The Midcoast Maine Art Scene: 1987 – 2002
At Waterfall Arts, 256 High Street, Belfast, Maine
June 27 – September 2, 2024
Beginning in the 1950s, some of America’s best-known artists came to rural midcoast Maine in search of compelling landscapes and drawn by cheap land and a community of like-minded people. Photographer Peggy McKenna moved to Montville in 1972 and soon became a vibrant and beloved part of the community. Her specialties were photojournalism and portraiture. Her reputation among the artists was based on their deep respect for her photographic artistry and many had their portraits made by her.
McKenna’s archive of photographs was donated to the Penobscot Marine Museum in 2015. PMM has partnered with Waterfall Arts to create this exhibition of Peggy’s photos that brilliantly document the faces and personalities of some of the key figures in the midcoast art scene, which had a considerable impact on the history of American art. This exhibit will include 34 of her artist portraits, including Alex Katz, Katherine Bradford, Lois Dodd, Linden Frederick, Yvonne Jacquette, and Rudy Burckhardt. Each portrait will be paired with a work by that artist.
