Portland ARTWALK November 2nd...

Join us if you can....
An Evening of ART at
The Salt Exchange Restaurant
"Maine Coast ART Exhibit"
Featuring the ART of
kdb-Karen Dominguez
Catherine Breer
Marcia Feller

Friday Night, November 2nd
5-8pm
The Salt Exchange Restaurant.
245 Commercial St.
Portland Maine
207.347.5687 Stay awhile, have a
drink and enjoy a lovely supper.
Chef Adam White will be creating his
fresh and delicious small plates and dinner.
Yum!

We look forward to seeing you there!

On & Near The Water...

Art Exhibit. 

Tao Restaurant
11 Pleasant ST.
Brunswick, Maine
Featuring the ART of Ellen Thayer and kdb-Karen Dominguez
Stop in to see this exhibit, stay for the Great Food & Atmosphere.

On & Near the Water…

Maine has 4000 miles of coastline to explore. Whether you are walking on the Rocky coast or boating on the sea, and rivers. This ART Exhibit is inspired by magical light, reflections and abundant nature of Maine.

Ellen Thayer loves to be out and about in the Casco Bay on her boat, exploring islands, photographing and enjoying all that a Maine Summer day has to offer. Living on Casco Bay in South Portland affords frequent boating and kayaking excursions where Ellen finds limitless artistic inspiration and is particularly drawn to the mesmerizing colors of the sea resulting from fluctuations in light, weather, and the environment.

As a painter and creative spirit throughout her life, it wasn’t until after a 23-year career as a television meteorologist in Portland and Boston that Ellen founded Maine Island Treasures where she creates coastal inspired works of art in a variety of media for home décor. This year, Ellen’s water reflection oil paintings have been featured at The Salt Exchange in Portland, the Kennebunkport Designer Show house, Eco Home Studio in Portland and in the Style Room of the August 2012 issue of Maine Home + Design magazine. Ellen has been painting in oil for over twenty years and continues her art education through independent study and artist workshops.

kdb-Karen Dominguez spends her days, exploring the Rocky Coast, Salt Marshes and Estuaries in Maine and in Florida. The light, texture and wild nature is the inspiration for her work. As an Artist she says, " I am inspired by the natural world. The shapes, patterns, colors and form have been making their way into my artwork since I was a child. Over the years I have explored many different mediums in my artistic endeavors. I love Painting with Acrylic and Encaustic, Assemblage and Photography. It seems that Encaustic medium has emerged as my medium of choice. Often times it is a fusing of these mediums that are incorporated into a finished piece. Walking in the garden, along the rocky coast, or exploring a bird filled island, these are the magic moments that feed my imagination and my work. Studying nature and creating a visual narrative is the magic that fills my dream world, day and night.

Happy Hour + Three Artists...

Join us. Wednesday, October 17th 6-8. A Happy Hour with Three Artist's, Marcia Feller, Catherine Breer & kdb-Karen Dominguez are looking forward to having a conversation with you about the paintings that are featured in this exhibit.
The Salt Exchange is a wonderful venue with great food and drink. The bar will be featuring a special cocktail inspired by "The Maine Coast"!
As always we are proud to have Chef Adam White at the helm in the kitchen, serving up amazing, fresh and seasonally inspired food.
See you on Wednesday, October 17th, 6-8.
245 Commercial St. Portland Maine
(207) 347-5687

"The Coast of Maine" ART Exhibit...

Join us for Opening Night on Friday, October 5th 5-8, at The Salt Exchange Restaurant & ART Gallery is kicking off the Autumn season with a love letter to the Coast of Maine. This collection of Paintings was inspired by living, playing and working, along the Coast of Maine. 4000 miles of coastline, an inter-tidal zone that is the largest in the world and historic Maine Architecture viewed from Kayaks, Boats and the Shoreline. The Maine Coast, with a twist of contemporary.

This Exhibit will feature Oil, Acrylics, Encaustic and some Giclees.

This Group Show includes-
Catherine Breer, Painter
Marcia Feller, Painter
kdb-Karen Dominguez, Encaustic Painter
Come and meet the ARTISTS on
Friday, October 5th. 5-8
Wednesday, October 17. 6-8
Friday, November 2. 5-8
Wednesday, November 28. 6-8

The Salt Exchange Restaurant features, fresh, local and delicious food. Produce, Meats & Poultry from local Maine Farms and Purveyors. Fish and Shellfish off the boats, local caught and procured. Chef Adam White is passionate for great food and beautiful presentation.

The bar has a fine selection of wines and an uncommon and interesting selection of Bourbons! So come and check out this Exhibit and stay for a great meal, some appetizers or just a drink. You will be happy that you did!

The owner Charlie Bryon is in the house most nights, make sure you say HI, he can steer you to a fine table and a wonderful dining experience. Enjoy the Food and the ART.

"Autumn Feast" ART Exhibit...

“Autumn Feast” ART Exhibit.
Opening Reception, Friday – September 21st, 5-7

You are invited to enjoy ten Artist's visions and interpretations of
an Autumn Feast.
Interpretation - Breaking bread after the harvest and sharing a feast is an
archetypal activity. This show will feature a series Pedestals and a long harvest Table, up the center space. The table is set with different ceramic artists dinnerware and  sculptures.
The walls will feature contemporary autumn themed Paintings, Pastels, Encaustics & Photographs.

Come and meet the Artists in this multi-disciplined show.
Anne Alexander – Ceramic Sculptures
Ed McCarton - Paintings
Peter Turner - Furniture
Lois Strickland - Paintings

Elizabeth Newman - Paintings
Richard Lauck – Iron Candlesticks
Anne Macleod - Pastels
Bob Delaney - Photography
Sara Cox - Pottery
Matthew deWolff Ahlers - Pottery
kdb-Karen Dominguez - Encaustic

This Exhibit will be in the ART  Gallery through November 3rd.

This Exhibit curated by kdb-Karen Dominguez

Art Curator in Maine

Curating an ART Exhibit is a joyful and interesting endeavor. It takes time to find Artist's who can hang together in a room. The work needs to feel passionate and be well executed, it also needs to be presented in a professional manner. In addition the ART work needs to "speak", with the other pieces in the Exhibit and to the Viewer/Buyer. An ART Exhibit should be an experience that sparks conversation and thought. Commercial curating is really no different.
The next key factor is to put Artist's together who have a following, and a web presence. It is important to have mostly local based Artists who believe in themselves and promote their shows and Exhibits. When I curate an Exhibit for a Restaurant or a store I think of not only the beauty and artistic ability but also  the conversation and the overall show. It is also important to look at the bottom line and SELL some ART! When you have an Artist with a local base, their list of patrons will be walking in the door of your business and you did not have to advertise to get them there! A restaurant will sell more meals and drinks, a retail space will sell more products and an office or bank will have more local folks who become familiar with the services that are being offered.  If you have a Retail space, Restaurant, Commercial space or Office building with a good flow of traffic maybe you should consider working with a Curator to handle your Exhibits, Artists, Hangings and Marketing of each Exhibit. Send an email or give a call to 207.653.9334.
If you are an Artist and are interested in showing your work in one of kdb Curator Exhibits, please send me an email, with a link to your Website, Blog and ART FB page.
Thanks for being interested.
kdb-Karen Dominguez
Curator
Maine