More summer Festivals

The end of July is a festival-rich environment throughout Maine. The LL Bean Summer series is in full swing and Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, Sebago-Long Lake Music Festival and the Mt. Desert Festival of Chamber Music are all in the middle of their offerings. Oxxfest 2011 is scheduled for this weekend as part of the ongoing Bangor Waterfront Concerts. Also on the horizon is the Saltwater Celtic Music Festival and the Kah-Bang Music Art and Film Festival.

Oxxfest 2011
July 31, 2011
featuring Stone Temple Pilots, Deadseason, Uncle Jack, Nobis & 30 other national and local bands. Gates open at 10am at the Bangor waterfront.

Saltwater Celtic Music Festival
July 31, 2011
The Saltwater Celtic Music Festival will be held at beautiful Thomas Point Beach in Brunswick, and at satellite locations on days prior to the July 31 main event. It promises to be one of the most important events on the New England Celtic calendar. Many artists will be available for meet and greet following their performance.

KahBang Music Art and Film Festival.
August 05-13, 2011
KahBang is an annual summer festival showcasing independent artists in music, art and film. The festival opens with the Art and Film exhibitions and ends with a 2-day multi-stage music festival. The events take place throughout the downtown and waterfront of Bangor. During the event Bangor is transformed into one of the largest independent music art and film events in New England.

Mt. Desert Festival of Chamber Music
July 19, 26. August 2,9 and 16
The Mt. Desert Festival of Chamber Music takes pleasure in announcing its 48th anniversary season of summer concerts at the historic Neighborhood House in Northeast Harbor, Maine. Four prominent string quartets will be performing at this years festival.

Sebago-Long Lake Music Festival
Tuesdays, July 12 to August 9
The Sebago-Long Lake Music Festival is devoted to presenting high-quality chamber music performances in the lake region of Western Maine. Founded in 1972 by bassoonist Homer Pence and other professional musicians who summered in the region.
The musicians are all string, wind or keyboard artists of the highest caliber.

Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival,
June 20 to August 21
Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival is often called the "Cradle of chamber music teaching in America". It is a chamber music school, a concert series and chamber music advocate. Concerts are offered by the acclaimed faculty of musicians and the 50 exceedingly-talented young artists who study there.

LL Bean Summer series
July 2 through September 3, 2011
Held in Discovery Park at the LL Bean flagship campus. Every week throughout the summer events, concerts, and unique entertainment are offered.

Micro Budget Indie Film Talk, August 1

Filmmaker Kyle Martin

Kyle Martin and Lance Edmands, key members of the filmmaking team that helped create last year’s acclaimed indie success Tiny Furniture (Best Narrative Feature" 2010 SXSW, "Best First Screenplay" Independent Spirit Award), will be at Rockport’s Union Hall on Monday August 1 at 8:00pm. They will be sharing their experiences of the independent film world, showing clips of past work and talking about their upcoming project Bluebird which will be shooting in Millinocket in January 2012. This event is hosted by the Maine Media Workshops and College, admission is free and open to the public.

For more information on this event, please contact Melissa at mpage@mainemedia.edu or at 236.8581 ext. 363 or alternatively Emily at emily@louiserosenltd.com or 207.725.8215.

Interesting Opportunities

As we head into the weekend there are a couple of additional opportunities we’d like to share with you all.

The Alaska State Arts Agency executive director job is open. This position caries a $6,132 minimum monthly salary and the deadline for applications is September 1. The details are in the Opportunities Section of MaineArts.com.

For the performing arts enthusiasts the announcement that the Penobscot Theatre in Bangor will be holding open auditions on Sunday, July 31, may be of interest.

This day will serve as an initial audition for the entire season. Callbacks will be held throughout the rest of the year as the specific shows approach. Those who wish to be considered for the spring productions are strongly encouraged to attend this audition. However, there are roles that are being sought for the coming shows:

Last Gas by John Cariani (September 9-25); The Marvelous Wonderettes (October 26-November 13) and A Christmas Story (December 2-23). Full details of the positions are in the Opportunities Section of MaineArts.com.

