On Friday, Jan. 9, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., the Jackson Memorial Library in Tenants Harbor will host an opening reception for its January artist, Laurie Webber: “Wings, Water & Wonder: Maine’s Coastal Wildlife.” 

Living most of the year on remote Matinicus Island, Webber draws daily inspiration from the wild rhythms of Maine’s outer coast. “Wings, Water & Wonder: Maine’s Coastal Wildlife” brings together her intimate studies of coastal ducks, seabirds, and the vibrant sea life that thrives along the island’s rugged shoreline.

"Through detailed observation and a deep connection to place, Webber captures the quiet magic of the natural world around her — the sweep of wings over open water, the shifting colors of tide pools, and the resilient creatures shaped by wind, salt, and sea," said the Library, in a news release. "Each piece reflects the wonder found in moments many never witness: early morning eiders drifting through fog, the hidden brilliance of intertidal life, the constant conversation between ocean and sky."

Laurie Webber is a mostly self-taught artist. She began as a child sitting next to artists who came to the island of Matinicus, where she grew up. When she showed interest, they would set her up with paints, a brush, and a piece of watercolor paper, and she would spend the afternoon with them. But she says it’s the immersion of growing up in the close-knit community of a small island that has influenced her work the most.

“Boats and lobster fishing have been part of my life,” she said. “I love seeing the look on a fisherman’s face when I’ve gotten the lines of his boat right!” 

This exhibition invites viewers into Webber's island world, offering a rare glimpse of Maine’s coastal wildlife through the eyes of someone who lives among it, listens to it, and celebrates it every day.

Light refreshments will be provided at the opening reception.

“Wings, Water & Wonder: Maine’s Coastal Wildlife” will be on display at the Jackson Memorial Library through January.

Contact: Adrienne Berg, Jackson Memorial Library Director, at (207) 372-8961, adrienne@jacksonmemoriallibrary.org.