August Weekends 2019.   Show Opening: Friday, 8/2, 5 – 8pm   @ Portland Media Center - Gallery - 516 Congress Street - Portland, ME “Do-gooder” celebrations: live portrait paintings of  good Mainers in gallery window With formidable, illustration skills, Julia Durgee paints the activity, buzz, and beauty of Maine. She grew up drawing and painting cartoons, fashion designs, murals, and portraits in Albany, New York. This early work led to her apparel design degree from Cornell University and eventual freelance illustration work for Forbes.com and national branding agencies in NYC. In 2005, she was heavily influenced by the graphic novel boom and unearthed her talent for producing structured, autobiographical comic art, winning her an American Illustration Award in 2007. Upon the market crash of 2008, she pursued her M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, believing the business world could benefit from more artists. In 2013, after marketing the magic of Disney

Many of the UMVA members show at various galleries throughout the state of Maine, including David Wade, who also is the documentary photographer for all things UMVA it seems.  Check out where his work will be throughout the rest of the summer....

UMVA members Roland Salazar Rose and John Ripton worked on this fine book project with a grant from the Maine Arts Commission.  Solar Flares & Salazar directs pubic attention to the existential threat now posed to our environment, and asks everyone to be responsible stewards on "Spaceship Earth." You can read the rest of the article by clicking HERE.  

There's a great show on now at the UMVA Gallery at the Portland Media Center.... But some UMVA members are also showing in other places...  Like Ann Tracy over at the Wellness Connection through the end of this month. and then... in August, Julia Durgee will be showing at our gallery at the Portland Media Center “From Illustrations to Paintcations,” featuring NYC-based comic drawings and Maine-based oil paintings. Show Details: ·        August Weekends 2019.   Show Opening: Friday, 8/2, 5 – 8pm ·        @ Portland Media Center - Gallery - 516 Congress Street - Portland, ME ·        “Do-gooder” celebrations: live portrait paintings of good Mainers in gallery window   Artist Bio: With formidable, illustration skills, Julia Durgee paints the activity, buzz, and beauty of Maine. She grew up drawing and painting cartoons, fashion designs, murals, and portraits in Albany, New York. This early work led to her apparel design degree from Cornell Uni

UMVA members were representing at the big conference hosted by Creative Portland last week.  Intrepid photographer and valued member Dave Wade was there shooting for Creative Portland and also for UMVA!  Here are the shots....thanks Dave Christine Sullivan Lesley MacVane, Tom Handel (both from Portland Media Center) with Mayor Ethan Strimmling John Ripton Lesley MacVane Titi deBaccarat and John Ripton Christine Sullivan and Ann Tracy

Although the Members Open show is still up until June 28th, UMVA artists are busying preparing for the next show.  Gallery hours are generally 1 to 4 pm on Sat & Sun, so go check out the show before it's too late... and start looking forward to  We are located inside the Portland Media Center, 516 Congress St., just to the east (or left if you're facing it) of MECA.

Although Dave Wade is the defacto photographer for UMVA, Ann Tracy took a few shots at the 1st Friday opening of the Members show.