January 3, 2025 - January 30, 2025

The Blue Hill Public Library will present a new exhibit, Our Lovely World, Four Ways: Four Local Landscape Artists and Their View of the World Around Them, in the library’s Britton Gallery and Howard Room for the month of January. The exhibit follows a very engaging panel discussion by the four artists in November about their individual approaches to their work. During the discussion they shared things like how they get started on a painting, how they visualize what will be captured, and how they achieve depth. The public is invited to a closing reception at the library on Monday, January 27, from 4:15 to 6:00 p.m. and this will be a great opportunity to meet the artists and ask questions about their painting processes.

Eileen Ahern is a multidisciplinary artist and educator living in Maine since 1995, currently in the Midcoast. Showing natural ability as a child, and always a maker, she studied Fine Arts at the Museum School in Boston, completing a BFA from Tufts University, where she also studied Art History and Romance languages. After living in New York, working, and traveling, she found her way to Maine, and was inspired, as are many, by the landscape and active arts community. Her work has been exhibited in Maine and nationally. Currently, she works in painting, sculpture, and book arts.

Alison C. Dibble, Ph.D., of Brooklin paints rapidly in a loose, brisk style. It’s a high wire endeavor, with the prospect of failure ever looming. Often she paints in the open air while trying to express her emotional response to a scene. Alison worked as a conservation ecologist for more than 30 years and enjoyed collecting and analyzing data to answer questions regarding old forest, rare plants, invasive plants, and pollinators. She brings her interests to the natural world, songwriting, and writing suspense fiction into her art in an unusual blend.

Martin Gallant, artist statement – “The focus of my work is the Maine landscape from the coast to the potato fields of Aroostook county. The Maine landscape is rugged, worn, and often awe-inspiring. This land reflects the character of many Mainers. Independent, stoic, proud, individualistic, and ‘real’ are qualities we share with the land. Being open every day to the fleeting glimpses this forested, wind and sea worn state offers is a visual joy. I work primarily in acrylics and watercolors. I have drawn and painted throughout my life while also working as a school counselor in Caribou. Having recently retired from education, I now have the time to immerse myself in my joy of painting. I now reside in Ellsworth.”

 Larry Moffet moved to Deer Isle to paint in 1972 and worked as a wooden boat carpenter and later as a commercial fisherman. An outside life gave him the opportunity to observe the natural world with its ever-changing weather and light. It also gave him the flexibility to make art all year long. His work has been shown in many galleries, private collections and other venues throughout Maine. For more information, contact the Turtle Gallery in Deer Isle; theturtlegallery.com

The exhibit is available for viewing through January 30th during library hours, subject to the Howard Room meeting schedule.