To secure an audition slot, call The Penobscot Theatre Box Office at 942-3333 Monday through Friday between 12-4pm. Audition slots must be secured no later than Friday, July 29. Walk-ins will most likely not be seen.

$10,000 Art Commission Announced in Biddeford, Maine

Thread, a downtown development company dedicated to advancing community through revitalization, is sponsoring the $10,000 commission for a mural, installation, or combination of the two. The original piece is being commissioned for an exterior wall on their historic property at 265 Main Street in downtown Biddeford. Engine, a community arts organization in Biddeford, is assisting with coordinating and jurying the entries.

Photos of the property under renovations can be seen at on Thread’s Facebook page. Proposals and conceptual sketches for the project are now being accepted and must be received no later than September 30, 2011.

The mural, installation, or combination of the two being commissioned is for the east wall of the property. The wall is approximately 16.5-feet tall by 43.5-feet wide. Both 2-D and 3-D concepts, or a combination, will be considered. Proposals that utilize a greater portion of the east wall will be considered. Please visit Engine’s web site for photographs of the wall and for further specs.
The mural or installation may be traditional or contemporary in nature—the foremost criterion for selection is artistic excellence. The winning concept will likely show an understanding of and sensitivity toward the unique spirit of the building—originally a mercantile and then a furniture store fondly remembered as the Potter’s Building—and also of Biddeford, a former textile industry mecca currently in the throes of revitalization.

Only one proposal will be selected for the commission; two additional proposals will be chosen as finalists and publicized. Proposals must include conceptual sketches that are very close to what the final piece will resemble when executed.

AWARD
The winning proposal will receive a $10,000 payment, in negotiated allotments, to execute their proposal. The winning artist must be able to either execute or oversee the execution of their proposal. The winning artist will be asked to enter into a contractual agreement with Thread that outlines the project’s scope and deadlines.

SELECTION
A jury will include representatives from Thread, Engine, Maine College of Art, and the Maine Arts Commission.

SUBMIT
Respondents must submit:
1. Narrative proposal (two-page max)
2. Conceptual sketches (PDFs)
3. Budget
4. Resumé

Materials may be submitted via email to director@feedtheengine.org or by mail to:

Engine
41 Franklin Street #1
Biddeford, ME 04005

DEADLINE:
Proposals must be received by 5PM (EST) on September 30, 2011.

ELIGIBILITY
All artists residing in Maine and 18 years of age or older are eligible.

QUESTIONS
Tammy Ackerman, Executive Director of Engine
director@feedtheengine.org or 207/229-3560

Strengthening Maine’s Nonprofit Arts Boards

The Maine Arts Commission is offering a series of free board development workshops throughout the state to bolster the strength and effectiveness of Maine’s nonprofit arts and cultural organizations.

Board members, leaders and directors from cultural organizations are invited to attend the workshops that begin on September 8 in Portland and move on to Norway, Lewiston, Bangor, Belfast, Presque Isle and Camden.
With funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Maine Arts Commission has organized this series of workshops to address both board development and the training of future leaders within organizations. The all day sessions will be led by Tony Scucci, a senior governance consultant with Board Source. Scucci has an extensive list of clients that have included the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the American Red Cross.

The board development workshops will focus on increasing the board’s understanding of it duties, roles and responsibilities and clarifying expectations. These workshops will take place at the following times and locations:

• September 8, St. Lawrence Arts Center, Portland
• September 9, Western Maine Art Group, Matolscy Gallery, Norway
• October 19, University of Maine Museum of Art, Bangor
• October 26, University of Maine, Presque Isle
• October 27, Waterfall Arts Center, Belfast

The leadership training sessions will help participants understand their own leadership qualities and styles; it will also provide clear guidance on the five core leadership competencies. These sessions take place at the following times and locations.

• October 7, Olin Arts Center, Bates College, Lewiston
• October 28, Camden Opera House, Camden.
Complimentary luncheons will be provided for attendees at all venues. Those wishing to attend should sign up soon as space is extremely limited. Full details, including registration, for each location can be found on MaineArts.com.

Maine Summer Festivals!

