From abstract works from improvisational painter David Estey to award-winning sculpture from Leo Osborne, to one-of-a-kind pieces from glass artist David Jacobson, to lighthearted yet complex pieces by wood artist Don Best—these are just a few of the striking pieces of art that have been featured in “Flight Risk: Fine Art for the Birds” at Harbor Square Gallery in Rockland.
A generous portion of the gross proceeds from Flight Risk: Fine Arts for the Birds benefit Maine Audubon’s conservation work. Gallery owner Tom O’Donovan came up with the idea of an avian themed art exhibit last year, when he felt compelled to mount a show that would contribute toward making change. He had noticed a drop in the number of birds, read about their plight, and wanted to call attention to the loss of both birds and the habitat they need to survive. “What then can we do? What is our calling here in this place and time? Flight Risk, the centerpiece of our 42nd season, is our response to that question,” said O’Donovan.
Maine Audubon has also been providing programming, including talks at the gallery and bird walks in the Rockland area, to complement the show, and more programming is in the works for late fall and winter. A pop-up with selections of pieces from Flight Risk will be on display at Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth over the winter.
Originally scheduled to run from June through October, Flight Risk has now been extended to run through the end of 2022 and O’Donovan is considering making it a permanent rotating part of his gallery. Pieces that are part of Flight Risk are labeled with the Maine Audubon logo so viewers (and buyers) know they are making a contribution to the nonprofit environmental organization’s work, protecting wildlife and wildlife habitat.
Maine Audubon’s Director of Development, Kate Lewis, says, “Engaging with and purchasing artworks is an effective way for people to embrace our mission and support our activities throughout the state. Harbor Square Gallery is igniting so much new interest and enthusiasm for bird conservation that’s having a direct, positive impact on our organization this year.”
Harbor Square Gallery is located at 374 Main Street, Rockland. Use this link to see a virtual tour of the gallery: https://www.harborsquaregallery.com/the-gallery
- Eddie Record
- Sheep Jones
- Janice Kasper
- Marcie Bronstein
- Colby Hill
- Don Best
- David Jacobson
- Woody Blackwell
- Kate Winn
- Donald Rainville
- David Sears
- Daphne Pulsifer
- David Estey
- Judith M. Daniels
- William Doub
- Clara Cohan
- Bryce Leigh Muir
- Leo Osborne
- James Rivington Pyne
- Emelene Russell
- Tacha Vosburgh
- Avis Turner
- Nina Scott-Hansen
- Kate Breakey
- Cynthia Burke
- Kathryn Oliver
- Dan Daly
- Joanne Williams
- Willa Vennema
- Ben McGinnis
- Igor Galanin
- Kate Fitzgerald
- Alan Fishman
- Clara Cohan
