River Arts in Damariscotta presents a unique exhibition featuring Maine artist, Gilles Letourneau, in the West Gallery through Aug. 8. “Micro Abstraction, Helmets” depicts historic war helmets and masks at different stages of aging and is the largest single showing of his Micro-Abstraction Helmets to date. “My work in this series explores the line between abstraction and realism. The carefully crafted battle helmets, contrasted with the effects of aging, provide the tension I’m looking for in this work.”

Born in St. Come, Canada and raised in Portland Maine, Gill holds a degree in architecture from Syracuse University providing the impetus of the underlying geometric framework in his artwork. This is clearly evident and provides the structure of the compositions. Early work in water colors can also be seen in the subtle blending of colors, washes and wet into wet techniques. With this group of paintings, Gill works in oils on canvas and board. Working through college and afterwards as a licensed architect in Maine, developing renderings in watercolor and creating paintings for family and friends, was always an endeared activity. He added oil paint to his repertoire a few years ago.

His early inspirations with oil paint stemmed from a study of the brush work in Rembrandt’s late portraits and the way he applied highlights to gold and metallic objects with quite an abstract result. Letourneau wondered “Isn’t all painting ‘abstract’ to some extent?”

River Arts is located in Damariscotta at 241 Route 1 (north). Gallery hours are Tue. through Sat. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.. For more information call the gallery at 563-1507 or visit the website: riverartsme.org