EXPLORING MAINE, 2009: MY PICK

ROCKLAND:

For the past fifteen years Rockland has quietly become the "it" town of the mid-coast area. Once considered the ugly-step-sister to Camden, this harbor town with a thriving working waterfront, county seat, bustling Main Street, artist and gallery mecca and the crown jewel, THE FARNSWORTH MUSEUM is the "must visit" town of the season. Make that any season. Presently, The Farnsworth, http://www.farnsworthmuseum.com/ is running three extraordinary exhibits:

JAMIE WYETH: SEVEN DEADLY SINS (Through August 30)

The interpretation of GREED, PRIDE, ENVY, ANGER, SLOTH, GLUTTONY and LUST through the study of scavenging seagulls and their "nasty" habits brings new vision to this age-old tale first penned by St. Thomas Aquinas. Intense, violent, filled with life's realities... the studies are brilliantly disarming.

ROBERT INDIANA AND THE STAR OF HOPE (Through October 25)

EAT, the electric sign that was last displayed during the 1964 World's Fair, takes center stage atop the museum's Main Street building. Also about town and on the Farnsworth grounds are other highly recognizable Indiana sculptures.Within the galleries hang an exhaustive exhibit of his paintings...all adding up to, "The most beautiful show I've ever had is taking place in Rockland." Robert Indiana.

A TRIBUTE TO ANDREW WYETH (Through October 18)

Following the intensity and boldness of the first two exhibits, I found the viewing of this tribute visually and emotionally soothing. Drama can exist in a quiet voice. Andrew Wyeth leaves us an extraordinary body of work.

You'll be hungry after the art. If it's lunch and something beyond a lobster roll is desired, try MARKET ON MAIN or for a really small venue, THE THORNDIKE CREAMY can't be beat for food at recession prices. Save room for ice cream! They scoop fresh made from ROUND TOP ICE CREAM. On Route 1 in Rockport, PRISIM serves a creative lunch and dinner menu in a refined environment adjacent to it's glass gallery. (Reservations are a must!) Two other dinner suggestions in Rockland are CAFE MERANDA and PRIMO. Again....plan ahead and have a reservation.

Still have energy to browse?

ERIC HOPKINS GALLERY. 21 Winter Street, 207.594.1996, gallery@erichopkins.com

Eric is one of Maine's leading contemporary artists with works in a variety of mediums. His gallery is open daily from 10 to 5. Robin Seymour, the gallery director, will make your visit memorable. Call ahead to inquire about Eric's "gallery talks" and other special events.

THE BLACK PARROT. 323 Main Street, 207.594-9161 (no web site.)

Boutique clothing, high design home decor, funky accessories and the best, minimal card selection anywhere. It's all "piled high" so you have to search. Not for the person who requires focused presentation. I do best in this store early, rather then later when my mind is cluttered! Camilla, most recently at the former G.F MacGregor next door, has joined the staff and brings a welcome air of graciousness.

Now that the Pacific North West climate of early summer has gone back to where it belongs, take a day to experience the many treasures of Rockland and Rockport, Maine. You'll want to return for more.

HAPPY TRAILS!

and.....YOU CAN GET THERE FROM HERE.

DISCOVERING JUNE

For fifty-five years June Hopkins has owned The North Haven Gift Shop. Customers know her as the personable proprietor with good taste and a keen business sense. What many underestimated, or never knew, is that June is a noteworthy artist. Her talent captured center stage at the recent Hopkin's Family Exhibit in the North Haven Art Gallery.

In conjunction with the Shop's 55th Anniversary, the Hopkin's family presented an exhibit in the adjacent gallery. Works by son and acclaimed Maine artist, Eric Hopkins were easily identifiable. His distinctive style emerged at an early age with retail signs for the Shop and lobsters. But it was the seven paintings by June Collins Hopkins that caused the buzz and received the red dot indicating "SOLD."

For many years June has been painting botanicals, animals and landscapes. This past winter, under the tutelage of son Eric, June learned to find the focus in photos she had taken, crop the image and re-produce in watercolor using a loose-hand technique. From the onset, she responded to the subjects and style. Diligently painting every day, refining and refining and incorporating Eric's suggestions, a vast body of work was produced. Everyone privy to early glimpses responded accordingly, "Have you seen June's paintings!"

Party attendees and gallery patrons reinforced the affirmation. Now her latest works hang in private collections along side her son's.

Brisk sales of her art and the enduring success of The North Haven Gift Shop has June providing a life example to be emulated. Each act is significant but it just might be that Act III and a long ovation deliver the sweetest years.

The exhibit has been dismantled but a few of June's paintings are still on display in the gift shop. No web site, cash and checks only, M-Sat, 9:30 to 5. Ferry schedule available from the Maine DOT.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS: STAR GAZING IN MAINE

For over a century celebrities from all walks of life have sought the solitude and privacy of life provided in Maine. You see, Maine is one of the few places on earth where the rich, famous and infamous can be left alone. ( Maybe that's why Paris Hilton and Lindsey Lohan don't visit.) Mainers are too unto themselves to even acknowledge the presence of someone with a public persona. But the lack of squeals doesn't mean that name dropping doesn't occur. It is social sport and in the Greater Portland area the name most often spoken has to do with a Glenn Close sighting. Ms. Close is married to Mainer and IDEX founder, David Shaw. That makes her a part-timer.


Recent close encounters include:

• Sighting at Aubuchon Hardware in Cape Elizabeth




• Dinner at FORE STREET




• Traveling into Portland on Delta Express




• Fetching at FETCH, a doggy supply store in the Old Port that she is rumored to be a part owner.
  

Other sightings , but not close encounters, may include:

• Joan Lunden shopping at THE NEST in So. Casco.




• Stockard Channing shopping at ORPHAN ANNIE'S in Auburn.




• John Travolta and family awaiting a ferry or flying overhead.




• Kristy Alley awaiting a ferry.




• Ned Lamonte, CT. Democratic Senatorial candidate in '06, awaiting a ferry.




• Artist Eric Hopkins taking his own boat or plane.




• Trenton airport with private plane flight delays caused by arrivals of the Mt. Desert Island summer folk.




• Andy and Betsey Wyeth offshore in their Lyman Morse "Picnic" boat.


• Everyone who is anyone goes to LL BEAN in Freeport.
• Oliver Platt on island time.

If you have a close encounter with the familiar or very famous, leave me a note of who and where. Soon we'll have our own Maine Map to The Stars. Move over Hollywood.

Madeline