(Photograph of Michael Kaiser by Ilan Mizrahi)

(Augusta, ME) The Maine Arts Commission proudly presents Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative featuring the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts President, Michael M. Kaiser on Thursday, July 1st from 9:15 – 11:30 am at the Portland Museum of Art. Mr. Kaiser’s visit to Maine is part of a national tour that takes him to all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia to provide counsel and encouragement to nonprofit arts organizations in need.

While in Maine, Michael Kaiser will address the challenges facing nonprofit arts organizations through such areas as fundraising, building more effective Boards of Trustees, budgeting, and marketing. “Each locality is dealing with its own unique and specific challenges, and there is no better way to understand each region than through in-person visits. Communicating in person allows us to be more effective in advising organizations in need,” said Mr. Kaiser.

The symposium is free and open to the public; however, tickets are limited and advanced registration is required. To reserve tickets, please visit artcrisis.eventbrite.com. Participants are encouraged to arrive early to check in and participate in a meet-and-greet from 9:15 to 10:00 am.

The program will begin with a 45-minute interview of Mr. Kaiser by Donna McNeil, Director of the Maine Arts Commission. Following the interview, members of the audience will have the opportunity to address questions to Mr. Kaiser during a 45-minute question-and-answer period.

“The Maine Arts Commission is honored to host Michael Kaiser during his national Arts in Crisis tour,” said Maine Arts Commission Director Donna McNeil. “Mr. Kaiser is a recognized national leader in the arts who has a wealth of expertise to share. With Maine being near the end of his national tour we hope to hear some stories that Mr. Kaiser has collected from across America in his effort to assist cultural organizations in this time of economic crisis.”

For full details of this event, please click here.

(Image: "Chinese Beliefs" by Lesia Sochor)

(Belfast, ME) Artist Lesia Sochor will talk about her work on Monday, June 28th beginning at 7:00 pm at Waterfall Arts Belfast. Sochor is a well known painter and art teacher whose current series of oil paintings “Threads” focuses on spools of thread and their connected narratives.

Three years ago, Sochor was inspired by her mother-in-law's sewing drawer and realized how sewing connected her to her female ancestors and that the familiar utilitarian spools stirred recollections and family stories. From one generation to the next thread and sewing carries a history of necessity, practicality, fashion, poverty and sweat. Sochor believes that despite modern technology there is a yearning for tactile processes and that sewing satisfies the need to feel and produce with our hands, gaining deep satisfaction in taking the time to fix or mend something rather than throwing it away. She relates that “The paintings evolved symbolically and literally to include connections to all humanity, crossing gender and cultural borders, into The Common Thread, which sews us into the fabric we call the world.”

Sochor was born in Philadelphia and graduated from the Philadelphia College of Art with a Fine Arts Degree. She moved to Brooks in 1980 and continues to live and work there. Her watercolor and oil paintings have been shown in galleries and institutions throughout the state including the Baridoff Galleries, Mathias Fine Art, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, the Farnsworth Museum, the Gilley Museum, University of Southern Maine, Maine State House, Ellsworth, Bangor, and Belfast Libraries, as well as several Belfast galleries. Sochor also teaches art to people of all ages both publically and privately. Currently she instructs at Merryspring in Camden and Waterfall Arts. Her other artistic work includes curating, illustrating children's books and teaching and promoting the art of 'Pysanka', intricately decorated Ukrainian eggs. Her current work will be exhibited at The Caldbeck Gallery in Rockland from June 28th through July 17th.

Waterfall Arts Belfast is located at 256 High Street. Admission to the talk is free. For more information, please visit www.waterfallarts.org or call 338-2222.

On Friday, June 18th at 8:00 pm.

(Freeport, ME) Eleanor Ellis, a native of Louisiana, has performed at clubs, festivals and concerts in the United States, Canada and Europe. She has also traveled and played with the late gospel street singer Flora Molton and bluesman Archie Edwards, and sometimes accompanied Delta Blues great Eugene Powell. She is a founding member of the DC Blues Society and the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation, has written about the blues for several publications, and is producer and editor of the video documentary Blues Houseparty, which features well-known Piedmont blues musicians such as John Jackson, John Cephas, and Archie Edwards. She also worked at the Archive of New Orleans Jazz at Tulane University in New Orleans, and at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

Myron Samuels, a Maryland native but Maine resident since 1984, will also be performing. Samuels has established himself as a downhome country blues harmonica player and vocalist. He performed in the Bar-B-Q Blues Boys for 12 years travelling throughout New England and since then he has gone on to perform in a variety of duos in addition to performing as a solo artist. Myron has also anchored the Wednesday Edition of those Evenin’Sun Blues on WMPG’s Community Radio Station since 1989. Like Eleanor Ellis, Myron Samuels brings his own distinctive voice in keeping this acoustic blues tradition alive as both have learned the country blues from D.C. area legends Flora Molton, John Jackson, Archie Edwards and John Cephas.

The Venue Music Bar is looking forward to bringing these two talents together for a special night and downhome blues.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit the Venue Music Bar website.

On Saturday, June 19th at 8:00 pm.

(Rockland, ME) Seldom Scene, the critically acclaimed bluegrass band, makes their Strand debut! This five piece band is as well know for their traditional bluegrass tunes, as they are for pushing boundaries and taking bluegrass music in new directions. The musical history and unparalleled talent of these weathered country musicians pours into the crowd with every note they play. In 2008 Seldom Scene was recognized with their third Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album for their 20th and latest release, SCENEchronized.

Tickets are available at the Strand box office and online and are $25 for adults and $15 for students 18 and under.

For more information, please visit the Strand Theatre website.

>link to the Seldom Scene website