UNE’s Portland Campus Art Gallery showcases ‘Vision & Verse’ exhibition

“Quiet Fire” (detail) by Dona Mara Friedman
“Quiet Fire” (detail) by Dona Mara Friedman

The Art Gallery located on UNE’s Portland Campus will host the exhibition Vision & Verse from July 6 through October 2, 2016. The exhibition is mounted by New England Wax (N.E.W.), a professional organization of encaustic artists living and working in the six New England states, and juried by Anne B. Zill, director of the 51ƷArt Gallery.  An Opening Reception will take place on July 6, 5-7 p.m., and a Gallery Artists’ Conversation will be held on September 8, 5-6:30 p.m.

Although encaustic techniques date back to the 5th century B.C., the 27 artists in this show are pushing the medium into new uses and interpretations of meaning and materiality.  The range includes 2-D, 3-D and mixed media in broad visual interpretations – literal, metaphorical, psychological and spiritual. 

Each work is paired with a piece of poetry, with one illuminating the other. For Vision & Verse, members of N.E.W. composed works of art that respond to poems that they personally selected.   These verses are displayed in a letterpress edition beside the art for maximum visual impact.

The mission of N.E.W. is to promote excellence in fine art made with encaustic, educate the general public and collectors, raise awareness of the medium and challenge its members to grow as artists. The exhibition and educational program are free and open to the public.

The 51ƷArt Gallery is located on UNE’s Portland Campus at 716 Stevens Avenue, Portland, Maine 04103.  Art Gallery Hours are Wed, Fri, Sat and Sun, Noon – 5 p.m., and Thurs, noon – 7 p.m., and by appointment.

For information and directions, visit the Art Gallery at  or contact Anne Zill by email  or phone (207-221-4499).