music videos and dwindling public school arts budgets, Farmington, Maine, teenagers are lining up — and auditioning — to play the jigs and reels heard at 19th century barn dances. Part of the credit goes to a rural tradition of family and friends playing music together. The catalyst, though, is Steve Muise, the orchestra teacher at Mt. Blue High School.
Tollef Runquist: A Painter Follows His Bliss
Painter Tollef Runquist’s colorful canvases draw on place and experience. Recently he has been inspired by his son’s playthings.
The Pull of an Island
It took some time, but eventually Great Gott became the heart of an island-based business for Claire and Carly Weinberg. Their company, Dulse & Rugosa, uses seaweed and botanicals grown on the island to make skin care products, and has allowed them to make a living in the one place that has always felt like home.
Dancing Around
The growing community of Maine’s tango dancers travel to Portland to attend milongas, and to Thomaston for a seaside summer tango retreat.
