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HANDS AT WORK Opening Reception Photos
February 14th, 2025 by Lori SchaferArt at Bartlett 2025 presents . . .
January 29th, 2025 by Lori SchaferHANDS AT WORK: Fiber Art by the Bartlett Woods Community
The Art at Bartlett exhibition program is pleased to present a free Opening Reception for the exhibition HANDS AT WORK: Fiber Art by the Bartlett Woods Community, on Friday, February 7th at 2-4PM at Bartlett Woods Retirement Community, 20 Bartlett Drive in Rockland. A survey of works in cloth, wool, thread, yarn, and paper will include quilting, weaving, knitting, felting, hooking, needlepoint, quilling, and more created by residents and staff of Bartlett Woods, and family members. Light refreshments will be served. Parking is limited to unmarked spaces, the driveway and along Talbot Avenue. The public is also invited to visit during regular open hours, Monday to Friday, 8AM to 4PM; the exhibition remains on view through May 5, 2025.
“Handwork and the needle arts have a long tradition in Maine, and remain very much a part of the creative community living and working at Bartlett Woods,” confirmed Kelly Osborn, Executive Director at Bartlett Woods. “Our Art at Bartlett Program includes and supports the performing and visual arts. Through hosting public events and learning opportunities, we look to encourage the creative spirit within our community and beyond. This particular exhibit is exciting for its breadth and depth of talent and inspiration.”
Examples of contemporary and vintage fiber art work will include Memory Quilts, paper quilling, original petite point objects, appliqué, rug hooking, wearable art, and traditional Albanian textiles. Multiple generations will be represented by current makers living and working at Bartlett Woods, and their respective family members.
Additionally, artist talks, demonstrations and workshops are planned for the next few months to compliment the exhibition, which remains on view until May 5, 2025. Admission is free and accessible during regular business hours, which are 8am to 4pm; please call 207 593-1608 for more information.
About Bartlett Woods Retirement Community: Founded in 1998, Bartlett Woods Retirement Community is a 501(c)3 55+ apartment facility featuring 58 one and two bedroom apartments with Amenities and Respite rental options. Led by Executive Director Kelly Osborn, and a staff of nearly 40, Bartlett Woods is one of the smallest nonprofit communities in Maine, offering independent living as well as a full spectrum of support services and lifestyle enrichments. Located in Rockland, the art capital of Maine, Bartlett Woods provides convenience, accessibility, stimulation, and advocacy for individuals, couples, and their families. For further information, visit www.bartlettwoods.com or call 207 593 1608.
Continuum closes, reception for artist January 3, 2025
December 16th, 2024 by Lori Schafer The Art at Bartlett exhibition program is pleased to present a free public Closing Reception, featuring 97-year old resident artist Constance Kiermaier on Friday, January 3rd, 2025 from 4-6PM at Bartlett Woods Retirement Community, 20 Bartlett Drive in Rockland, ME. Her current show, “CONTINUUM: Old and New Works by Constance Kiermaier” will close after the weekend. The exhibition is one part classic Kiermaier mixed media objects, and one part called The Portrait Project. Light refreshments will be served. Parking is limited to unmarked spaces, the driveway and along Talbot Avenue.
“Constance has been our beloved resident teacher for many years,” confirmed Kelly Osborn, Executive Director at Bartlett Woods. “The arts are important at Bartlett Woods. Celebrating the close of this survey exhibition and learning about her life’s work is a privilege for all of us. We hope to see many friends and make new ones at our upcoming Artist’s Talk”
Ms. Kiermaier’s constructions, paintings and prints are personal, mysterious, and timeless. Crafted with great skill, each piece demonstrates a refusal to be limited by material, method, or subject. Additionally, she is showing a new series of pastel portraits of some neighbors at Bartlett Woods, specifically those 95 years of age and older. The artist, herself 97 years old, is included with a self-portrait. “The Portrait Project’ began as a series of self-portraits to be given to each of my children,” confirms Constance. “This effort evolved into capturing the likenesses of some neighbors who are 95 and above, up to 100 years old! I believe it is vital for people our age to be noticed. This is an important issue for me.”
