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Serenade for a Siren, oil on Canvas 36”x48” 2010 by Adriance deGroff

A Group Exhibition Inspired by Music
Live music & artists on site

Gala Event
Thursday, July 8, 4 – 8 p.m.

Show runs through August 2, 2010

Mike and Ruthy are a song-writing, harmony-singing, banjo and fiddle-slinging duo from the Hudson Valley who have been described as literate, political, organic, and inspired.

They recently joined Pete Seeger for his performance at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and joined the incredible cast of musicians at Pete's 90th birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden.

Mike and Ruthy's latest release, Waltz of the Chickadee, is a fine, new collection of melodies and words that evoke the springtime. This new recording delves into the themes of awakening, birth, and death with original odes and mood-mending instrumentals. Surrounded by a sweet mixture of acoustic instruments, the centerpiece of the album is the snug vocal blend of Mike and Ruthy, which has been aptly compared to Simon and Garfunkle. Their songs tell great stories and their playing welcomes the ear.

Please join us for this special performance
on Friday, June 11, 2010 at 7 p.m.

Limited space available
RESERVATIONS ENCOURAGED!
Please Call: 236-0745. $15.

IMPROVOX!

A musical cure for the spectator blues!

Sunday, January 31st 2010

The first ImproVox event of the New Year!

When: Sunday, January 31st 2010
Where: At The Carver Hill Gallery Cider Barn
264 Meadow Street Rockport, Maine

Improvox (www.improvox.com) - Highly spirited and versatile, this five member a cappella ensemble liberates the voice and builds community through spontaneous vocal exploration-- bringing singers of all levels together for uniquely freeing vocal experiences. ImproVox performs, and presents workshops at festivals, conferences, private functions, colleges and universities throughout Maine and the northeast.

"You all were able to catalyze the creation of a joyous musical community in such a brief time. Magic! Thank you for this gift; for reminding people of how they can bring out their voices with others in a moving, beautiful, healing fashion (a reminder we are sorely in need of these days)."
--Suzann K. VORTEX attendee.

Jingle Bells Rockport - Joins us to ring in the Holidays on Thursday, December 10 from 4 to 8 p.m.

For the second year in a row, Cellardoor Winery at the Villa , Michael Good Designs, and Carver Hill Gallery are thrilled to present Jingle Bell Rockport in celebration of the holiday season. A fun holiday shopping event, Jingle Bell Rockport will take place at ten participating retail locations throughout the village of Rockport on Thursday, December 10 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Shoppers that day will have an opportunity to win a Jingle Bell Rockport gift basket valued at over $1,500 while shopping at participating locations. The Jingle Bell Rockport gift basket will be on display at Cellardoor’s Villa at 47 West Street (Rt. 90) and includes gift certificates and/or items from each participating merchant. The participating businesses will have a special raffle box at their shop during the event, and shoppers will have the opportunity to fill out one raffle slip at each location they visit. Raffle tickets will be gathered on Friday, December 11, and the gift basket will go to one lucky winner. The more stops guests make, the better their chance of winning the prize.

2009 Jingle Bell Rockport participants include:

• Carver Hill Gallery | 264 Meadow Street
• Cellardoor Winery at the Villa | 47 West Street (Rt. 90)
• Fresh off the Farm | 495 Commercial Street (Rt. 1)
• Hoboken Garden | 310 Commercial Street (Rt. 1)
• Leonard’s (clothing, jewelry and accessories) | 56 Commercial St.(Rt. 1)
• Market Basket | 223 Commercial Street (Rt. 1)
• Michael Good Designs | 325 Commercial Street (Rt. 1)
• Prism | 297 Commercial Street (Rt. 1)
• RAYR (wine shop and coffee/espresso bar) | 67 Pascal Avenue
• Sweet Sensations Pastry Shop & 3 Dog Cafe | 309 Commercial St. (Rt. 1)

Jingle Bell Rockport is organized by Bettina Doulton of Cellardoor Winery, Avi Good of Michael Good Designs and Jana Halwick of Carver Hill Gallery.

For more information about Jingle Bell Rockport, call (207) 763-4478 or email info@cellardoorvineyard.com.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!

THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER GREAT YEAR!

