Visiting Artists' Week is an FSP tradition. This year's theme is "Wonder." This year, we welcomed 12 artists. Students had the opportunity to choose to work on a diverse array of projects in multi-age classrooms.
Below are many photos and a little more about each artist who joined FSP to share their talents for the week:
Aubrey Calaway is an award-winning transgender audio producer, writer, and educator. His written work has been published in Cite Magazine, the Texas Observer, the Houston Chronicle, Weathered, and the forthcoming Maine Transgender Poetry Anthology. He has produced audioworks for TransLash Media, the Contemporary Arts Institute Miami, MIT, Black Mountain Radio, and Earth Refuge. Aubrey is a graduate of Brown University and the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies and was the 2023 Salt Artist in Residence at Monson Arts. He has taught audio storytelling at Grackle & Grackle, Brightline Defense, and Salt.
Claire Loon Baldwin is a Maine-based illustrator, designer, and storyteller inspired by the surreal beauty of nature. She spent several years working as an environmental educator and national park ranger throughout the west, and strives to inspire wonder and reverence for the natural world with her art. In 2018, Claire created the official centennial poster series for Grand Canyon National Park. Since then, her clients have included the Maine Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, and Down East Magazine. Claire is currently working on her first book illustration project with DK Publishing. Her primary mediums include watercolor, ink, gouache, and digital media. https://www.claireloonbaldwin.com/
Deena Ball is a practicing fine artist specializing in watercolor and plein air painting, with over 30 years of teaching experience with both adults and children at various venues across the country. Her work as a teaching artist with children includes residencies that integrate art with elementary or middle school subjects, such as a food truck project combining math and art through business plan development, logo design, and 3D truck construction, or a "Life in a Pond" project merging science and art with paper sculpture. In addition to teaching, she is represented by two Maine galleries—Richard Boyd Art Gallery in Portland and North Light Gallery in Belfast.www.deenasball.com
Ellie Porta-Barnet is a painter by trade. She's been working with ceramics for 6 years. Ellie loves the unknown of it, how it’s a constant surprise, and there is so much to explore. Her work is a way for her ideas to be out in the world; it varies and constantly changes.
Jill Osgood is an artist, educator, and Maine Master Naturalist who strives to find wonder whenever she walks out her door. She loves exploring nature everywhere, even in her Portland neighborhood. She teaches art and natural history to children, and loves to instill curiosity wherever she goes. She feels like her time has been well spent if students leave with more questions than answers!
Jolie Day is an artist and art educator living and working in Memphis, TN. Her personal artwork ranges from autobiographical comics, lumpy ceramics, and art about her love of costume dramas. Her teaching practice focuses on decentering 'the old masters' in arts education, fostering student agency, and fore-fronting contemporary artists from traditionally underrepresented groups in her curriculum. She has ping-ponged around the country from North Carolina to Maine to Tennessee, and loves a good adventure. She is also FSP's former Art Teacher!
Laura Glendening has worked for over twenty years teaching art in schools and community programs, and holds a Master’s degree in Art Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She spent her early years teaching in Holyoke and co-founded the Peaks Island Fiber Arts Camp as a place to tell stories, create community, make art, and to be a part of the land around us.
Mary Dunham is a henna artist of 30 years. She holds a BFA in fine art photography. She is a mural artist, tattooist, and reiki teacher.
Molly Simpson is an illustrator and former farmer. She likes drawing with kids, especially tigers with her nephews, and lately likes quilting sea creatures. Molly also likes growing and eating vegetables, spends as much time outside as possible, and one day hopes to make a children’s book.
Rich Entel is a visual artist who works in sculpture, painting, and printmaking. He lives in Portland and also works as a physician in the area. His daughter is a very happy first grader at FSP. www.entelmenagerie.squarespace.com
Sarah Boyden is a Teaching Artist with over 25 years of experience in 20 local schools. In each community, she strives to connect the arts with curriculum, empower through creativity, and promote awareness of Neurodiversity in a supportive learning environment. Sarah is a Teaching Artist with SidexSide and part of the Aucocisco School community.
Veeva Banga is dedicated to sharing Afro Beats, West African, and Hip hop dance. With over a decade of experience in teaching Afrobeats, Veeva focus is on sharing the rich cultural dance heritage of various African styles. Her platform is dedicated to showcasing African dance, videos, promoting workshops, and offering valuable insights into the world of Afrobeats dance.
