Alumni News

Artists at Work Awards

The Belvedere Fund for Professional Development in the field of crafts at MECA was established in 2008 and supports the professional and studio practices of BFA alumni who graduated in the last 10 years. The 2020 awardees were Jordan Carey ’19 to purchase a large-format color printer for printing custom fabrics; Aaron Patrick Decker ’12 to purchase a jeweler’s microscope for small-scale, detailed enamel work; Tim DeMuth ’17 to purchase a mortising tool to expedite and improve his woodworking practices; Kincaid Pearson ’19 to purchase a tufting gun to fabricate his rug designs; Naomi Russo ’19 to purchase a mortising tool to expedite and improve her woodworking practices; and Sam Thompson ’13 to purchase a new kiln. The 2020 selection committee was composed of Ebenezer Akakpo ’01, owner of the design company Akakpo & Co, Assistant Professor of Ceramics Kari Radasch ’97, and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Textile & Fashion Design Betsy Scheintaub. Rachel Morris ’20 and Maia Parsons ’20 were named the 2020 MECA Fellows at Pickwick Independent Press, receiving a one-year keyholder membership, which provides opportunities to develop both their fine art and freelance/clientbased portfolios and broaden their artistic network. Pickwick Independent Press is a fine-art printing facility founded by Lisa Pixley ’07 and owned and operated by Pilar Nidal MFA ’13.

Rachel Morris ’20, 10-in-1 Pen, screen print on lightweight mulberry, edition of 7, 12” x 13, 2019.

Jordan Carey ’19, Loquatseason Look 7, handwoven tweed jacket and three-color screen printed denim pants, 2019.

MECA Residencies

Due to safety concerns and potential complications surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, MECA came to the difficult decision to defer this year’s residency programs to 2021. While this was not an easy decision to make, we feel it is the safest and most respectful option for our artist residents, our residency caretakers, and the local communities where the residencies take place. All selected residents were informed of this update, and we will offer accepted artists the opportunity to participate in 2021. We are giving applicants until December 13th, 2020, to fully commit to next year’s residency dates and once all the applicants are confirmed, we will make an announcement celebrating our 2021 residents.

Other News

Don Voisine ’73; Julie Crane ’86; David Driskell, Hon. DFA ’96; Gideon Bok ’98 (attended); and Tessa Greene O’Brien MFA ’16 had work featured in the Center for Maine Contemporary Art’s’s Art You Love Annual Benefit Auction in Rockport, ME.

Benjamin Spalding MFA ’17, Energetic Body I & II (Orgone), wood, steel, resin, foam, cotton, paint, 2020, from The House of the Soul at UNE Art Gallery.

Sandra Quinn ’87, September, encaustic and mixed media, 24” x 22”

Matt Blackwell ’77; Thomas Connolly ’87; Sandra Quinn ’87; Margaret Lawrence ’93; Alice Spencer, Hon. DFA ’18; Assistant Professor in Illustration Daniel Minter, Hon. DFA ’19; and CS Instructor Crystal Cawley were included in Greenhut Galleries’ The 10th Biennial Portland Show in Portland, ME

Jayne Redman ’77 (Master), Nisa Smiley ’00 (Master), Shelby Goldsmith ’14 (Apprentice), and former CS Instructor j.e. paterak (Master) were selected as part of the 2020 Craft Apprentice Program presented by The Maine Crafts Association, in partnership with the Maine Arts Commission.

Maine Magazine’s ArtMaine 2020 Guide featured J. Felice Boucher ’84, Anne Ireland ’94, Julie K. Gray MFA ’12, Carter Shappy ’15, CS Instructor Kifah Abdulla, and CS Instructor Marguerite Lawler. MECA Director of Artists at Work Jessica Tomlinson and Marcia Minter, Hon. DFA ’19 were on the jury selection committee.

Julie Crane ’86; David Driskell, Hon. DFA ’96; Lisa Pixley ’07; Carter Shappy ’15; Assistant Professor in Illustration Daniel Minter Hon. DFA ’19; and CS Instructor Judith Allen had work featured in FOCUS PRINTMAKING III at Greenhut Galleries in Portland, ME.

Baxter Koziol ’17, Anoushé Shojae-Chagorvand ’19, Adjunct Instructor in Sculpture Benjamin Spalding MFA ’17, Associate Professor of Painting and Program Chair of Foundation Philip Brou, and Adjunct Instructor in Animation & Game Art Reggie Burrows Hodges had work featured in The House of the Soul exhibition at UNE Art Gallery.

Hannah Barnes ’02, Kimberly Convery ’05, Harlan Crichton ’12, Maia Snow ’13, Brendan Shea ’18, Oliver ’19, Aurelia Wrenn ’21,

Katia Dermott ’23, Anne Buckwalter MFA ’12, Amelia Garretson-Persans MFA ’16, Liz Rhaney MFA ’20 and Paige Mazurek Salt ’19 were featured in SPACE Gallery’s Broadcasts: Art in the Age of Social Distancing, a remote multi-disciplinary exhibition of art made in isolation during COVID-19.

Alumni Opportunities

Maine College of Art recognizes our alumni as an essential part of our community. Please visit meca.edu/alumni to learn more about our alumni benefits, residencies, grants, and other opportunities. To share a news story of your own, email Alumni Relations & Events Coordinator Isabelle Maschal O’Donnell ’17 at alums@meca.edu.

Resilience Week

In February of 2020, MECA was proud to host Resilience Week, a program developed by MECA’s Diversity Committee and Students of Color Coalition. Reflective of the College’s mission of racial, sexual, and gender inclusivity and to provide a network of support for those committed to fostering change, the week included a variety of offerings, including a film festival, workshops, and performances. Most of the events were open to the public and were geared towards generating conversation and awareness of topics surrounding representation, identity, race, and justice. Events included a West African dance workshop by Athena Lynch ’20; The Get Down Groove at SPACE Gallery featuring DJ Liz Rhaney MFA ’20; and Mend the Gap, a youth quilting workshop. The accompanying exhibition Resilience of Diversity brought together students, alumni, faculty, and members of the community to broaden the narrative of artists of color. Organized by Ashley Page ’20 and Alejandra Cuadra ’20, participating artists included: Jordan Carey ’19; Oliver ’19; Heather Flor Cron ’20; Alejandra Cuadra ’20; Candice Gosta ’20; Imani Jones ’20; Athena Lynch ’20; Ashley Page ’20; Madison Poitrast-Upton ’20; Eddie Dechaine ’21; Sidney Sanchez ’21; Benjamin Spalding MFA ’17; Golaleh Yazdani MFA ’18; Evelyn Wong MFA ’19; Liz Rhaney MFA ’20; Roberta March MFA ’21; Assistant Professor in Illustration Daniel Minter, Hon. DFA ’19; Adjunct Instructor in Animation & Game Art Reggie Burrows Hodges; Adjunct Instructor of Academic Studies Asata Radcliffe; Professor of Foundation and Sculpture Ling-Wen Tsai, and other community artists.

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Work from the Resilience of Diversity exhibition: 1. Sidney Sanchez ’21, Morelias #1, oil on linen, yarn; Morelias #2, oil on linen, yarn; 2. Athena Lynch ‘20, If You Don’t Know Now You Know, wood signs in wooden frames (handmade and purchased), printer ink, paper, stubbornness, frustration and fervor; 3. Ashley Page ‘20, work from Embody the Vessel Workshop, yarn and beeswax; 4. Liz Rhaney MFA ‘20, Price of Art (Remix), Video.