Photo credits:

"Red, White and Blue" Pastel by Nancy Lovley

Photo credits:

"Shadow Visions" 24" x 36" oil on panel, by Christina DeHoff

“Opal Triptych” 22k gold, fire opal, opalized wood, black opal, emerald and diamond, golden South Sea pearl, by Lisa Svedberg

“Moon Fairy” 18k gold and moonstone pendant by Thomas Whiting

Lisa Svedberg, Christina DeHoff and Thomas Whiting invite you to join them in a showing of new works entitled "Chrysalis". The show represents their collective shared vision of an emergence and transition into new directions of their evolving souls and creative spirits through their works.

Chrysalis will open with a reception for the public Saturday September 19th from 5 to 9 pm. The show will run through September 25th, 2009. 

The three are veteran Mid-Coast artists, practicing in the area for over thirty years. DeHoff and Whiting have both recently closed their long-running art galleries, in order to apply themselves more fully to pursuing their artistic careers.

DeHoff (www.cdehoff.com) will be showing some recent paintings from her magical world of ethereal sprites. The visions flow through her brushes to be discovered on canvas, bathed in a sumptuously rich tapestry of color and light.

"Three years ago I took a leap of faith from the known, somewhat secure reality of owning a gallery in Rockland, into the uncharted territory of “full time artist”.  It became clear to me that if my future was to include creating art I must follow my heart and paint the magical visions that have always been with me. Maybe it was an epiphany or I just decided to get out of my own way. All I know is that it is time to dare to show up and to birth this work into the world."

Svedberg and Whiting have recently joined forces to become ATHENAE (www.AthenaeArt.com), a new age powerhouse of design innovation in the fine art-jewelry world. Their high karat gold and platinum designs incorporate some of the finest and most unusual gemstones from around the world. Their works are inspired from an amalgam of extensive travels and study of the art and architecture of ancient civilizations.

Svedberg - "The most joy I find within my work is when, upon completion of a one-of-a-kind piece, it becomes evident to me that the creative process has been inspired by a celestial energy and from the innate nature of the materials I'm working with. As the caretaker of the tools, I add a human sensibility in an effort to marry and manifest the beauty that nature and spirit both possess."

Whiting - "I attempt to encapsulate a wide range of human emotion in each piece that I create from the fire within my belly. My hope is, that through thoughtful consideration of materials and execution, the pieces will transcend throughout eternity as a silent testimony to the creative force and love that humans can outwardly express."

Carver Hill Gallery is pleased to present the only Midcoast Maine screening of “Throw Down Your Heart”, a documentary film by Sascha Paladino.

Winner of the Audience Award at 2008 SXSW and Vancouver film festivals, and Winner of the Jury Prize for Best Music Documentary at the AFI/Silverdocs Film Festival, “Throw Down Your Heart” follows American banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck on his journey to Africa to explore the little known African roots of the banjo and record an album. Béla’s boundary-breaking musical adventure takes him to Uganda, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Mali, and provides a glimpse of the beauty and complexity of Africa.

The movie presents a portrait of Africa that is very different from what is often seen in the media today. As Ugandan folk musician Haruna Walusimbi states in the film: “There is this negative thinking about Africa. There is nothing good in Africa. They are beggars, there is HIV/AIDS, they are at war all the time. But that is just a very small bit of what Africa is.” Béla’s trip provides a glimpse into the incredibly rich and diverse musical traditions of Africa.

At first glance, it might seem odd that the banjo is the catalyst for this journey. But in fact, the banjo is originally an African instrument, and Béla Fleck’s passion for the banjo runs deep. In his trailblazing 30-year career, Béla has brought the instrument into jazz, pop, classical, and world music settings, and won eleven Grammys along the way (not to mention the 27 nominations, in more distinct categories than anyone else, ever).

Ever since he started playing music, Béla heard stories about where the banjo came from. To many, the banjo is seen as a uniquely American instrument – and even conjures images of white Southern stereotypes. But the banjo is actually a descendant of an African instrument.

West Africans have long played an instrument that looks and sounds much like the banjo.

When slave traders captured West Africans, many of the slaves brought that instrument, and the knowledge of how to make it, to the United States. On plantations in the American South, slaves were not allowed to play drums, but they were allowed to play the banjo. Soon, whites started copying it, and the banjo evolved into the instrument we know today – and became a part of American culture. Béla wanted to go to Africa to trace the roots of the banjo, the instrument that defines who he is.

But Béla’s journey was also motivated by a deep love of African music. He was inspired by music from all across the continent, and very often he could hear a place for his banjo. When Béla had a year off from his band, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, he realized it was the perfect opportunity to follow his dream – travel to Africa to collaborate with African musicians.

