Community Supporting Arts coming to Crosstrax Deli in Unity

Unity, Maine - The work of 6 artists who have been partnered with central Maine farms since early spring will be on view at the Crosstrax Deli at 215 Depot Street in Unity, Maine from December 7- January 26. An opening reception will be held on Friday, December 7th from 4-6 pm.  The six artists showing at Crosstrax are Aleana Chaplin of Gardiner, Kim Christensen of Albion, Matt Demers of Gardiner, Scott Minzy of Pittston, Petrea Noyes of Lincolnville and Jamie Ribisi-Braley of Manchester.

Crosstrax Deli is located at 215 Depot Street in Unity, Maine.  Monica Murphy, the chef and owner uses local products whenever possible. Crosstrax offers "create your own" sandwiches, daily specials, homemade soups, salads by the pound, homemade breads and a variety of delicious sweet treats to eat in or take out.

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”. The KVAA owns and operates the Harlow Gallery in downtown Hallowell.  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 and by donors to an online Indiegogo fundraising campaign.

Since March 2012  the artists have been visiting their farms regularly and creating art inspired by the farmers’ lives, work, landscapes, challenges and ideals.  The partnering farmers all operate CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farms, which provide produce to the members who make a financial commitment 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 (most CSA farms adhere to organic standards as much as possible). Typically each CSA member gets a weekly delivery of produce from early summer through harvest. CSA is a grassroots response to the growing social and environmental problems of our modern industrial food system, and this local foods movement is transforming relationships between people, food and farms.  Visit the project blog site at http://csaart.org/ for more information on the artists, farms, and the project in general.  You may also contact Nancy Barron or Deb Fahy at 207-622-3813, kvaa@harlowgallery.org, www.harlowgallery.org.

Work by the 14 artists participating in CSA: Community Supporting Arts  has been previously displayed at series of exhibitions including the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell in October, Common Street Arts in Waterville, and Sheepscot General in Whitefield.

There is currently an ongoing exhibit at Savory Maine Dining and Provisions in Damaricotta through February 5, 2013.

Three more exhibitions are still to come in early 2013:

Maine Farmland Trust Gallery and the Hutchinson Center at U. Maine in Belfast, on view January 4 through February 2013. Opening on Friday, January 4th from 5-8pm

Frontier in Brunswick, on view January 11 – February 24, 2013.  Opening Friday, January 11th from 5-8pm.

For more information visit harlowgallery.org, email kvaa@harlowgallery.org or call 207-622-3813.