River Arts is inviting the public to the opening reception for its newest exhibition, “The Maine Scene Friday, July 29 from 5-7 p.m. Artists from all over Maine portray the state through sculpture, collage, photography, painting, ceramics and fine craft – representational and abstract. The exhibition will hang July 29 through Sept. 1.

Local artists whose works were selected by juror Bruce Brown are: Lindsay Haywaka, W. Boothbay Harbor; from Wiscasset, Leonard Meiselman, Pam Logan and Judi Taylor; and Sarah S. Harvey and Dan Peterman from Woolwich.

Brown, a Portland native and resident, served as curator at the Center of Maine Contemporary Art in Rockport for 20 years beginning in 1987. He curated more than 200 exhibitions promoting Maine visual artists 2006. In February, 2013 he became co-director of Portland's PhoPa Gallery in Portland.

In 2006 he was cited by the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram as one of six Maine citizens who made a notable contribution to the state for conceiving and chairing "The Maine Print Project," the largest visual arts collaboration in Maine history up to that time involving 25 different print exhibitions in Maine museums and non-profit galleries statewide. On June 25, 2016 a gallery in the new CMCA building in Rockland designed by Toshiko Mori was dedicated in his honor. His own photographs are included in the Portland Museum of Art’s permanent collection and the “Artists’ Portraits” exhibition at UNE in 2015.

Queries and requests may be directed to River Arts at 207-563-1507 or by email at info@riverartsme.org. River Arts is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Mondays. River Arts is located at 241 U.S. Route 1 in Damariscotta.