Paula Brown Green, 67, longtime resident of Washington, died peacefully at home with her family at her side on March 21, after a courageous eight year battle with cancer.
Paula was born in Delavan, Wis. on Feb. 1, 1943 to Morris Elwyn Brown and Edna Kingdon Brown. The eldest of four sisters, she moved to Rochester, N.Y. with her family in the mid 40s and was graduated from Fairport High School in 1961.
As a 1965 graduate of Grinnell College who majored in Art, Paula continued her life-long journey as an artist. Always finding ways to support this passion, early on she worked as a flight attendant, an artist for the Houston Zoo, and a cook for an outdoor adventure organization. After moving to Maine in 1979 to help her sister Pam build a barn, she became a part owner and manager of the Center Street Grainery in Bath, where she discovered that customers wanted her color pencil drawings, handmade note cards, clay jewelry and hand-painted t-shirts. She moved to Washington in 1980 where she was a founding partner of The Downtown Gallery. Paula’s work appeared in many exhibits, at The Downtown Gallery as well as other Maine galleries. In addition, she was founder of Peagreen Card Company. Both her gallery works and her card and shirt designs are well known in the region and every year many sought out her creative and welcoming exhibits at summer arts shows throughout Maine.
Paula was fascinated with faces and masks; her fine art explores the emotions they express and the power they convey. Her found-object sculptures express a whimsical perspective and are cherished by many. Her graphic designs celebrate life, love of animals, and the grace and power of womanhood. Paula’s indomitable spirit lives on in her work as well as our memories.
In 1992 she married her longtime partner, Bo Marks, in the home they designed. Their home truly reflects Paula’s artistic talents, her penchant for building gardens with rocks, and her warm and gracious personality. Together, Paula and Bo became committed members of the Washington community, where Paula volunteered at the Gibbs Library in Washington Village and donated her artwork to many other civic organizations.
Paula was predeceased by her sister, Pamela Kenyon, and father, Morris Brown.
She is survived by her husband, Bo; mother, Edna Brown of Damariscotta; sisters, Patti Brown of Lancaster, Penn. and Jennifer Johnson and husband Richard of Newcastle.
There will be a gathering in Maine of family and friends this summer in honor and loving celebration of Paula’s life.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to “The Paula Green Memorial Fund for the Enhancement of Art,” c/o Washington Library Association, 40 Old Union Rd., Washington, ME 04574.