Constance Kiermaier is a graduate of the School of Fine Arts, Yale University. She has shown her work throughout the USA, including: Rhode Island School of Design, Yale University, National Academy of Fine Arts, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, and the Portland Museum. She has received many awards, including a fellowship from the New England Foundation on the Arts/National Endowment for the Arts. She was raised in Virginia, lived in Connecticut, Tenants Harbor, ME, has called Bartlett Woods home since 2016.
About Bartlett Woods Retirement Community: Founded in 1998, Bartlett Woods Retirement Community is a 501(c)3 55+ apartment facility featuring 58 one and two bedroom apartments with Amenities and Respite rental options. Led by Executive Director Kelly Osborn, and a staff of nearly 40, Bartlett Woods is one of the smallest communities in Maine, offering independent living as well as a full spectrum of support services and lifestyle enrichments. Located in Rockland, the art capital of Maine, Bartlett Woods provides convenience, accessibility, stimulation, and advocacy for individuals, couples, and their families. For further information, visit www.bartlettwoods.com or call 207 593 1608. –end–
A Terrific Talk!
November 10th, 2024 by Lori SchaferOur resident artist and art teacher Constance Kiermairer gave a lively and informative talk about her current exhibition, CONTINUUM: Old and New Works by Constance Kiermaier, on Friday afternoon, November 8, 2024. Her show remains on view in our first floor Parlor, Lobby and Dining Room through January 3, 2025. An Artist’s Closing Reception will be held Friday, January 3rd from 4-6pm. Please join us!
As you can see from the images, many attended and were captivated by Constance’s recollections of a very artful life well lived. Guests were treated to refreshments created by our house cook Klara from recipes in our 25th Anniversary Cook Book, including Sarah’s Lemon Square’s, Joyce’s Coffeecake, and Marian’s Crazy Cake (copies of which are still available, just ask us!).
We look forward to enjoying Constance’s show for the rest of year, and the closing party in early January. This is an exceptional art show not to be missed. Hope to see you here soon . . .
Constance Kiermaier to give Artist’s Talk about CONTINUUM
October 21st, 2024 by Lori SchaferMultimedia Midcoast Artist Featured at 11/8/2024 Public Event at Bartlett Woods
The Art at Bartlett exhibition program is pleased to present a free public Artist’s Talk, featuring 97-year old resident artist Constance Kiermaier on Friday, November 8th at 2PM at Bartlett Woods Retirement Community, 20 Bartlett Drive in Rockland. The artist and teacher will discuss her current show, “CONTINUUM: Old and New Works by Constance Kiermaier.” The exhibition is one part classic Kiermaier mixed media objects, and one part called The Portrait Project. Light refreshments will be served. Parking is limited to unmarked spaces, the driveway and along Talbot Avenue. The public is also invited to visit during regular open hours, Monday to Sunday, 8AM to 4PM; the exhibition remains on view through January 3, 2025.
“Constance has been our beloved resident teacher for many years,” confirmed Kelly Osborn, Executive Director at Bartlett Woods. “The arts are important at Bartlett Woods. Listening to Constance discuss her life’s work is a privilege for all of us. We hope to see many friends and make new ones at our upcoming Artist’s Talk”
Ms. Kiermaier’s constructions, paintings and prints are personal, mysterious, and timeless. Crafted with great skill, each piece demonstrates a refusal to be limited by material, method, or subject.
Additionally, she will show a new series of pastel portraits of some neighbors at Bartlett Woods, specifically those 95 years of age and older. The artist, herself 97 years old, will be included with a self-portrait. “ ‘The Portrait Project’ began as a series of self-portraits to be given to each of my children,” confirms Constance. “This effort evolved into capturing the likenesses of some neighbors who are 95 and above, up to 100 years old! I believe it is vital for people our age to be noticed. This is an important issue for me.”
Constance Kiermaier is a graduate of the School of Fine Arts, Yale University. She has shown her work throughout the USA, including: Rhode Island School of Design, Yale University, National Academy of Fine Arts, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, and the Portland Museum. She has received many awards, including a fellowship from the New England Foundation on the Arts/National Endowment for the Arts. She was raised in Virginia, lived in Connecticut, Tenants Harbor, ME, has called Bartlett Woods home since 2016.
Art at Bartlett presents CONTINUUM: Old and New Works by Constance Kiermaier
September 11th, 2024 by Lori SchaferMultimedia MidCoast Artist Featured at September 28th Public Event.