“Throw Down Your Heart” tracks Béla’s tuneful collaborations with a wide variety of musicians – from local villagers who play a twelve-foot xylophone, to a family that makes and plays the akonting (thought by many to be the original banjo), to international superstars such as the Malian diva Oumou Sangare.

As Béla travels across Africa, he uses his banjo to transcend barriers of language and culture, finding common ground with musicians from very different backgrounds and creating some of the most meaningful music of his career.

The film will be screened at the Cider Barn at Carver Hill Gallery, located at 264 Meadow Street in Rockport, on Thursday, September 10 at 7:00 pm for one show only. We encourage advance ticket purchase. To purchase tickets, please call 236-0745 or come to the gallery Monday through Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

For more information, please visit www.carverhillgallery.com or call (207) 236-0745.

>link to official movie website

>link to the Facebook page

>link to photos from the film

Béla Fleck's CD “Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From the Acoustic Planet Vol. 3, Africa Sessions” is available through Rounder Records.

***

Thursday, July 1st at 7 p.m.

"Sometymes Why"
Live Music at the Gallery

Mark your calendars for another great evening of live music at the gallery

"Sometymes Why" [web] is a mesmerizing trio of modern-day sirens. Kristin Andreassen, Ruth Ungar Merenda and Aoife O'Donovan are each lead singers in other bands (namely, The Mammals, Crooked Still and Uncle Earl).

When not touring with their other bands, they join forces to weave exquisite harmonies, sparse arrangements, and play a wide variety of unusual instruments. "I promise, this is a show you will not soon forget," says Kathryn Matlack of Carver Hill Gallery. "These women are incredible singers and musicians. Jana Halwick and I are delighted, once again, to have been able to help bring them here. Hope you can come!"

Tickets are $12. Seats are limited, so please call the gallery at 236-0745 to reserve. (Last week's Mike and Ruthy concert sold out early, so call soon!)

* * *

Thursday, June 25th at 6:30 p.m.

"The Art of Hope"
a benefit art auction for New Hope for Women

On Thursday evening, June 25th, Carver Hill Gallery will host “The Art of Hope,” a benefit art auction for New Hope for Women. Twenty-five artists from New Hope’s three-county service area (Lincoln, Knox, Waldo) contributed their works to this venture including painting, pottery, wood, and mixed media. The artists are listed below. Gallery co-owner Jana Halwick, artist James Macdonald, and New Hope development director Glen E. Rainsley have collaborated to create this event. “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed working together, and we’ve been thrilled by the supportive response of area artists. I appreciate so much that these talented people recognize the significance of our ongoing work to end domestic and dating violence,” said Mr. Rainsley. Executive Director of New Hope, Kathleen Morgan expressed her thanks to participants as she looked ahead to the event. “It is always a joy when community members join us in working to end domestic and dating violence, and it is a special joy to have fun while doing it,” she observed. “All of us at New Hope are grateful to Jana, Jim and the other artists, as well as to the other donors for their heartfelt generosity.”

Mr. Macdonald stated, “We’ve all been working hard to make this a first-class event, an enjoyable evening for a truly worthy and necessary cause.”  Commenting on the collaborative effort involved in bringing this event to fruition, Ms. Halwick added, “We are elated to be hosting the debut auction for New Hope.  We felt very strongly about supporting this event for several reasons.  First, New Hope services a huge area, covering three counties, with a very modest staff.  Volunteers and donations are critical for this organization to continue its work.  Last year alone they were called to assist more than 800 people in peril.  Second, racism, religious and domestic abuse are not ‘glamorous causes.”  We believe it is important to stand up and show support for a cause that responds to the needs of all economic and social groups from those of modest means to the privileged.  Third, there are some amazing artists who have followed suit to support this organization.  In doing so, they bring you some of the finest art in the area.  The event will be upbeat, colorful and inspired.  It is about HOPE, not despair, and we would love to have you there!

The trio of organizers says it extends a heartfelt pre-event thanks to many whose generosity contributes to the quality of the event: auctioneer Kaja Vielleaux; musicians Nick Apollonio and Kristen Tescher; food and beverage providers Lily Bistro, Sweetgrass Winery and Black Dinah Chocolates.

KeyBank has generously underwritten publicity for the event.  Others have donated a number of silent auction items designed to add a bit of joy to your life.  “We’ll acknowledge all donors in a public thank you later on.”

Tickets for the 6:30 – 9:00 PM event may be obtained by calling Glen E. Rainsley at 594-2129, Ext. 19, on weekdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, or by emailing your contact information to grainsley@newhopeforwomen.org.  Reservations are encouraged as seating is limited. Cost is $35.00/ticket with all proceeds benefiting New Hope for Women.

