classroom comeback
It’s been a busy coupla weeks getting back into the classroom rhythm at Maine College of Art. A new banner sporting a roaring bear illustrated by recent illustration graduate Hannah Rosengren was a delight to see. The illustration studio gained more space in the Karu Media Collective wing. Here department chair Scott Nash shares announcements with students. Cool news: the new MECA Illustration Film Series, which kicks off next week with Cartoon College at SPACE Gallery. Charles Hively, editor and design director of 3 x 3, The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration, joined us for the...
Read Morepace yourself
When I got word from Maine College of Art that I’d won a three night residency at the Pace House in Stonington, Maine…I did a jig of complete joy. A break in the action is always welcome, and Stonington is a quiet village. But did I have any clue how amazing the Pace House is? Let me tell you. The four hour drive from Portland slowly unties your burdens, across miles of open fields, rounds of hay, glimpses of ocean, and past curious flea markets. Upon reaching the yellow farm house, I felt blessed beyond belief. The rooms are filled with lively works by Stephen Pace, who became...
Read Morecamden book fair by-the-sea
Location, location, location. The Camden Public Library has it in spades. Opened in 1928, this sumptuous library is a worthy destination among so many in beautiful Camden, Maine. Situated on a hill overlooking the harbor, the library has a loyal following, thanks to Amy Hand, their intrepid children’s librarian, who coordinated a swell group of children’s book creators. I was honored to be in such fine company. The Owl and Turtle Book Store was ready for us! On a gorgeous August Saturday, it’s true book lovers that show up to meet authors and illustrators. I had eager...
Read Morezine camp
I recently led a workshop on making zines as part of a professional development class at University of Southern Maine, called Building Literacy Through the Arts. John Holdridge, lead facilitator and senior consultant with the the Arts Literacy Project, had already jazzed up a group of educators, with mark-making, physical movement and performance, and poetry sessions. I arrived with my stash of zine-making supplies at Kaler Elementary School, rarin’ to go. I began by sharing my collection of zines, many of them created by Maine College of Art illustration students in my Illustration 2...
Read MoreHogan Camp history
As a kid, I heard much about the Hogan Camp in Nova Scotia but it was a remote place of my imagination. My parents ran a motel in New Hampshire and were too busy to go in the summer, but it had been my father’s family summer destination. Built in 1934 by my grandfather, Roland Bell Hogan, the place is situated on Indian Point in Young’s Cove facing the Bay of Fundy, home of the highest tides in the world. His grandfather, Patrick Hogan, immigrated from Belfast, Ireland in the early 1800’s, perhaps as a veteran of the British army after the War of 1812. Settled in...
Read Morepubnico
I wrote about our travels to Pubnico, Nova Scotia two years ago here. We followed the same trail again last week, driving 6 hours from Portland, Maine to St. John, New Brunswick, where the wood sculptures of John Hooper greeted us around every corner. We arrived in complete fog, and tried to blend in. While taking the typical photo of a local landmark, an alien figure clanked into view. What a delight to meet Alphonse Elric on his way to ConFusion. We boarded the Princess of Acadia for our 3 hour cruise to Digby, Nova Scotia with low visibility. Other than a jumpy pack of cadets, most were...
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