1st annual Pearl Street Open Studios Event

 September Sky by Ingrid Ellison

Camden Maine-Several artists on Pearl Street in Camden are collaborating to host their 1st annual Pearl Street Open Studios event, Saturday and Sunday August 3rd and 4th, 2013. Their studios will be open to the public Saturday from 10am-5pm and Sunday 10am-2pm. Participating artists include painter Ingrid Ellison and belt crafter Andrea Combes, who will welcome visitors at Ellison’s carriage house studio at 13 Pearl Street. Encaustic artist Mike Rich will open his studio across the street at 16 Pearl Street.

Ellison calls her collection of work, “Something Old, Something New, Nothing Borrowed, Lots of Blue”. Her artwork, which is built in layers, reflects the mood, colors and imagery of Maine. It is informed by elements of nature, both from the surrounding environment and from the microscopic world.  In August 2010, Ingrid was the cover artist on ‘artscope’ magazine.  In the accompanying article written by independent curator and writer, Britta Konau, Britta wrote,  “These are quiet pieces that invite the eye to roam, taking in representational motifs as well as marks and fields of color that remain abstract compositional elements. The eye wanders over the surface and penetrates into the many layers of imagery and paint. There are openings through which to peer at an earlier point in time, translucencies that leave the process of creation visible, and webs of lines and scatterings of marks that create dynamic diagonals.” She will offer all different sizes of work and her selection will include framed pieces, small works on paper and prints.

With a passion for adornment, Andrea Combes who is visiting from Rhode Island, makes handmade belt buckles, key rings, pendants and accessories out of bright and exotically patterned fabrics. “I love fabric and all the exciting colors and designs that are available. Finding ways to bring fabrics to life can make an otherwise hum-drum pair of jeans or a t-shirt have zing.” She has sold her belts on Etsy and at art fairs such as Twist in Western Massachusetts, SoWa Arts Market in Boston and Squam Art Fair in New Hampshire.

Mike Rich has worked with the encaustic process since 1999 and has exhibited in Maine and New York. His works on view during the open studio weekend will include pieces using encaustics with mixed techniques including gold leaf, as well as photography, film and installation pieces. Rich showed at the Leighton gallery in Blue Hill until its closing in 2011.

The weekend will be an excellent chance to meet and visit with the artists as well as explore their amassed works old and new. In addition to the artwork, the artists have interesting gardens to visit. Light refreshments will be served.

Also of Pearl Street, renowned photographer Tillman Crane will be hosting his annual Open Studio Weekend August 3rd and 4th from 10am-5pm at his gallery/studio, 22 Pearl Street, Camden. His Open Studio will feature Platinum printing demonstrations and lots of new work.