The Maine International Film festival is still going strong, but there are many other festivals happening this week (and throughout the summer). If you have not locked in your plans you should make a point to attend as many of these offerings as you can. Here are just a few.

Image provided by Bay Chamber Concerts

Ossipee Music Festival, July 21-24, 2011
http://www.ossipeevalley.com/
A four day acoustic music event with over 60 hours of live music from two stages. The Festival is host to the New England Flat-picking, Banjo and Songwriting Contests. It also hosts numerous workshops and dances and the four day children music academy, Roots & Sprouts.

Bates Dance Festival, July 1 – August 13, 2011
http://www.batesdancefestival.org/
The Bates Dance Festival brings together an international community of choreographers, performers, educators and students in a cooperative community to study, perform and create new work.

Bowdoin International Music Festival, June 25 – August 6, 2011
http://www.bowdoinfestival.org/
Each summer, the Bowdoin International Music Festival brings renowned artist instructors, performers, soloists, and gifted pre-professional classical musicians from around the world to beautiful Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine for six weeks of intensive chamber music study, collaboration, and performance.

Bay Chamber Concerts, July 1 – September 1, 2011
http://www.baychamberconcerts.org/
Each week in July and August, you can find a concert presented on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Most summer concerts start at 8:00 p.m. Most Wednesday night concerts are at the Strand Theatre, all Thursday night concerts are at the Rockport Opera House.

The DaPonte String Quartet, June 11 - August 29, 2011
http://www.daponte.org/
The DaPonte String Quartet was formed in Philadelphia in 1991 and came to Maine in 1995 on a Rural Residency Grant. At the end of the grant period the four musicians and their families decided to put down personal and professional roots in Maine.

More offerings can be found on the Maine Arts Commission Events Calender or on the Office of Tourism Maine Performs page.

Artist-friendly Efficiency Apartments Soon Available in Portland

Portland will have affordable housing for artists available at 72 Oak Street, around the corner from the restaurant 555. The anticipated opening date is December 2011. There will be 37 artist-friendly efficiency apartments in total.

Avesta worked with architects and designers to make these 37 efficiency apartments artist-friendly. The ground floor includes a gallery and there is a shared workspace on the second floor. The units have high ceilings, deep storage space, and large windows. As an affordable housing solution, the all-inclusive rent is based on income and there is an income limit. Applications are reviewed and processed in the order they are received.

Please share the attached information with artists who are looking for affordable housing in the Arts District.

For more information and to get added to the inquiry list, visit Avesta Housing.

Free Information Sessions Offered by Maine Arts Commission

Staff members from the Maine Arts Commission are taking to the road next week to present at two venues, one in Eastport on July 20 and the other in Lubec on July 21.

Artists and staff of cultural organizations are encouraged to attend these free presentations in order to gain knowledge of various ways of accessing funding.

The Tides Institute and Museum of Art will host the director of the Maine Arts Commission for an Art Talk titled, Public Art is Not an Oxymoron, on Wednesday, July 20 at 7:00 pm. Agency representatives will show examples of public art from around the state, the nation, and the world, discussing the ins and outs of navigating the process of public art, and the specifics of Maine’s Percent for Art law. A question and answer discussion will follow. This event is free and open to the public.
The Cobscook Community Learning Center (CCLC), in Lubec, will be the venue for a free workshop about funding sources for artists and arts organizations, and how to access them.

This workshop takes place from 12 – 2 p.m., Thursday, July 21. Staff from the Maine Arts Commission, including Donna McNeil, will present basic information about the Maine Arts Commission’s grant programs and additional funding opportunities available to artists and cultural organizations through the commission. The presentation will include a review of the National Endowment for the Arts’ new funding categories and tips and tricks for grant writing basics.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch – the CCLC will provide a light dessert and beverages. This will be an informal gathering which will allow participants to ask specific questions and steer the presentation in the direction most helpful to them. Please call 207/733-2233 with questions.

Maine International Film Festival Begins This Week.