* New Hope for Women, founded in 1981, provides services to all persons affected by domestic and dating violence in Lincoln, Knox and Waldo counties and has offices in Damariscotta, Boothbay Harbor, Rockland and Belfast.  The agency provides a 24-hour crisis hotline (594-2128 or 1-800-522-3304), support groups for survivors, legal information and referrals, court and systems advocacy, community education and response training, outreach programs in schools, and a certified Batterer Intervention Program, Time for Change.  New Hope operates a safe home network for emergency shelter and six units of transitional housing.  Last year, one of record level domestic violence homicides in Maine, New Hope provided 4,137 hours of direct services, including 756 hours of service from our on-staff attorney.  Volunteers assisted staff by providing thousands of hours of coverage on the 24-hour crisis hotline, and community and youth educators offered over 6,000 hours of community education.

Artists participating in “The Art of Hope”:

Mike and Ruthy are a song-writing, harmony-singing, banjo and fiddle-slinging duo from the Hudson Valley who have been described as literate, political, organic, and inspired.

They recently joined Pete Seeger for his performance at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and joined the incredible cast of musicians at Pete's 90th birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden.

Mike and Ruthy's latest release, Waltz of the Chickadee, is a fine, new collection of melodies and words that evoke the springtime. This new recording delves into the themes of awakening, birth, and death with original odes and mood-mending instrumentals. Surrounded by a sweet mixture of acoustic instruments, the centerpiece of the album is the snug vocal blend of Mike and Ruthy, which has been aptly compared to Simon and Garfunkle. Their songs tell great stories and their playing welcomes the ear.

Please join us for this special performance on Sunday, June 7, 2009 at 7 p.m.

Limited space available
RESERVATIONS ENCOURAGED!
Please Call: 236-0745. $10.

Carver Hill Gallery in Rockport and VoxPhotographs [web] of Belfast and Portland announce the opening on May 2, 2009 of MID-COAST CHROMA: Six Maine Fine Art Photographers.

The public is invited to meet the featured artists Susan Guthrie, Cig Harvey, T. Jackson MacC, Jim Nickelson, Liv Kristin Robinson, and Sarah Szwajkos at the opening reception on May 2, 2-5 at Carver Hill Gallery, 264 Meadow Street in Rockport.

All of the fine art photographers in the show work in color.

Co-curated by Jana Halwick, Director of Carver Hill Gallery and Heather Frederick, Director of VoxPhotographs, MIDCOAST CHROMA is comprised of over 30 fine art photographs bursting with energy and hues designed to usher in the colors of Maine's spring and summer in a new way.

Sarah Szwajkos, whose work has been featured on two recent Maine Home + Design magazines, focusses almost entirely on living space interiors in her fine art images.

With a sharp eye for color, but able to please the viewer with the softest tones, Szwajkos' work is compelling and addictive.

"Half Hull, Grays, Oranges, Blues", Sarah Szwajkos

Jim Nickelson is in love with the natural world and his work shows it.

Using a medium format camera, Nickelson photographs from coast to coast - often at dawn or dusk - and the resulting square format landscapes demonstrate his extraordinary skill as a colorist.

"Virgin River, Reflection, Utah", Jim Nickelson

T. Jackson MacC is a highly regarded painter, but his photographs are the essence of color photography.

With an eye to the importance of the tiniest detail in a successful composition, T. Jackson MacC's images in this show were taken using Fujichrome Velvia 50 slide film.

"Steel Plates-Yellow", T. Jackson MacC

Susan Guthrie works entirely from instinct and almost always in her hometown of Belfast.

Her photographs arrest the moment when shapes and textures are at their most perfect synergy. Guthrie's lush still lifes are fresh and lively; her urban landscapes hover between innocence and menace.

"Clouds and Hydrangeas", Susan Guthrie

Cig Harvey's well-known approach to photography shifts with the turning points of her life.

These new images represent her wonder at today: a recent marriage, the purchase of an old Maine farmhouse, a certain settling down. These days Harvey's sometimes mythical images come from moments in daily life, rather than her searching out a subject matter.

These demanding photographs boast a style that is uniquely Harvey's and are widely collected.

"You Look at Me Like an Emergency #17", Cig Harvey

Liv Kristin Robinson is not afraid of hard edges and abandoned places. In fact, she finds them inspiring, worthy subjects, especially as Maine shifts uneasily into a new century.

