And So It Begins….Kennebunkport Festival 2015

The Kennebunkport Festival is in full swing starting today, and Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture is thrilled to be in the center of it all.  Literally and figuratively!

Historically, Tuesday and Wednesday nights during the festival are all about The Art of Dining. This year is no different. Gracious hosts from around the Kennebunkport area open their beautiful homes to the best chefs in the state and talented artists from local galleries.  Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture is honored to provide five of the ten artist for tonight’s dinners.  Craig Mooney, Janis H. Sanders, Jill Valliere, Susan Wahlrab, and Abbie Williams will be sharing dinner, conversation, and of course their art, all around Kennebunkport tonight.

However, its not all play and no work. John, the gallery owner, and Patrick, one of our newest staff, will be earning their keep today.  This afternoon is a full schedule of visiting homes, meeting with the hosts, and filling their walls with original artwork. Yes, really! Having the owner of the gallery show up at your house to hang  stunning pieces of art throughout is certainly a perk to hosting one of these dinners.

patrick and john at the Molloys

 

Once the work is done, the play begins.

Starting at One Dock around 5pm, John and his artists will be on hand to mingle and meet with anyone who will lift a glass to toast the beginning of this crazy, fun-filled week we call the Kennebunkport Festival. We also are lucky enough to have Chris Ross entertaining us with his acoustic guitar. Fingers crossed, the rain holds off, and we are able to enjoy the beautiful deck at One Dock.

Then on to dinner.

Craig Mooney will be headed to the Lord House, where he will join Chefs Damian Sansonetti and Ilma Lopez of Piccolo. Piccolo is a wonderful Italian restaurant at 111 Middle Street in Portland.  The menu is a secret, as it is for all the dinners, but judging by the success of the restaurant, no one will leave disappointed or hungry.

Janis H. Sanders has reservations at the Captain Fairfield Inn.  He will be sharing dinner with a table full of guests and the amazing Chef Sam Talbot of the Pig + Poet. Sam comes all the way from Camden to join the festival this year.  His restaurant is known for its finest and freshest, and he is sure to be sharing it all tonight.

The Williams/Hogan residence will be hosting artist Susan Wahlrab and Chef Larry Matthews of the Back Bay Grill.  While guests are enjoying each others company, the chef will be wowing them with his favorites from his menu. Back Bay Grill is at 65 Portland Street, Portland, and is known for its inviting ambiance and mouthwatering choices. This should be a night full of fabulous food.

Abbie Williams will be joining the Molloys and welcoming Chef David Levi of Vinland. “What could be better than the gift of delicious, comforting, sustainable food that nurtures our local community and the land in which we live,” a quote from Vinland’s website.  Combining it with a beautiful home and the artwork of Abbie Williams? We think so.

Lastly, Jill Valliere will be entertaining at the Knudsen home.  Chef Cara Stadler from Tao Yuan, in Brunswick, will be infusing fresh ingredients that are available locally, with Asian flavors and a mixture of modern cooking techniques.  Lucky for us, we will be experiencing this one first hand. There will definitely be details of this dinner in tomorrow’s blog. Yum!

Phew!

But wait…we’re not done!

After feasting and festivaling all evening, John and his artists will be headed off to Abbondante, located at 27 Western Avenue in Kennebunk.  This is a do-not-miss event, and its free!  Amy and the Machines will be finishing off the night in true festival style.  If you haven’t had the pleasure of hearing Amy Allen live, don’t miss your chance.

Holy moly!  What a night! We hope you have a chance to catchup with us sometime during the evening. If not, there is always tomorrow.

Check out the artists and all their work for the Choice Art Show at 10 Chase Hill Road, Kennebunk or at www.maine-art.com. It opens Saturday and runs through the 25th .  Tickets for the opening are available on the Kennebunkport Festival site.

If you are in town for the festival please also stop by Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture at 14 Western Avenue, Kennebunk.

kportfestival sign