The Art in the Capitol program features work throughout the Capitol Complex and offers Maine artists an additional venue for their work. It is designed to expand the audience for Maine artists or artists working in Maine on Maine-based themes.
All Art in the Capitol exhibits are free and open to the public. Exhibitions are self-guided and may be viewed during the building hours where the exhibition is on display.
Building hours:
| Maine Arts Commission Office: | Capitol and Burton M. Cross Buildings: |
| 8:30am - 4:30pm, Mon - Fri | 8:00am - 5:00pm, Mon - Fri |
For more information about Art in the Capitol, contact Danielle Moriarty, Program Director at vog.eniam@ytrairom.elleinad
CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY:
Summer J. Hart’s “Out in May Back by October” explores the balance between extractive and sustainable approaches to nature. Made primarily from abandoned newsprint sourced from the ruins of the East Millinocket paper mill, Hart’s drawings and beadwork variously combine recycled, reclaimed, remade, and commercially made paper, ink, and water. The piece’s title evokes the spring-to-fall season of the river drives that, for generations, moved thousands of trees from the forest of northern Maine, down a chain of rivers and lakes, to the factories in which timber was pulped, bleached, and milled into paper.
“Out in May Back by October” is an 8’ x 12’ loom-beaded portrait of Harts’ paternal grandparents, Robert Fraser and Mary Metallic, who met on the Listuguj (then Restigouche) Mi’gmaq First Nation reserve during a Great Northern Paper Company recruitment drive in 1941. Each bead in this monumental portrait was handmade by the artist by systematically tearing, weighing, and soaking mill paper with much of the water reclaimed from the air with a dehumidifier, and repulping it. She fashioned the pulp into over 8,000 beads, dyed, drilled, and beaded them on three interlocking looms using a bracelet-making technique her Native aunt and mother taught her as a child.
The rhythm of extraction and recycling underlies the other pieces in the show: Hart’s series, “109 Dyewater Ink Drop Drawings.” 40 of which are displayed here. Combining the waste dye from the bead-dyeing process for “Out in May Back by October” and drops of India ink, each drawing represents one mile of the Penobscot River.
Artist BIO:
Summer J. Hart is an interdisciplinary artist and writer from Maine living in the Hudson Valley, New York. Her mixed-media installations have been featured in shows and galleries across the country. She has a BFA from the Hartford Art School, and an MFA from the University of the Arts. Summer is also the author of Boomhouse (2023, The 3rd Thing Press), winner of the 2024 Nassar Poetry Prize. Her creative work has been supported by NYSCA/NYFA and MacDowell fellowships. Her writing can be found in Best Small Fictions 2023, Bedfellows, Heavy Feather Review, Jet Fuel Review, The Massachusetts Review, Northern New England Review, Waxwing, and elsewhere. Summer is an enrolled member of the Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation.
This event coincides with the Veterans Art Exhibit at the Maine Capitol Complex, where the works of 38 Veteran artists are on display, featuring over 70 unique pieces. The exhibit runs from November 1, 2024, to February 28, 2025, providing the public with an opportunity to experience the artistry and resilience of Maine's Veterans. Visitors can explore the diverse expressions and perspectives of Maine’s Veterans—showcasing their resilience, stories, and artistic skill—at the Burton M. Cross Building, second floor, in Augusta, available during normal business hours.
The Veteran celebration and exhibit is a collaborative effort between Togus VA, the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services, the Maine Arts Commission, and the Quilts of Valor Foundation. This inclusive project honors Veterans of all backgrounds and aims to spotlight their unique contributions to Maine’s cultural landscape.
About the Celebration:
The Maine Arts Commission invites you to a special event honoring the remarkable talents of Maine's Veteran artists. Join us on November 13, 2024, from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Togus Theater in Augusta for an afternoon filled with art, inspiration, and gratitude. This celebration will showcase the powerful contributions of Veteran artists through live performances, including music, poetry, and spoken word. In addition, 14 of the participating artists will receive Quilts of Valor in a heartfelt awards ceremony recognizing their creativity and service.
