Boothbay Region Art Foundation

New Maine Photographers Showcase opens April 1

Tue, 03/21/2023 - 2:45pm

Story Location:
1 Townsend Avenue
Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
United States

    Boothbay Region Art Foundation is hosting the first Maine Photographers Showcase exhibition running from Saturday, April 1 through Friday, May 5. This invitational show replaces the juried Maine Photography Show held for 17 years.

    No sooner had Bruce Burnham, BRAF board member and organizer of the Maine Photography Show, ended the long-running event, he began thinking about what to replace it with. It was a stressful decision to make. The former show would typically represent 100 photographers, including students interested in the art form.

    As the years went by, the Maine Photography Show began to outgrow itself. Reflected Burnham, “I remember one year, I think Peter Ralston was the juror, 1,100 images were submitted and he had to take it down to 100. That’s a lot of work and time.”

    “A new show had to be for and about Maine photographers, to keep up with the tradition,” said Burnham. “It had to be less time-consuming and a less complicated process; no jurors, no themes, no awards – just photography.”

    He decided on an invitational showcase featuring the work of 20 photographers: 10 men and 10 women whose work he became familiar with over those 17 years. Each one would submit five images (with a maximum size of 30” x 36”) for the new Maine Photographers Showcase, that stand alone or are part of a series.

    Of the first 20 photographers in the show, Burnham said, “I know their work. I was looking for a mix of styles and subject matter. And for a variety of canvases – some will print on metal, some traditionally. I’m trying to show that photography is art. There’s no question about it.”

    Like the Show before it, the photographers in this first Showcase represent a variety of locations in Maine: Linda Alschuler (Cumberland), Jennifer Bechard (Hallowell), Rick Berk (Bath), Elizabeth Root Blackmer (Tenants Harbor), Felice Boucher (Brunswick), Linda Cullivan (Scarborough), Mike Cullivan (Scarborough), Dave Dostie (Augusta), Amy Durocher (Winthrop), Steve Fabricius (South Portland), Kevin Fahrman (Falmouth), Mike Giglia (Jefferson), Lois Glaser (Boothbay), Michael Hagenbuch (Lincolnville), Ella Hudson (Portland), Knapp Hudson (Portland), Ed Kenney (Owls Head), Caroline Samson (Cumberland), Rob Smith (Harpswell), Dick Tarr (Vassalboro), Jon Tobiaz (Lincolnville), Lisa Mossel (Appleton), Emily Whiting (Boothbay Harbor), and Ben Williamson (Bath).

    Burnham has already drawn up a preliminary 2024 show list; however, after receiving a call from one of the student photographers in the former Show, he is also considering including students next year.

    The Maine Photographers Showcase is being sponsored by The First National Bank, Boothbay Boat Sales, and Bath Savings Bank.

    BRAF is at 1 Townsend Ave. in downtown Boothbay Harbor.  Gallery hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday – Sunday.

    For more information, call the gallery at 207-633-2703; visit boothbayartists.org and on Facebook.