Susan Bartlett Rice’s 2018 House with Winter Docks, a 30-by-30-inch oil painting on canvas.
Starting Tuesday, April 17, there will be an exciting new show featuring the artwork of Walpole painter Susan Bartlett Rice both inside and outside at the Pemaquid Watershed Association office-gallery, 584 Main St., Damariscotta.
Rice is a contemporary artist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in studio art and art history from the University of Vermont, which was followed by further studies at the California College of Arts and Crafts and the Rhode Island School of Design. Rice’s oil paintings are autobiographical and reflect the contrasts, challenges, and comforts of living year-round on the Maine coast.
Through her paintings of 20th century architecture, the working waterfront, and family farming, Rice colorfully represents long-standing traditions in contemporary times. Her work colorfully celebrates the beauty of Maine and sympathizes with the occasional struggle of life in Maine. Rice paints the long, quiet winters and the bright, busy summers, as well as the autumns and springs in between. Her paintings have been exhibited and collected nationally.
Rice has just finished an extraordinary 8-by-12-foot mural that incorporates the imagery of the Pemaquid Watershed from the fresh water out to the ocean. There are loons diving on alewives, with colors that are vibrant and stunning. There are flowers and a painted turtle watching the divers.
Rice has generously donated the time and some paint and brushes to paint the mural, and Peter and Judi Lawrence have kindly donated the cost of plywood and other needed materials.
The mural will be hung on north end of the office-gallery’s garage, visible from Business Route 1.
The PWA office is open weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Rice’s show will run through Friday, June 8.
The purpose of art exhibits at Pemaquid Watershed Association’s office gallery is to mutually benefit the artists and PWA. The exhibits provide an opportunity for the artists to gain local exposure of their works that depict the beauty of the natural environment while being an attraction to bring people into the office to learn about PWA’s mission.
The public is invited to meet Rice at a wine-and-cheese opening reception from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 20 at the PWA office. All are encouraged to attend this free, casual event and enjoy refreshments while experiencing the exhibit inside and out, and having a chance to meet the artist.
Rice is donating a generous portion of the proceeds from exhibit sales to support PWA’s mission of conserving the natural resources of the Pemaquid Peninsula region through land and water stewardship and education.
Since 1966, Pemaquid Watershed Association has been a member-supported, volunteer-driven nonprofit organization. For more information on PWA, call 563-2196 or go to pemaquidwatershed.org.
