Isalos Fine Art

The gallery continues to come together, and new artwork arrives almost every day. As much work as it is to hang and rehang art as we try things  out in various places, I love this part of the gallery process. I'll find myself returning again and again to a wall that doesn't seem to work. Then a new painting arrives in the gallery and solves the problem. I keep walking around, just staring. And I love it when I look up from my desk and  I'm almost surprised at how transformed the place is by the newly-hung art.

Richard Aliberti came up from Boston the other day and installed "Diver," a seven-foot high cast bronze and verde antique sculpture in the front window.  

Also in the front window, Farrell Ruppert showed-up to install his "Series 13" forged steel and concrete sculpture.

At Eugene Koch's studio, we chose some ink on panel paintings.  In the next few days I'll be updating photographs of artwork in the artists section of the website. It's a gorgeous day here in Stonington: 70 degrees, sunny, a few visitors in town, but far from crazy-busy. This week, The Fisherman's Friend and Maritime Cafe opened for the season. Local vehicles, anticipating the possibility of actual traffic, have shifted into "tailgate mode," riding hard on the bumpers of anyone with plates from away. The signs are all there: summer is coming.

 All photos by Rebecca Daugherty.

Yesterday the Mary Day breezed into the thorougfare... and kept going. It's been breezy and she was moving pretty quick. Today though, the Mercantile dropped anchor in Stonington Harbor, winning the annual first schooner of the season award. It was a nice day here on shore, plenty warm- almost sixty degrees, but the schooner passengers were obvious as soon as they stepped into the gallery, wearing two jackets and still looking cold. It was breezy out there, and even the Captain said the conditions were a bit dicey.

 Mary Day by Rebecca Daugherty

We've been open again since Saturday afternoon after being closed for two weeks for vacation (open for the student show weekend) and then five days of floor maintenance. It's amazing how many people ask us either a) "when are you opening?" or b) "when did you open?'. Throughout the winter that neon "open" sign has burned brightly for probably fifty hours a week. Of course, many of these people are returning after being away for eight or nine months, and might assume that life here stops during that time. Oh well. We're here, we're open, get used to it.

I'll just put in a plug for the band Tree By Leaf, who played at the Opera House Saturday night. It was my first time seeing this Belfast (Maine) folk ensemble, and I was impressed. "Folk" doesn't cover what they do. Onstage, singer/songwriter and guitarist  Garrett Soucy had more of a pop/ alt-country delivery, which might remind some of Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst. His lyrics are quick and clever, drawing influence from literature, gospel and hip hop, to name a few. His wife Siiri sings beautiful harmonies, and keyboardist Cliff Young gives the mix a dramatic texture, whether he's doing churchy organ riffs or playing the Opera House's slightly out of tune piano left over from silent movie days. The drummer (whose name I'm sorry I forgot) played enthusastically on a simple kit, and kept my foot tapping the whole time. They played to a lucky audience of about fifty. I expect they'll be back later in the summer. Tell your friends.

After the student show came down, I moved everything out of the gallery and started stripping the old wax off the floor. What fun. It's one of those many unsung tasks that are simply part of the glamorous gallery life. Of course, considering some of the more administrative and social tasks, it's a nice change of pace. I get to listen to music and focus on one meditative pursuit for hours at a time. By  midweek, I started applying the sealer- two coats, followed by four coats of the finish coat, the last of which I applied this evening. Usually, I don't want people to be looking at the floor, but for now, please, look at my beautiful floor.

We've got some wall patching and painting to do too, and some great new colors to try-out, but I might put it off for a few days and just get the gallery re-opened.  There's plenty of people about, and I've noticed a few puzzled looks when they see an empty gallery. Despite my 'floor maintenance" sign on the door, there's probably already rumors going around.

Plenty going on this weekend. Dragon Day tomorrow at the Opera House, to celebrate the installation of Peter Beerits' dragon sculpture. Tomorrow night, "Tree By Leaf" will play at the OHA coffee house, and  of course the movie tomorrow afternoon and Sunday evening. 

Continuing with the "high school week" theme, we've hosted the Deer Isle Stonington High School Student Art Show this weekend. We've heard plenty of compliments about the show, but the credit is due to Katy Helman, the art teacher who has gone above and beyond to put together an outstanding show, and of course, to the students.

The show opened Friday evening, which helped turn Stonington into a happening scene. The Clown had their first wine tasting of the year, and "V For Vendetta"  showed at the Opera House. Despite the rain, it turned into one of those classic Stonington evenings where you see everyone you know and it feels like you're living in the coolest place in the world. There was no wine at the student art show, since after all, it was a high school function, but you could amble up the street to try some brilliant new wines at the Clown... and then amble back down the street and take another look at the show. It truly is a great show, with an incredible variety of work. I was thrilled to end the evening with "V  For Vendetta". I don't want to give anything away, but I recommend it, especially if you've been frustrated about the glaring similarities between George Orwell's "1984" and a contmporary world power government, which shall remain un-named.

And the show continued through yesterday and today. It's up until five. Get down here and see it. 

Ms. Katy (center) celebrating a successful opening.

We're back in Stonington after some time away. It was a sort-of "take a deep breath before we plunge into summer" type of thing.  As always, it's a bit overwhelming to go out into the world. Honestly, I don't think I'd be living the kind of life I want to lead if I weren't a bit overwhelmed by what I see "out there".

I like to travel light, checking my bag so I can make my way through airports with nothing but the clothes on my back and a good book. Others lug complex systems of carry-on luggage, and electronic devices to ensure that during their short time on the plane, they won't be without their movies or music. 

Meanwhile, I'm distracted from my book by the patterns of the land below. I never fly without thinking of the Talking Heads song ("The Big Country"?) in which David Byrne sings about looking out the window of an airplane at the houses and baseball diamonds and such, and concludes "I wouldn't live there if you paid me." But then I found myself in just such a suburban backyard not far from the airport, eagerly pulling weeds and dividing hostas, blisfully unaware of my location, occasionally looking up as a jet roared off to somewhere else. No matter where you are, you're the center of your own universe.

Admittedly, I felt a little anxious to be without my computer, but it wouldn't have been the same break if I hadn't left it behind. Yes, I'm an ambivalent blogger. I'm not convinced that the overwhelming amount  of information at our fingertips improves our lives. It isn't always easy to keep it in perspective, and cutting-down on web time can be as difficult as quitting any opiate, like television. Sometimes it's best for awhile, to make a clean break. But here I am: back again.

We returned to Deer Isle just in time to take part in the Community Business Fair at the high school. We joined a bunch of other local businesses in the gym to talk to students about what we do. We were all set to answer questions, but most of the interest came from other "grown-ups". It is my humble observation that high school students are much more interested in auto parts and fishing gear than  they are in art. Oh well- we have a really good fishing gear and auto parts store. We coaxed a student to stand in front of the booth for a photo, pretending to be interested. Here I am, trying to sell her a free postcard. It wasn't an easy sell.

Enclosure