The newest show at the Maine Art Gallery in Wiscasset opens on Saturday, Aug. 20, with seven talented artists who bonded during abstract painting classes at the Maine College of Art and Design (MECA). They developed a strong connection with their teacher, Michel Droge, and chose to repeat their class several times. During this period they also became such close colleagues that when the class was discontinued, the artists searched for a way to continue to meet with Droge. The result was ‘SEVEN,’ an artists collective.

“I suggested that they form a collective and write a manifesto describing their mission. We all would meet once a month to critique each other's work. I maintained a mentor role and led the discussions. there has been great value in their serious, rigorous practice of painting and critique,” Droge said.

These seven strangers, who came together in a community to support each other, created a manifesto that changes periodically, but each artist is primarily an abstract painter who meets with the  group in a spirit of generosity.

The collective named this show Collective Imagination. An opening reception will be held in newly air conditioned comfort from 4 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 20, with music by Simons & Goodwin. Refreshments will be served. The show continues during normal gallery hours Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m, through Sept. 17.

There will be a second opportunity to meet the artists on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 4 p.m. when the gallery presents an artists talk. The group members will talk about what it’s like to be in a collective, discuss their work, and describe the sources of their inspiration.

The Maine Art Gallery, 15 Warren St., is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement and preservation of the visual, fine and applied arts through exhibitions, lectures, demonstrations and educational programs for children and adults since 1958. More information can be found on our website at maineartgallerywiscasset.org