Even though the Friday, June 7 opening will only be a preview, it will be the first time the 8th Annual Choice Art Show will be seen in its entirety. As part of The Kennebunkport Festival, we love being able to give you the first peek during the Maine Art Hill Block Party, a fundraiser for Kennebunk High School Arts Scholarship. Know, however, that the show opens officially Saturday, June 8 at 10 am.
Many of the participating artists have long been a part of this fabulous opening show. Artists like Ellen Welsh Granter and William B. Hoyt set the bar high for what is expected at this one of kind show. They know this is their grand reveal for all their hard work this winter and can’t wait to showcase it with us.
This year, we also have a few artists for whom it will be their first go at CHOICE. Artists like Rick Hamilton and Kathy Ostrander Roberts, who are new to the gallery, have brought the best of their best and are sure to wow visitors to the gallery.
Strolling through the show, either physically or virtually, please note each piece has a label to let you know who made “the choice” to add it to the show. Designer’s Choice, People’s Choice, and of course, Artist’s Choice are all clearly marked.
It is a rare occasion when we are able to stand next to an artist and have them share what they were thinking and feeling during the creation of a painting or sculpture. Luckily we have the inside track and all of our artists love to share their stories with us.
With that said, each artist has taken the time to put together a few words, insights, and sometimes whole stories about their “choice” piece and/or their body of work as a whole. Often times this allows us to understand the work better or glimpse a detail that would have gone unnoticed.
So enjoy, and welcome to the 8th Annual Choice Art Show.
To read what each artist had to say about their Artist Choice and in some cases, all of their Choice Show work, click each name below.
Claire Bigbee, Charles Bluett, Alex Dunwoodie, Jeffrey T. Fitzgerald, Ellen Welch Granter, Rick Hamilton, Liz Hoag, William B. Hoyt, John Lecours, Kathy Ostrander Roberts, Janis H. Sanders, Bethany Harper Williams, Elizabeth Ostrander