For the third year several Nationally and Locally recognized artisans will join together for a special art exhibit and sale to benefit The Grand Theatre in Ellsworth. Creature Feature III is a show and sale of small artworks produced especially for this event by artists Rebekah Raye, Laura Balombini, Heidi Daub, Suzan Scribner-Reed and Christina Heiniger. Each artist has created 6 pieces of artwork featuring animals and other creatures that are priced between $100-$250. There is a special sale of the work on May 21st from 3-7pm. Partial proceeds from the art sale will be donated to The Grand Theatre. The sale will also feature cards, digital prints, books and other small items for purchase. I've printed up some really cool stickers from my Creature Feature paintings which I will also bring to the sale. In addition, each artist has created a larger piece which will also be offered for sale.
This year’s Creature Feature roster is stellar. Artist Rebekah Raye of Blue Hill is the author and illustrator of several children’s books published by Tilbury House. Her work is shown in many galleries throughout Maine including The Courthouse Gallery in Ellsworth. She will be bringing her books, including her newest, Bear-ly There to sign at the Creature Feature sale event. Laura Balombini, also from the Blue Hill area, travels around the country participating in prestigious National shows including Paradise City in Northampton, MA and at The Fuller Craft Museum. Her polymer clay sculptures have won national awards. She exhibits at Red Dot Gallery in Deer Isle, of which she is a founding member. At Creature Feature she’ll be exhibiting her new acrylic paintings. Heidi Daub has shown her work at Shaw Jewelry in Northeast Harbor and the Firehouse Gallery in Damariscotta, among many others. Her acrylic works are known for their lyrical beauty. She is also a writer of poetry and in 2008 published a compilation of 29 original paintings and poems. She resides in Blue Hill as well. Suzan Scriber-Reed of Winterport is known by many for her line of recycled paper and silver jewelry shown at galleries and fine craft shows throughout Maine and the Northeast. However, her bird collages (which she will exhibit in Creature Feature III) are stunning in their artistry and attention to detail. Through her business, Wild Ivy Designs, she exhibits at Paradise City Art Festivals, Directions Fine Craft Show on MDI and at many other venues. Lastly, artist Christina Heiniger(that's me) of Fern House Studio in Lamoine is the originator and organizer of Creature Feature. A former K-5 art teacher in the Ellsworth schools, Christina now travels the Northeast exhibiting her watercolor paintings and puppets. She recently exhibited in The Center for Maine Contemporary Art’s Work of The Hand Show and in the Maine Crafts Association’s juried Biennial, The Inspired Hand IV. She routinely organizes arts events in the Ellsworth area through her local creative economy initiative “Arts Across Ellsworth.”
This is a very special and unique opportunity to purchase small paintings by these 5 artists at affordable prices. Work can be previewed at The Grand lobby May 1st-21st, with the sale May 21st, 3-7pm. The reception and sale will feature refreshments, book signings by Rebekah Raye and other special surprises. Those wishing to pre-purchase work and pick it up at the sale may do so by contacting the individual artist(s).
