PORTLAND, ME.- You Cant Get There From Here: The 2015
Portland Museum of Art Biennial highlights Maines artistic legacies in the making. Curated by Alison Ferris, this years Biennial provides a comprehensive overview of the many facets of Maines contemporary art scene. The exhibition will be on view through January 3, 2016.
Ferris career has spanned more than 20 years, and included positions at institutions throughout Maine and the country. She is currently the Curator of the John Michael Kohler Art Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where she has organized critically acclaimed exhibitions, including the kids are all right: an exhibition about family and photography and Toward Textiles.
We are so honored to work with Alison on this years Biennial. She is a curator of uncommon depth of knowledge about contemporary art, whose unique perspective and sensitivity towards the art and artists of Maine have given her incredible insight into the possibilities for this exhibition, says PMA Chief Curator Jessica May.
As the 2015 PMA Biennial began to take shape, Ferris became captivated by the beloved Maine saying, you cant get there from here, and found inspiration in the parallels between the phrase and the creative process of visual artists. This inspiration influenced a diverse collection of artworks for the Biennial that presents a comprehensive and cohesive narrative about the state and the artists connected to it.
You Cant Get There From Here includes established Maine artists who have created notable new bodies of work and those who have traveled outside of Maine and are becoming known outside its borders. The Biennial also represents the first major institutional appearance for several young, emerging artists, showcasing the next wave of Maine artists and affording them the opportunity to make initial introductions to national art audiences.
With each Biennial, we have the opportunity to highlight the incredible works by artists connected to our state, says PMA Director Mark Bessire, and for this years biennial, Ferris has seized that opportunity and taken it to new heightsproducing a phenomenal exhibition and experience for our visitors and members.
You Cant Get There From Here includes 32 artists with meaningful connections to the state of Maine:
Brett Bigbee, South Portland (1998, 2003)* John Bisbee, Brunswick (1998, 2001, 2003)* Bradley Borthwick, Belgrade Meghan Brady, Camden Thomas Brennan, Hinesburg, VT (2001)* Gideon Bok, Camden Jeffrey Clancy, Madison, WI Christine Collins, Roslindale, MA Jeremy DePrez, Houston, TX Lois Dodd, New York, NY Jeremy Frey, Indian Island Ken Greenleaf, Waldoboro Susan Hartnett, New York, NY Anna Hepler, Eastport Stacy Howe, Portland Justin Kirchoff, Eliot Michael Kolster, Brunswick Caroline Lathan-Stiefel, Avondale, PA George Mason, Nobleboro Emily Nelligan, Winstead, CT George Neptune, Bar Harbor Dennis Pinette, Belfast Randy Regier, Wichita, KS Noriko Sakanishi, Portland Theresa Secord, Waterville Warren Seelig, Rockland Owen Smith, Orono Sarah Sockbeson, Kingfield Miles Spadone, South Portland Emilie Stark-Menneg, Brunswick Richard Van Buren, Perry John Walker, Brookline, MA
*Artist has appeared in previous Biennials.