Archipelago celebrates summer in Maine with new gallery show, “Currents and Channels”

Posted 2021-08-16

ROCKLAND — Join Archipelago, the Island Institute’s store and gallery, for its summer gallery show, “Currents and Channels: Four Coastal Maine Artists,” currently on display through September 25th. “Currents and Channels” looks at the Maine coast through the art of four local artists—each with unique perspectives, both geographically and conceptually, of the landscape and culture of their respective communities. Archipelago will host a special artists’ reception at its downtown Rockland location on Friday, August 6th, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., during Rockland’s First Friday Art Walk, where the public will have the opportunity to meet and talk to some of the artists.

“Currents and Channels” showcases the work of coastal Maine artists, each using different mediums and styles to highlight their views of their communities and their shared coast. The featured artists include Kaitlyn Miller of Islesford; Leecia Price of Rockland; Michael Torlen of Monhegan; and Michele O’Keefe of Vinalhaven. While Miller and Price have abstracted the views of their communities and coast, Torlen and O’Keefe bring familiar and specific elements into the landscape to evoke a sense of place and purpose. As with the channels and currents that move between the harbor city of Rockland and the islands of Monhegan, Islesford, and Vinalhaven, this show is reflective of the art and creativity flow and circulate in and around the bays of Maine.

In addition to the artists’ reception on August 6th, the public is also invited to join Archipelago for the September 3rd First Friday Art Walk, when it will be open extended hours, until 8:00 p.m., and offer an additional opportunity to view the show and enjoy other related happenings along Main Street that evening.

Located at 386 Main Street in downtown Rockland, Archipelago features artists who work with natural, coastal, and working waterfront themes inspired by living and creating art in Maine. Both the store and gallery are currently open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

To learn more about the artists and work featured in “Currents and Channels,” visit the Archipelago page on Facebook or the Gallery page of the website. For general questions regarding Archipelago or the gallery show, contact Archipelago Director Lisa Mossel Vietze at (207) 596-0701.