If it’s mid-February, it’s time for the exhibition celebrating the human form, “What’s Nude in Boothbay Harbor.” This fourth annual show is being held for a second time at Boothbay Region Art Foundation.

This year’s show features the creative expressions of 47 artists, 85 works in a variety of media: oils, acrylics, pastels, wooden assemblage, sculpture, ekphrastic, mixed media, collage, ink, charcoal, photography and digital.

Bob McKay’s oil painting of a gorgeous mermaid, a.k.a. “Boothbay Harbor Surprise” was awarded the People’s Choice Award during the opening reception for the show on Valentine’s Day. Bob’s paintings for this show have always been “colorful” – and I mean this in every sense of the word. Let’s take a brief walk down What’s Nude Memory Lane ... for the inaugural year of the exhibition, Bob painted a nude female sea captain cracking a whip! It was very well done, and as I recall it was bought by someone at the opening reception ... I also recall it caused a little controversy. The second year, Bob entered the lobstermen trio, each hiding their genitals with a strategically placed lobster and the expressions they wore, in addition to the crustacean, were priceless.

Bob’s 2020 sea beauty is quite pleased with herself knowing when the captain of the ship returns he will be wide-eyed, perplexed .. and no doubt, delighted to find the “maid” aboard.

Bob was surprised to be the People’s Choice. “I did overhear a lot of positive comments; people were talking about it. I try to keep my entry in a humorous flavor that connects to Boothbay Harbor. Rusty Court said she (the mermaid) was on his boat. He caught her … but didn’t know what to do with her ...”

The roster of artists in this year’s show are … Dick Alden, Carol Abitabilo Ast, Ruth Barker, Andre Benoit, Kristina Branch, Edward Buonvecchio, Bruce Burnham, John Butke, Nathan Campbell, Michael Caudle, Judy Conlan, Steve Demeranville, Rick Dickinson, Charles Dufour, June Elderkin, William Eldridge, Katherine Fox, Doug Fraher, Patricia Fuchs, Linda Gallion, Martin Grassie, Nancy Greindl, Sandra Griffin, Ann Hedgecock, Dick Koubek, Lou Landry, Susanna Lasker, Myles Mace, Penny Markley, Corinne McIntyre, McKay, Anthony Miller, Kay Morris, Carole Palmer, Patricia Parks, Liz Rollins, Robert Rose, Jane Rosenfield, Marie Rose Ruffalo, Fran Scannell, Erin Stodder, Annette Stormont, Ken Sullivan, Barbara Vanderbilt, Tony van Hasselt, and Bia Winter.

There is often that dash of humor among nudes in an exhibit, but poignant and personal? This year, Carol Abitabilo Ast shares pastel illustrations and prose she created before and after her mastectomy in “The Breast Cancer Series.” Her running inner dialogue and the images create the most powerful exhibit in this show. June Rose, BRAF gallery manager and artist, said “A lot of people at the reception were impressed with Carol’s presentation of her story.”

This was the first year for ekphrastic submissions by artist Kathleen Fox and poet Sherry Barker Aboldo. Their book, “Body Songs,” features this technique. The Poetry Foundation defines it as “ (an) ekphrastic poem is a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the ‘action’ of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning.”

In one of their ekphrastic works, “This Is Your Body,” the poetry is written atop a colorful man, recalling Glory Days .. for example: “This is your body that shambled long-haired through Europe practicing French”  and “This is your body and she said you have such prominent features you must feel things intensely.” You must read both pieces, hung next to McKay’s work on the back wall.

Local artists returning for this year’s show … Rick Dickinson. His portrait of a mature woman has that Old World/European Masters look and feel associated with his work. It’s always a treat to see that style survives in the 21st century. Love it.

Ann Hedgecock’s ink drawings on paper (resembling brown paper bags) add another dash of historical flavor; her vertical drawing of the woman has a definite Aubrey Beardsley vibe about it (or that could just be me); Susanna Lasker’s digital work “Jeopardy” looks like an image in a tarot deck – Rider Waite, or Albano Waite. The card? The Fool, perhaps? The photograph “Distant Fire” – Nancy Greindl has layered this image with great shading/lighting, there’s an aura of mystery, and disappointment or loss ... (just my interpretation, folks). Andre Benoit’s wooden assemblage, “Can’t Put A Name to the Face” is a clever arrangement of a woman you know is completely capable of “kindling a fire.” Literally or figuratively, you ask? Ah, well the answer is in the eyes and imagination of the viewer.

The “What’s Nude in Boothbay Harbor?” show was a facet of the first Valentine’s weekend event “For the Love of Beer, Wine and Boutiques.” This community event brought many new faces to the opening reception Feb. 14 – the most BRAF has seen, particularly in February. “We ended up with a lot more people this year,” said Mark Coates. “It was like everybody came out like summer, except everyone was in a winter coat!”

But how crowded was that opening reception, Mark? “It was so crowded I spent the night shored up against the wall!”

“What’s Nude in Boothbay Harbor” will run for two more weekends, through Feb. 29 on both floors.  Boothbay Region Art Foundation is at 1 Townsend Ave. in Boothbay Harbor. The gallery in is open Fridays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 633-2703.