The Art at Bartlett exhibition program marks the arrival of Fall with a free public Art Opening. Bartlett Woods’ resident artist Constance Kiermaier opens a solo exhibition on Saturday, September 28th, 2-4PM at Bartlett Woods Retirement Community, 20 Bartlett Drive in Rockland. Entitled “CONTINUUM: Old and New Works by Constance Kiermaier,” the exhibition is one part classic Kiermaier mixed media objects, and one part called The Portrait Project. Light refreshments will be served. Parking is limited to unmarked spaces, the driveway and along Talbot Avenue. The public is also invited to visit during regular open hours, Monday to Sunday, 8AM to 4PM; the exhibition remains on view through January 3, 2025.
“We are so pleased to host this event for Constance,” confirmed Kelly Osborn, Executive Director at Bartlett Woods. “The arts are important to us all here at Bartlett Woods. Resident artist Constance Kiermaier also teaches students in our own Art Center. We hope to see many longtime friends and make new ones at our upcoming artist’s reception.”
Ms. Kiermaier’s constructions, paintings and prints are personal, mysterious, and timeless. Crafted with great skill, each piece demonstrates a refusal to be limited by material, method, or subject. Additionally, she will show a new series of pastel portraits of some neighbors at Bartlett Woods, specifically those 95 years of age and older. The artist, herself a nonagenarian, will be included with a self-portrait. “ ‘The Portrait Project’ began as a series of self-portraits to be given to each of my children,” confirms Constance. “This effort evolved into capturing the likenesses of some neighbors who are 95 and above, up to 100 years old! I believe it is important for people our age to be noticed. This is an important issue for me.”
Constance Kiermaier is a graduate of the School of Fine Arts, Yale University. She has shown her work throughout the USA, including: Rhode Island School of Design, Yale University, National Academy of Fine Arts, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, and the Portland Museum. She has received many awards, including a fellowship from the New England Foundation on the Arts/National Endowment for the Arts. She was raised in Virginia, lived in Connecticut, Tenants Harbor, ME, has called Bartlett Woods home since 2016.
Summer Student Art Show Opens in Sun Porch
July 26th, 2024 by Lori SchaferArt at Bartlett 2024 presents . . .
The Art Center’s Student Show:
Works from the class of Constance Kiermaier
Since 2016, The Art Center at Bartlett Woods has been an exciting place for students of all abilities. Under the direction of life-long artist and teacher Constance Kiermaier, who moved into Bartlett Woods in 2016, art students have enjoyed a weekly class designed to accommodate all or no experience. Because Constance has taught for a very long time, she is quite adept at tailoring interesting assignments to a highly diverse group of eager participants.
The Art Center is located in a 2-bedroom apartment. Filled with natural light and ample space, Constance holds class for Bartlett residents. On any given class day, a visitor can find easels, paintbrushes, pads of paper, and assorted still life objects being put to creative use. No matter which group of new students, Constance says,
”I try to engage students who don’t know anything about art making, or only know the basics . . . I try to get them to engage with their own thoughts about what they see and feel and know. It is my goal to try to get them to create on their own. We start simple, with a flat design that has color and patterns. We use simple tools, like acrylic paint (easier and cheaper than oil!), or ink. For example, I have used my heirloom Crazy Quilt as a source of inspiration. What I love is the idea that they come in and WANT TO LEARN. It’s exciting for me, when during the course of the class, they come up with something they thought about, and it can be accomplished.”
“The Soul of Maine”
October 21st, 2023 by oscwebdesignLandscape photography exhibit by Alan J. LaVallee
Bartlett Woods is pleased to host the exhibition, “The Soul of Maine: Landscape photography by Alan J. LaVallee”, on view now through December 31, 2023. An Artist’s Talk is planned for Monday, November 13th at 2pm in the Parlor at Bartlett Woods.
Born in Augusta, ME, Alan J. LaVallee has spent his life enjoying the lakes, woods, and fields of Maine. He attended Portland School of Art, majoring in Graphic Design as well as Photography. Soon, handling cameras and darkroom work became his main interests. Alan developed a long career in Commercial Offset Printing businesses in Maine while simultaneously travelling the entire state in all seasons to find images worthy of a photograph. More recently, Alan has spent his time photographing commercial jobs and building an Art Reproduction and Giclée printing business in Thomaston. He hopes to spend more time photographing what he loves most, the landscapes and seascapes of his native Maine.
