meeting the current

Our daughter, Daisy Braun, has installed a fabulous display of her sculptures inspired by plankton at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine. She was invited by Manager of Education, Sarah Timm, to be featured in Uncharted: Maine Artists, Maine Waters.

“Daisy Braun, Heather Lyon, and Shoshana White use their chosen media to question, challenge, and celebrate our human relationship to the sea. The future of this relationship is uncharted, and hangs on the collective decisions we make today. Through meaningful play on scale, unexpected visual juxtapositions, and powerful performance, this exhibition series will ask us to measure the weight of our reliance on the oceans in an effort to better understand our responsibility in preserving their future.“

Since Daisy arrived back in Maine in early spring, it’s been fascinating to watch her work take form. First the supplies arrived. Coils and coils of reed.

We visited Bigelow Labs in Boothbay, where Daisy met a plankton scientist to discuss the research done there. She had already submitted sketches to Sarah, but the chance to visit the laboratory and see the exhibit, Majestic Fragility, was an inspiration for both of us.

Daisy began her fascination with plankton at MICA, and has since exhibited sculptures at Art Market Budapest, and at SPACE Gallery in Portland, Maine.

Her process begins with small drawings on paper, which are then drawn larger onto plywood.

She makes a jig with nails. The reed is soaked in hot water and she forms new shapes.

We made a trip to Minneapolis to see family with a detour to view a sculpture show at the Walker Art Center. The work by Liz Larner gave Daisy ideas to simmer.

Playing with scale has been a feature of Daisy’s work, and seeing Claes Oldenburg’s Spoonbridge with Cherry was a high point.

Once back in Maine, there were parts everywhere. What would they become?

Daisy assembles the parts into specific shapes with countless knots of string.

She weaves ribbon to add texture, strength, and color.

Meanwhile I ventured to the Buoy Gallery in Kittery to meet my cousin, Wanda McDonough.

Daisy had a painting in their annual ArtPm show.

Daisy was busy weaving more work in her signature manner. These two pieces would become one during installation.

The tricky part is transporting sculpture from Peaks Island. Car ferry lines add a logistical unknown.

Good news: Maine Maritime Museum staff were ready to assist! Daisy had enormous assistance from Dayne Dennet, a Maintenance Technician who operated a Skyjack.

Together they hung the first sculpture in the lobby’s atrium window.

Honestly, I didn’t even recognize the piece. It became so much more in situ!

The following day, Daisy and Dayne hung the second piece.

These were installed prior to the Museum’s opening day in May. Daisy promptly began new sculptures for the floor level gallery. See how I am helping here?

More swirls, more process.

Daisy moved her workspace down the hill to Ted Haykal’s studio, our fellow artist neighbor.

She had so much more height to hang the pieces. And sunlight!

Once again, the work was installed at Maine Maritime Museum with the help of Dayne, where the gallery had been freshly painted. Thank you all!

We arrived early on June 23 for the opening reception for Uncharted, Maine Artists, Maine Waters and also Zack Horn’s Looking for Winslow Homer.

Yup, mighty proud!

Executive Director Chris Timm welcomed the crowd, and Sarah Timm introduced Daisy as well as Heather Lyons, whose work will be featured in July. Adding contemporary art to the museum’s mission is an opportunity to expand the interpretation of the past, present, and future.

It was beyond wonderful to see so many Peaks Islanders in the audience, as well as beloved family and friends. A lively crowd turned out.

This exhibit will be up through July 16. Please go visit! There’s much to see at this mighty history museum on the banks of the Kennebec River in the City of Ships. Thank you, Maine Maritime Museum!