upcoming exhibitions
ALISON HILDRETH: 50 YEARS
Celebrating Renowned Maine artist Alison Hildreth with Exhibitions throughout the State
Portland, ME – Renowned Maine artist Alison Hildreth will be honored this summer and fall with a series of exhibitions held across the state at the New Era Gallery on Vinalhaven Island, SPEEDWELL Contemporary in Portland, the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockland, and the Portland Public Library. The overlapping exhibitions and programs will highlight Hildreth's remarkable career and artistic contributions spanning more than 50 years. Each venue will exhibit work from a different period in Hildreth's career, illuminating the many facets of her complex multidisciplinary practice and showcasing her artistic contributions. In addition to initiating the multi-venue retrospective, SPEEDWELL Contemporary is producing a short documentary film and a comprehensive catalog to mark the occasion of Hildreth’s 50-year career. The documentary film will be screened at the Portland Museum of Art on Friday, October 13.
With a diverse range of mediums including drawing, painting, printmaking, installation, and sculpture, and an innate ability to weave together various disciplines, Hildreth's works captivate audiences with their thought-provoking themes and artistic brilliance. Inspired by a diverse range of subjects, including geography, cartography, astronomy, environmental studies, history, philosophy, and literature, Hildreth's art invites viewers to explore new realms of imagination. Her creative process often begins with walking and daydreaming, allowing her to translate her surroundings and thoughts into visually striking pieces.
“SPEEDWELL Contemporary is thrilled to be partnering with so many incredible venues and institutions to celebrate the work and legacy of Alison Hildreth," said Phoebe Cole, Managing Director, SPEEDWELL Contemporary. "As an organization whose mission is rooted in promoting the creative work of women who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to their artistic practice, we see Alison Hildreth as the perfect embodiment of that artistic spirit and dedication.”
"Alison Hildreth's remarkable career spanning more than 50 years has left an indelible mark on the arts community in Maine, and we are honored to celebrate her continuing legacy with the premiere of new bodies of work created by Alison in our Bruce Brown Gallery that will invite viewers on a journey of imagination and exploration,” said Tim Peterson, Director of the Center for Maine Contemporary Art.
“New Era Gallery is delighted to show a group of prints and small drawings as a part of SPEEDWELL Contemporary’s honoring of the long and amazing career of one of Maine’s most well-known and revered artists," said Elaine Austin Crossman, owner of New Era Gallery.
ALISON HILDRETH: 50 YEARS Exhibition schedule includes:
New Era Gallery, Late Summer, featuring Alison Hildreth
Vinalhaven (August 12 – September 20)
Opening Reception: Saturday, August 12, 5 - 7 pm
SPEEDWELL Contemporary, ALISON HILDRETH: 50 YEARS
Portland (September 22 - December 22)
Opening Reception: Friday, September 22, 5 - 7 pm
Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Alison Hildreth: Darkness Visible
Rockland (September 30, 2023 - January 7, 2024)
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 30, 3 - 5 pm
Portland Public Library Downtown, Alison Hildreth: The Feathered Hand
Portland (Permanent Public Installation)
Hildreth will be participating in a series of artist talks and panel discussions, offering audiences an opportunity to gain deeper insights into her creative process and inspirations.
The artist talk schedule includes:
SPEEDWELL Contemporary presents ALISON HILDRETH: 50 YEARS at the Portland Museum of Art
Friday, October 13, 6 - 7:30 pm
Documentary Premiere, Panel Discussion & Awarding of the Second Annual Speedwell Prize.
Join SPEEDWELL Contemporary and the Portland Museum of Art in celebrating the incredible multi-decade career of artist Alison Hildreth. The evening will include a screening of SPEEDWELL’s new documentary by Smith Galtney centered around Hildreth’s work, life, and practice. Followed by a panel discussion with speakers Grant Wahlquist, Sean Foley, Katarina Weslien, and Mark Bessire in conversation with Alison Hildreth. Hildreth will be presented with the second annual “Speedwell Prize.”
Further programming details are forthcoming for Artist Talks at the Portland Public Library and at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, as well as workshops relating to Hildreth's practice.
For Media Inquiries, please contact:
Kristen Levesque
Kristen Levesque PR & Marketing
kristen@kristenlevesquepr.com
207-329-3090