Savory Maine Dining and Provisions in Damariscotta is pleased to exhibit the paintings of Brunswick artist Barbara Bean.  The exhibition will run from Wednesday, July 5 through Aug. 15. The public is invited to a reception for Barbara on Friday, July 14 from 3-5 p.m. with sweet and savory finger foods; and wine and beer will be available.

Barbara Bean spent most of her early years drawing. She became an art major in high school, art editor of her year book and recipient of a scholarship to the College of Fine Arts at Syracuse University. Following graduation she was employed as Display Manager of the Bachrach Photographic Studios which were located in as many as 13 U.S. cities.

After being trained as a clinical social worker at New York University Bean spent the next 30 years supporting families and children affected by developmental differences. She loved to use art materials in her practice as many children were unable to use spoken language and enjoyed the opportunity to express themselves by drawing.

Bean moved to Maine in 2003. Since her retirement, Bean has been able to spend her days in studio.  Like many artists she will work on several projects simultaneously because she finds that creations developed side-by-side often talk to each other and stimulate new ideas. As a result, the two dimensional art here displayed is enhanced by its cohabitation with clay sculpture, bookmaking, jewelry, assemblage, and printmaking. These and other varieties of her art making rely on old tools, collected papers, inks, fiber, photographs, reeds, metals and found objects.

While Bean works in many media, she is steadfast in her love of ink. Her early drawings in Maine were the plants and wildlife explored on the bogs, marsh and meadows near her Georgetown summer camp and Cumberland County as well as in Downeast at Lubec and Campobello. She is inspired by her love of Maine and by the rarity of its plant and bird life .She enjoys depicting the overlooked and uses brilliant color, exaggerated size, alterations of plant territories and seasons to surprise her viewer and make us all aware of the fragility of our planet.

Bean is a founding member of the Points of View Art Group and Gallery in Brunswick.  She is an associate member of the Center Street Arts Gallery in Bath. She has also shown at the Georgetown Historical Society, the Curtis and Topsham Libraries, Thornton Oaks Retirement Community as well as the River Arts Galleries in Damariscotta. Her works have been sold to private collections as well as to Special Collections at Bowdoin College and to the University of Maine in Augusta.

 Savory Maine, at 11 Water Street, is open seven days a week, serving lunch and dinner from 11 a.m to 8 p.m.  The restaurant sources most of its food from Maine, and essentially all of it is organically grown or wild harvested.

For more information call 207-563-2111 or visit www.savorymainedining.com.