Robinson's series of bold urban and industrial waterfront landscapes are gorgeous and engaging portraits of places that demand still to be seen, even as time leaves them behind.

"Rockland Waterfront #5", Liv Kristin Robinson

Choices: Where the road diverges.
Original water color paintings by Julie Lyman

Is it time to dust off your resume and re-invent yourself?

David Lyman, founder of The Maine Photographic Workshops and Rockport College, will deliver his historically effective lecture on the creative mind at The Cider Barn at Carver Hill Gallery on Friday evening, May 15, from 7 to 9 PM. An optional supper of soup, bread and wine begins at 6 PM and will kick off an evening of discussions, questions and sharing on the creative process.

This lecture is a sampling of a more comprehensive, all day workshop to be held on the same weekend, Sunday, May 17 from 10 – 5:30.

David’s lectures and workshops have inspired and changed the lives of countless numbers of photographers, filmmakers, writers and visual artists who have attended The Workshops (now Maine Media), over the past three decades. David, who is re-inventing himself as well, will talk about the artist’s journey and the Creative Process; providing practical information on career building and the 8 Keys that can unlock your creative future.

Cost of the evening discussion is $10, and can be paid at the door. Seating is limited, and advanced registration would be appreciated. Please email: julielyman@mac.com

PLEASE NOTE:

This lecture is free for those who register for the all day workshop on Sunday.

More information at: www.OnBeingCreative.com. Click on The Creative Mind Workshop under the Menu.

Are you ready to start a new career, launch a new business, or embark on a new creative project?

David Lyman, who has been helped launch the careers of many of today’s most successful photographers and filmmakers, will lead an all-day workshop in project development and career building on Sunday, May 17 at the Cider Barn at Carver Hill Gallery, 10 AM to 5:30 PM. Lunch is included in the $95 fee, which also includes the Friday supper and lecture. Enrollment is limited to 20 for the full day workshop.

David will discuss pathways and working methods for developing projects and getting published. He will help you move through creative blocks, overcome fear and launch a new career. David will give you a series of “tests”, valuable exercises and techniques you can use to release your creative powers and expand your awareness of the opportunities that are around us all the time. By the end of the day, you will define a new mission, re-discover a compelling purpose in your life, and prepare a road map for your future. You will inventory your strengths, design an ideal life, and find your own unique pathways to greater self-fulfillment. During the afternoon, we will review and discuss participants’ projects, portfolios and career plans. PLEASE don’t forget to BRING YOUR PORTFOLIO!

Who should attend: The Friday lecture is for anyone who wants to lead a more creative, artful and positive life--working and aspiring artists, photographers, filmmakers, educators, entrepreneurs, and corporate employees thinking of launching their own business ventures as well as CEOs who want to bring more innovation to their personal and professional lives. The Sunday workshop is for those who want to expand on Friday’s lecture and work at drawing a map for their future. The workshop is also a time to share ideas, portfolios, and projects in development.

Participation is limited to 20, so advanced registration is required.

To add your name to the Friday or Sunday list, email julielyman@mac.com

For more information, or to register, go to OnBeingCreative.com. Click on The Creative Mind Workshop link.

Dianne Schelble’s paintings are vibrant works with generously applied paint, creating a unique look resembling, from afar, a palette knife technique in watercolor. These paintings are alive in the moment – energetic and bold with intriguing light. Dianne received her BA from the University of Michigan School of Art. After raising four children, she returned to watercolor and since has appeared in numerous publications. Dianne has exhibited in galleries from the coast of Maine to Georgia. She continues her education with yearly workshops.

“Maine is a most wonderful place to paint. The dynamic shapes of sun, shadow and color in buildings and woodland are most inspiring to me. One can’t help but get excited about trying to express these feelings. My goal is to entertain and remind the viewer of this beauty”.

Local watercolor artist Ted Keller has taught art courses for the University of Maine for twenty years. Formerly a sculptor and clay artist, Ted spends most of his time painting now. His images are loose, rich in color, and full of life and humor. The subject matter varies, but most of the paintings are about people in interesting environments. Some scenes are local, others are imaginative.

"I started out painting outside in Maine. Now I work mostly in the studio. I put together paintings from pictures I have taken. I choose not to copy photos, but instead use parts of them; putting the parts together to create my own unique place or character. Currently, fantastical ideas have entered my work, bringing a new dimension to what I do. It’s fun to watch it all happen."

Ted will be on site painting during the opening at the Carver Hill Gallery on Saturday March 14, from 4-7 P.M.

Refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Call 207-236-0745 for details.