Th Rockland Art Scene
Paris. London. New York. Rockland. Believe it or not, salty little Rockland, Maine tucked away up north near Canada, is a major player on the world art scene. What began as a pastoral escape for urban artists like Edward Hopper, and a lifelong relationship with people and place for the Wyeth Family, has evolved into a destination, a creative hub and crucible for all sorts of painters, sculptors, and other visionary makers.
From the classic to the avant garde, there are brilliant works popping up all over town. You can’t help but see the potential for art everywhere you go in Midcoast Maine, from the rocky coast of Clark Island at The Craignair Inn to the brick buildings and working waterfronts of Rockland’s vibrant Main Street, and every beach and harbor in between. We’ll give you the rundown on where to find and how to best appreciate all the beauty, human made and natural, here in our little corner of the world.
The Farnsworth
Fifty years ago, when Rockland, Maine was nothing but a hardscrabble lobstering town, best known for a stinky fish cannery and rough motorcycle gangs, The Farnsworth was here, a respite and a beacon. Opened in 1948 by Lucy Farnsworth, scion of a merchant family who operated quarries, kilns, schooners, and stores, the museum houses works by artists like Rockwell Kent, Leonard Baskin, Louise Nevelson, Marguerite Zorach, Alex Katz, and Neil Welliver. The cool quiet galleries of the Farnsworth contain countless unexpected gems.
So many artists seem to pass through this scenic corridor, either painting on their way elsewhere or settling in to study the scenes and seasons over time. Robert Indiana, the artist who created the iconic LOVE sculpture now reproduced ubiquitously, had a home here. Get up close and personal with his substantial pieces. From the decorative to the digital, the realistic to the abstract, The Farnsworth Museum, located on Rockland’s pretty Main Street, truly has a work of art for everyone.
Spend a morning strolling the floors and sculpture gardens, getting lost among art from the 18th century through the present. And be sure to visit and tour The Olson House in Cushing, where Andrew Wyeth painted his beloved Christina’s World.
The Center for Maine Contemporary Art
The Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA) moved from nearby Rockport to its current Rockland location in 2016, in a newly constructed, stark and soaring building designed by architect Toshiko Mori. CMCA is set back half a block from Main Street; the exterior courtyard boasts a tall, colorful sculpture of human figures, and there are cafe tables and great glass walls, creating a sophisticated cosmopolitan atmosphere, though you can still hear the clanging of buoys and sounding of the lighthouse a five minute walk to Rockland Harbor.
The footprint is small, but each space is expansive, with perhaps three or four galleries in total. In its brief history, there has been exhibited massive installations of many mediums, including film, fiber, and a room-filling wooden construction that evoked a boardwalk by Escher. And though the work is beautiful, challenging, modern, cool, disruptive, and even silly, this is no place for only subdued, hushed churchlike voices. In the artlab, open to children of all ages, the public can use their wide selection of tools and materials to create something never before seen or done. This museum is an invitation to creativity and a great boon for the town of Rockland.
The Galleries
There are dozens of art galleries on Main Street Rockland, and in little alcoves and arcades and enclaves off the one way northbound road. Perhaps the most important is Dowling Walsh. Owned by Jake Dowling and often populated with the young and hip of MidCoast Maine, the spaces are good, with room to breathe and spend time. The Blue Raven Gallery on a prominent corner, has a cool rooftop deck with water and cityscape views. It is very much worth a stroll to pop in and out of each and every one. You will be surprised and delighted by the work at every level from the museum quality to the outsider. There is something at every price point, so you can bring home a proper souvenir to hang with pride in your home as a substantial memento of a Maine vacation.
First Fridays
There is something extremely pleasant and civilized about an art walk. Everyone dresses up. There are tiny plastic cups of cheap wine. You wander. You see and are seen. There is no pressure to buy something. Only to appreciate. It is a social gathering informed by beauty. They often take place in the heat of a sultry summer night. Rockland’s Art Walk, the first Friday of every month, now occurs year round. The Fanswroth and CMCA are free, the galleries are crowded and the streets are bustling. There are often musicians playing and children or couples dancing, and it feels like a party. Hit the town for fun, as the festive atmosphere continues in the restaurants and bars of Rockland after the art walk ends.
Art in the Streets
The first Friday of every month isn't the only time to encounter art on the streets of Rockland, Maine. One large presence you can’t help but admire are all the murals. Started a decade ago by local artist and teacher Alex Iannmarino along with young artists and students and volunteers, these bright graphics adorn the brick walls of many side streets. In the summer of 2023 collaborating artists and life partners Rachel Gloria Adams and Ryan Addams created a large-scale mural project along the Farnsworth exterior on Museum Street, to commemorate the 75th anniversary. Their work is geometric, graffiti inspired, and has a gemlike quality that adds not only color but dimension to the outside. Get up close to big art, take a photo, and share your trip with friends!
Beyond the Visual
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that there is more to art in Rockland than paintings, drawings, photography, etc. There is a burgeoning live arts scene, centered at The Strand Theatre, another Rockland institution. The Strand was first built in 1922 and has survived fire and economic depression, being rebuilt and revitalized over the course of its 100 years. At The Strand, you can catch indie films and broadcasts of operas, but also live music acts, including folk singer-songwriters, jazz, funk, pop, and international beats. The Strand promotes strong childrens and community theater programming, with puppet shows, interactive performances, and even a rock band aimed at kids. And if live music is your thing, come to the Causeway Restaurant on certain Sundays for a lively acoustic brunch.
Art begets art always and everywhere, and in recent years, we have seen the MidCoast Maine art scene grow and expand and become more inclusive and more interesting and more fun. Art educates and edifies. Art improves our lives. We are so lucky to have so much generative good work surrounding us on the coast of Maine.
The Craignair Gallery
Our own art gallery is carefully curated by local artist, art teacher, and retired university professor Katharine Cartwright. Each month a new Maine artist is featured with a solo show. This space is also one of the three dining areas in our restaurant, The Causeway. Make a reservation to dine with art, and take home a souvenir to hang in your home. Our gallery art often reflects scenes from the natural landscape, as interpreted through the eyes of the people who love it here. Maine’s beauty is so sublime, it has inspired artists for hundreds of years. See something you’ve never noticed before. Gain a sense of common understanding when you view a work of art that captures a feature of the environment, or a moment you have always treasured. Dive into the meaning of beauty, which is one of the very best parts of being alive, here in Spruce Head, Maine. Book a table at the restaurant, a room at the inn, or an appointment for a massage in our somatic healing studio, RISE.