“We are grateful to Alan for sharing his beautiful work with us,” confirmed Mary Eads, Executive Director at Bartlett Woods Retirement Community. “Our program, Art at Bartlett, includes annual exhibitions for local artists. In this, our 25th anniversary year, it feels so right to be featuring these stunning images of our beloved Maine landscape.”
Visitors to the exhibition are kindly asked to sign in at the Front Desk; and to please come another time if you are feeling any symptoms or know you are sick.
Mr. LaVallee’s work may be purchased by contacting Patricia LaVallee at agingarrows@gmail.com or (207) 578-0426.
Fall Student Art Show 2023
October 10th, 2023 by Lori SchaferSince 2016, The Art Center at Bartlett Woods has been an exciting place for students of all abilities. Under the direction of life-long artist and teacher Constance Kiermaier, who moved into Bartlett Woods in 2016, art students have enjoyed a weekly class designed to accommodate all or no experience. Because Constance has taught for a very long time, she is quite adept at tailoring interesting assignments to a highly diverse group of eager participants.
The Art Center was originally located on the 1st Floor, in a 2-bedroom apartment. Filled with north-facing light and ample space, Constance held class several days a week, for Bartlett residents and then later, for a small group of students from outside of our house. On any given class day, a visitor could find easels, paintbrushes, pads of paper, and assorted still life objects being put to creative use. More recently, the Art Center moved to the 3rd Floor, and includes a Print Room with a large press on loan from Constance’s family.
During Covid19, Constance taught via Zoom to masked students from her off-site “bubble”. Challenging assignments continued with the aid of staff member Lori Schafer on-site to help facilitate. Masked students were able to continue the momentum of a learning and making experience, and Constance was able to carry on teaching.
No matter which group of new students, Constance says,
”I try to engage students who don’t know anything about art making, or only know the basics . . . I try to get them to engage with their own thoughts about what they see and feel and know. It is my goal to try to get them to create on their own. We start simple, with a flat design that has color and patterns. We use simple tools, like acrylic paint (easier and cheaper than oil!), or ink. For example, I have used my heirloom Crazy Quilt as a source of inspiration. What I love is the idea that they come in and WANT TO LEARN. It’s exciting for me, when during the course of the class, they come up with something they thought about, and it can be accomplished.”
About Teacher’s Assistant Allyson Lindsey . . .
Allyson has been making art all of her life. She met Constance at Bartlett Woods through her mother, our Business Manager Stephany Lindsey. Soon thereafter, Allyson began working as a Teacher’s Assistant. Allyson helps the Bartlett Students with setting up each weekly class, providing tools and support, and helping Constance maintain the classroom and the collection of student work. Allyson enjoys the weekly volunteer service she gives to the Art Center at Bartlett Woods, and appreciates the student-mentor relationship she has with Constance. She says,
”I love the years I’ve been with Constance and the residents. They all give me wonderful new perspectives on my work and life in general! I wouldn’t have gotten out of my art block without Constance persistently egging me on, driving me to start back up.”
Constance says, “Allyson is a wonderful person, and such an enormous help to me. What’s more, she is very good at her own work, and I know she’ll do amazing things in the future.”
Bartlett Woods is pleased and proud to offer programs like the Art Center to our residents, and present exhibits like this
for families and friends to enjoy.
Mary Eads, Executive Director
October 6, 2023
A Bartlett Legacy: Works of art created by past and present residents of Bartlett Woods.
October 6th, 2023 by Lori SchaferThese nine artists demonstrate a wide range of themes, choice of materials, and impressive techniques. The 2- and 3-D work ranges from the 1960s to today.
During this, our 25th Anniversary Year, Bartlett Woods is so very pleased to display the sometimes hidden talents of our Bartlett Woods friends and neighbors. Participating artists are Anne Cronin, Davene Fahy, Barbara Haupt, Constance, Kiermaier, June Kincade, Nat Lewis, Sally Nataluk, Shirley Stenberg, and Deb Beckwith Winship.
We are grateful to all for the loan of their work to include in this special exhibition.
Please enjoy the show!
Mary Eads, Executive Director
October 6, 2023