Exhibition: McKenna and Her Camera - The Midcoast Maine Art Scene: 1987 - 2008

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 Joe Ascrizzi, Anne Arnold, Katherine Bradford, Bob Brooks, Rudy Burckhardt, Tom Burckhardt, Kathy Butterly, Alan Crichton, Lois Dodd, Rackstraw Downes, Charles Duback, Anda Dubinskis, Ed Dugmore, Kerstin Engman,Joe Fiore, Linden Frederick, Harold Garde, Ron Garfinkel, Sam Gelber, Robert Hamilton, Yvonne Jacquette, Janice Kasper, Alex Katz, Richard Norton, Stephen Pace, Orlando “Dino” Pellicia, Dennis Pinette, Allison Rector, Michael Reece, Denise Remy, Daphne Taylor, Fred Wiseman, John Wissemann, and Nancy Wissemann-Widrig. Each portrait will also be paired with a work by that artist.

The exhibit includes artist portraits and original work from the following artists: Joe Ascrizzi, Anne Arnold, Kathy Bradford, Bob Brooks, Rudy Burckhardt, Tom Burckhardt, Kathy Butterly, Alan Crichton, Lois Dodd, Rackstraw Downes, Charles Duback, Anda Dubinskis, Ed Dugmore, Kerstin Engman, Joe Fiore, Linden Frederick, Harold Garde, Ron Garfinkel, Sam Gelber, Robert Hamilton, Yvonne Jacquette, Janice Kasper, Alex Katz, Richard Norton, Stephen Pace, Orlando “Dino” Pellicia, Dennis Pinette, Alison Rector, Michael Reece, Denise Remy, Daphne Taylor, Nancy Widrig-Wissemann, Fred Wiseman, and John Wissemann.