CAMDEN — Pizza? Pets? Bike Rides? Family? Rainbows? Ice cream? What do you like most and what makes you happy? Page Gallery invites children to consider these questions and adorn the gallery's walls this winter with drawings, paintings or a collage of their favorite things. The exhibition will open on February 1 and will be on display through February 26.

The gallery is offering free postcards at 23 Bay View Street in Camden and is distributing them through art programs in local schools with a prompt for children of all ages to create a piece of art depicting the things that bring them joy. Finished postcards can be dropped off or mailed to the gallery for installation in this special Youth Art Exhibition.

While celebrating these young artists, gallery visitors will be invited to participate in weaving a sculpture installation after Andy Goldsworthy and paper cut out activities stationed throughout the exhibition. There will also be a collaborative mural project made by 12 local youths on view after Marcel Dzama’s No Less Than Everything Comes Together, a mosaic made in 2021 in a New York subway station to bring the community together during dark times.

A family friendly gallery, it is not unusual to see the children at Page Gallery creating sidewalk chalk murals, making lemonade for openings or drawing at the desk after school. "We want to provide a space where children and their families can be inspired, curious, reflective and playful. Asking a child what piece they like most often sparks exciting conversations." said owner Colin Page.

While the youth art is not for sale, original paintings by other gallery artists will be on display. During the exhibition, Page Gallery is donating 10 percent of all sales to the AIO Food Pantry in Rockland. Feeding America and Good Shepherd Food Bank estimate that 182,000 Mainers will experience hunger in 2021, compared to about 167,000 in 2019.

Knox County has the fourth highest rate of food insecurity in the state at 13.5% of all residences. Food insecurity among children is projected to be even higher, at 20%. From now through February 26, the gallery will set up a donation box where visitors are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items for AIO's programs that support Knox County families. Please consider joining to support the need in our community.