Roland Salazar Rose selected to participate in Down East magazine’s third annual Art of Giving

BIDDEFORD, MAINE – Roland Salazar Rose is proud to announce that he has been selected to participate in Down East magazine’s third annual Art of Giving. As part of the Art of Giving, Salazar’s work will be featured in Down East and then raffled off with other Maine works of art to raise funds for Community Partners, Inc. and three additional community organizations chosen by the other participating artists. Down East’s Art of Giving Gala will be held Thursday, September 1 from 5:30-9 p.m. at The Landing at Pine Point, 353 Pine Point Rd, Scarborough. Tickets to the event are available online at artofgiving2016.brownpapertickets.com or at downeast.com/artofgiving.

Salazar’s work, “Snow on the Marsh,” was selected by a committee including artist Eric Hopkins, art critic Edgar Allen Beem, Maine College of Art’s Ian Anderson, and Down East editor in chief Kathleen Fleury. Each artist and their work will be profiled in a summer issue of Down East. You can see Roland Salazar Rose in the July 2016 issue of Down East, available on newsstands the end of June. Roland Salazar Rose says: “I resided in Mexico over three decades bridging the 20 and 21st centuries. I returned to Maine in 2012 for personal reasons where I established as a goal for my paintings in Maine to seek to express Maine's true essence. For I paint 'Maine' as unforgiving, the land, sea and sky as uncompromising, demanding your daily awareness, and testing your ability to live with nature as a constant in your life.” A reviewer commented: “These works all seem to have a topological quality but with an expressionist feel. There is an underlying force—sort of a life force—in many of these pieces. The pieces seem alive, on the verge of change, as it seems to be the case for the land and sea. His treatment of Maine “landscapes” with innovative techniques gives Salazar's work a real dynamism.”

All Art of Giving artists apply by submitting not only a piece of art to be considered, but also a write-up indicating their connection to Maine and why the community organization they chose deserves to benefit from the raffle. Roland Salazar Rose selected the Community Partners, Inc. to benefit from his Art of Giving piece because his friend Richard Tryon called on him in 1967 to join Richard as a co-sponsor of a non-profit endeavor he wanted to launch in Biddeford. Richard's idea was to make it possible for a group of families living in the Biddeford area to make a better life for those with developmental disabilities. This very new concept of care for these individuals and families envisioned a path to a truly community service system, and the end of the institutional era of care for developmental disabilities in the State of Maine.

What began as the Founders' collective vision, with doubtful chance to succeed, now fifty years later continues to provide “direct support services to adults with developmental and other intellectual disabilities and autism throughout Southern and Central Maine.” Programs in residential, independent living, health care, and personal and vocational support make it possible for a “healthy and joyful life with dignity and fulfillment for vulnerable people.” Thousands have benefited and many thousands more will see a better life under this vision.

“All of the selected artists have deep connections to Maine, something that’s reflected in the pieces they’ve donated and that resonates with our readers,” noted Kathleen Fleury, editor in chief of Down East. “We really feel that the Art of Giving program is much like the idea of the tide that rises all boats. We hope that we can spotlight some unique Maine artists, who in turn shine the spotlight on some great organizations helping the community here, all while coming together for a fun event where some community members who love the state win fabulous Maine art.”

Tickets to the Art of Giving are $75-100 per person and include the evening event featuring Maine food, beverages and music, as well as an opportunity for the ticket holder to leave with one of four works of art. Each paid admission to the gala will be automatically entered to win one of the pieces; attendees may purchase additional raffle tickets at the event to contribute to the funding each charity will receive.

 For more information about this year’s Art of Giving event, visit downeast.com/artofgiving.

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