story and craft: humpbacks!
Pat Crowley Rockwell, well-loved teacher and perennial star of the Peaks Island Library’s Story and Craft program, featured Here Come the Humpbacks! last week, to my utter delight. Hearing her lilting delivery of astonishing facts, like that a new-born humpback calf would be longer than the blue carpet upon which the audience was perched, made me feel like I was on open sea. She handed out coffee filter and washable markers, for kids to “make an ocean.” Next, they went outside armed with a spray bottle, to splash the oceans, not each other! They heard more of the book, and...
Read Morecolor of peaks
Tonight is the 9th annual Color of Peaks show at the TEIA. I’ve been part of every one of them. The club, as it’s known, is a daily sight in my travels with the dog. I did this pastel of the building, built in 1912, several years ago. On Tuesday I was rehearsing my presentation for a talk at the TEIA, Island Inspirations, when Daisy walked through. She remains my muse, only taller. A lot taller. I’m better known on the island as “Daisy’s mom” which suits me just fine. I’m grateful to the entire island community that sustains me and endlessly sparks...
Read MorePeaks Fest even dozen
Summer is now official. Peaks Fest, our annual community show of spirit, launched this year’s events with another swell t-shirt by my better half, Marty. Everybody gets into the act, including the Gem Gallery, with an exhibit called “Treasure & Applesauce” that featured cherished objects, things that hold great beauty, cleverness, and strength of spirit, and nothing for sale. We shared a faded but lovely baby quilt made by Marty’s grandmother. And a wooden whirlygig made by a dearly departed neighbor, Harry Hults, a replica from a Trefethen model, since our house...
Read Morespring rites
It’s been an eventful spring break. I have eggs and peeps on the brain, which may explain this drawing of Maine College of Art student Molly Steinmetz. She’s a maker and shaker that needed to be drawn, and with tulips no less. In between lots of walks and sorting out tax stuff, I read Here Come the Humpbacks! at a Peaks Island benefit for our fiercely independent local bookstore, Longfellow Books, which suffered major damages to their store during a February storm. We showed them some love. Thanks to Eleanor Morse for pulling it together and Scott Nash for the design below. What...
Read Morewalk this way
When people ask where I get my ideas, I have to say, “walking my dog.” In any kind of weather, and we have all kinds in Maine, I trot around the island, things popping into my head. I’m also noticing things, large and small, and as my dad used to say, “getting the stink blown off.” Posie is my witness. Sometimes my daughter goes along and we take turns documenting. If it’s low tide, we go to the beach. If it’s high tide, we head to the woods. Trees show themselves and we listen. There comes a deep awareness after a storm. On a hot day, a tidepool...
Read MoreOceans alive at PIE
What a treat to visit the amazing kids at the Peaks Island School on Read Across America Day! I brought along my latest book, Here Come the Humpbacks to talk about reading pictures. Color and composition are part of the visual narrative. Color can tell us about time of day, temperature; how cold is the water? Scale can show us size relationships. I showed this spread to talk about why I take a plastic bag to the beach: first, there’s the poop business to pick up. Then, always some plastic: a bottle, a coffee cup, part of a shoe. Every little bit I carry away makes a better habitat for...
Read MoreVisit JamieHogan.com