Since 1998 the Maine International Film Festival has represented the best of American independent and international cinema. They also have featured some of Maine's most exciting and innovative filmmakers. The event is a project of the Maine Film Center and this year's 10 day festival offers nearly 100 films between July 15 and 24.

At the festival audiences will be offered world class film and a chance to meet some of the people behind the movies. Filmmakers will host panel discussions and informal Q&A sessions, giving movie-goers an incredible chance to learn more about the art of film. This year’s Mid-Life Achievement Award honoree is Malcolm McDowell, a versatile and prolific actor with a career spanning over forty years. McDowell will accept his award on Saturday, July 16 at Colby College’s Given Auditorium.

The Maine Arts Commission is again sponsoring part of the film festival by lending support for Making it in Maine Day on Saturday, July 23.

The 34th Maine Student Film and Video Festival

The Maine Student Film Video Festival is open to Maine residents 19 years of age and younger. The movies submitted to the festival are judged on the basis of originality, content, style, and technique. Movies are reviewed by categories: Pre-Teen Division, grades K - 6; Junior Division, grades 7 - 8; and Senior Division, grades 9 - 12. All film genres are accepted and usually are entered from animation, documentary and narrative. Each year finalists’ and winners’ movies are selected for screening at the Public Screening and Awards Presentation held in conjunction with MIFF. A grand prize winner is selected each year and receives a $2,500 scholarship to the Young Filmmakers program, donated by The Maine Media Workshops, Rockport, ME.
Admission is free.

More information about the festival can be found on the Maine International Film Festival site.

Check out the 2011 Norway Arts Festival this Weekend

On July 7-9 Norway will host their annual Arts Festival, sponsored by the Western Maine Arts Group and Norway Downtown. This year the festival's focus-figure is Tony Montanaro (1927-2002), the internationally acclaimed mime artist, director, and teacher who founded the Celebration Barn Theater in South Paris. The event will close down Main Street to accommodate over 100 artists at the 44th annual Norway Sidewalk Art Show along with musicians, jugglers, dancers, children's activities, drummers and giant puppets.

The weekend will offer the Norway Triathlon, Poets on the Porch VIII, the annual Library Used Book Sale, and much more. All events are free and open to the public.
Go to the Norway Festival site for more details.

Artwork of Jacobus Baas Exhibited in Maine’s State Capitol

Hay There, oil on linen 24x30

The artwork of Jacobus Baas is now on display in Maine’s Capitol Complex as part of the Maine Arts Commission's Arts in the Capitol program.

The exhibit has been generously loaned by the Dowling Walsh Gallery in Rockland, and will remain on display until the end of September. The work is viewable by the public throughout the week at the Maine State House from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and at the Blaine House from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Those wishing to visit the Blaine House are advised to call ahead.
Goose River Farm, oil on linen 24x30

Born in the Netherlands in 1945, Baas spent his early years in Rotterdam, surrounded by rich landscapes and cloud-laden skies made famous by the Dutch Masters throughout history. He arrived in the U.S. in his early teens with a deeply ingrained interest in art.

Baas initially channeled his creativity towards jewelry design. His unique and original works captured a following that resulted in over 35 years of success as a goldsmith at his business in Laguna Beach. This success has afforded Baas the freedom to pursue his first love, painting.

“Painting has become my full time passion; there is no time to make jewelry. The act of applying paint to a canvas has always been intriguing to me,” said Baas. “To transform a two dimensional surface and give it a feeling of space with carefully arranged brushstrokes, using the right colors and values is pure magic. Every time I paint on location, with each brushstroke I experience that magic again, and hopefully the viewer will experience it as well in the finished painting.”

Baas has been exhibiting his artwork for over 30 years and is currently represented by galleries in Maine, California, Hawaii, Washington and Texas. His work will be at the State House, Blaine House and offices of the Maine Arts Commission until the end of September.

All Arts in the Capitol events and free and open to the public; however, exhibitions are self-guided and may only be viewed within prescribed times: Maine Arts Commission Office 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; Maine State House 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; and the Blaine House - 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (Please call ahead at 207/287-2121). For more information on this and all programs available through the Maine Arts Commission, visit MaineArts.com.