Community Supporting Arts exhibition heading to Common Street Arts in Waterville‏

Waterville, Maine - The work of 10 artists who have been partnered with central Maine farms since early spring will be on view at the Common Street Arts at 16 Common Street in Waterville through the month of November. The public is invited to meet both artists and farmers at an opening reception on Saturday, November 3rd from 5-8pm with drinks by Tree Spirits and inspiring local foods prepared by Barrels Community Market.  The exhibition, titled CSA: Community Supporting Arts, will be on view November 3rd – 30th.   Common Street Arts is delighted for the opportunity to bring this unique and impactful exhibition to downtown Waterville. Please visit www.commonstreetarts.com to learn about other related events we are planning for November.



Participating artists are:  Kate Barnes of Oakland, Susan Bickford of Newcastle, Kim Christensen of Albion, Matt Demers of Gardiner, Tyler Gulden of Walpole, Christine Higgins of Readfield, Kelsey Kobik of Portland , Scott Minzy of Pittston, Petrea Noyes of Lincolnville, Jamie Ribisi-Braley of Manchester, Kerstin Engman of Liberty, and Emily Trenholm of Portland.

This multi-textural show includes paintings, photography, ceramics, and a puzzle. A large part of the traveling exhibition will be on view at Common Street Arts next month, and other venues stretch from Sheepscot General in Whitefield to Art Gallery at Frontier in Brunswick. Find out more by viewing the event at www.commonstreetarts.com or at the project blog: csaart.org.
 
In early spring 2012 the artists were partnered with Maine farms running CSA (community supported agriculture) programs. They have been visiting their farms regularly since March and creating art inspired by their farmers’ lives, work, landscapes, challenges and ideals ever since.  Our partnering farmers are all operating CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farms in and around central Maine. In joining a CSA, community members make a financial commitment to their farm by investing in a share of the produce at the beginning of the growing season. In return farmers are committed to producing the freshest, most flavorful, high quality food possible for their members. This aspect of the local foods movement is helping to transform relationships between people, food and farms. This exhibition has captured the stories and significance of local farms.

CSA: Community Supporting Arts is a project of the Harlow Gallery, home of the Kennebec Valley Art Association (KVAA) and the Kennebec Local Food Initiative (KLFI).  The KVAA is a membership based 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to “connect and celebrate art, artists and community”, KLFI is an organization based in Gardiner that strives to strengthen community food security through access, education, information and advocacy.

  CSA: Community Supporting Arts has been made possible by grant funding from the Maine Community Foundation, the Maine Arts Commission, the Davis Family Foundation.