About the Arts
Spectacular setting surrounds "Agamenticus to the Sea: The Paintings" at D'Alessandro Fine Art Gallery
By Rose Safran
The Sanctuary by Stan Moeller, oil on linen, 20x24".
YORK - On July 30, this benefit exhibition closes.
Maine art historian, writer, critic Carl Little was its curator, selecting 60 paintings. The Mount Agamenticus to the Sea Coalition benefiting from its sales includes The York Land Trust and other important environmental organizations working to protect natural areas, drinking water, wildlife, etc., in Kittery, York, Eliot, South Berwick, Ogunquit and Wells.
The extraordinary gallery setting alone - a massive barn set high on a hill on Route 91, affording glorious sweeping vistas of the countryside - is nature's art and worth visiting.
Mare's Tail by Don Stone, oil on linen, 20x30".
An early Beverly Hallam acrylic, the massive "Estuary" dominates one wall in the in the well-lit, expansive barn while a mix of affordable art in a variety of styles, with area themes by locally-based artists such as Dennis Poirier, Doris Newson, Don Gorvett,
Morning, York River by Tom Glover, oil on canvas, 30x40".
There is art available for under $500 as well as art selling in the 5-digit range.
Two lovely landscapes in oil on linen by Stan Moeller and watercolors by National Academy artist Robert Eric Moore are available.
There is a large richly green watercolor, "Adam's Work" a woodland scene by nationally-known DeWitt Hardy that caught my attention as did Michael Palmer's "View to the Sea," a modernist landscape, and a departure from his earlier works.
Also noteworthy, and this writer felt, one of the most significant works here, certainly thematically appropriate (and technically sound with an Arthur Dove sort of look), "The Big Squeeze", an oil on canvas by Boothbay artist James Taliana, depicting the encroachment of town and city on wildlife; in it running deer, an owl and other symbols of woodland life are fleeing - literally squeezed out by development subtly outlined on the left and background of the canvas.
According to gallery director Anthony D'Alessandro, the artist, James Taliana, saw an ad in a paper, and submitted this painting so relevant to the need to protect natural areas.
As mentioned, this benefit exhibit will close July 30.
Located on Route 91, about two and a half miles from Route 1, the D'Alessandro Fine Art Gallery is open Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. For further information, visit www.dalessandrofineart.com or call 363-0324.
Other Exhibits and Events
Michael Palmer (former owner of PS Galleries in Ogunquit) is exhibiting at Family Tree on Ceres Street in Portsmouth through Aug. 7.
Brigitte Keller is exhibiting through Labor Day weekend in Portsmouth, at the Masiello Group real estate office on Market Square.
The Kittery Art Association at Coleman Avenue off Route 103 is exhibiting works of husband-and-wife artists (not teams) Ken & Kristen Fellows and Peter & Polly Moak through Aug. 13.
The Ogunquit Art Association preview exhibit of its auction lots will be Aug. 2 to 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on the day of the auction from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The auction takes place on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 8 p.m. The doors open at 7 p.m. and admission is $5.
