Savory Maine, dining and provisions, will host an exhibit and sale of the paintings of  Damariscotta artist Polly Steadman from May 7-26. The public is invited to a  closing reception on Wednesday, May 26 from 2-4 p.m. Sweet treats, savory appetizers, wine and refreshing beverages will be served.

Polly was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer last year and has been undergoing treatment.  The reception will be a wonderful opportunity for her many friends and fellow artists to visit
with her and wish her well.

The paintings can be bought any time during the show for the listed price or a bid can be placed in a silent auction for the paintings. Bids will be accepted through 3:30 p.m. on May 26, the day of the reception. The highest bidder on each painting will be fortunate to go home with a piece of wonderful art. The paintings can be viewed during Savory Maine’s regular business hours which are from noon- to 7 p.m. Friday through Monday. The sale and silent auction is a benefit for Apifera Farm. Polly was a volunteer and is an enthusiastic supporter of the Farm.

Apifera Farm is a non profit in Bremen, Maine. Pronounced App-a-fair’-a , the farm provides forever sanctuary to elder and needy animals, but they also share the animals with the elder
community through on site visits and by having elder groups come to the farm. Harry the llama has been making visits to Cove’s Edge, and elsewhere, for a couple years. When COVID-19 hit, he began doing window walks to bring cheer. Through the winter COVID months, a Facetime Friday was held weekly, and a 'mystery guest' was brought into the farm house to Facetime with Cove's Edge residents in lock down -  sometimes it was Harry the llama,  a donkey, a goose, or Opie the goat.  Harry the llama will be present at the reception.

Katherine Dunn is an artist and writer, and along with her husband Martyn, own and operate the farm. Katherine has always had empathy for elders be it animal or human and she feels elders are often invisible to society. She also believes the animal visits provide two important things - the benefits of touch for both animal and human, and that t he animals help bring out story sharing among the elder people. Polly has volunteered with Apifera on many visits, including the initial Harry the llama window walks to Cove's Edge. She also helped with in person visits with Opie the goat and Bear the pup.  Apifera Farm is not open to the public but instead focuses on making visits to elder homes and working with care managers. For more information, visit the farm’s Facebook page.

Polly has been “doing art” for fun as far back as she can remember. Over 30 years ago she learned the wet-on-wet technique for painting in oils and has been exploring, discovering, and honing ever since. The composition is usually unplanned at the outset and takes shape as her brushstrokes - long and strong or short, light and quick - blend blobs of color placed randomly on the canvas, while forms and themes emerge.  Said Polly, “To be honest, I never appreciated abstract art much. But when I can somehow blend the paint into and over the colors, while seas and skies and magic planes emerge, it excites me.”

The first exhibit at Savory Maine 10 years ago  was of Polly’s paintings. Every six weeks there after Polly organized all of the art shows at the restaurant. She communicated with the artists, wrote the press releases, made the posters, sent out e-mails, and hung and took down the shows. She did all of this with good cheer.

Savory Maine will be closing some time this year, the date is still uncertain, and this is the last art exhibit. The restaurant open for takeout and outside dining only. This will be the last art exhibit at Savory Maine. Grace Goldberg, who is Savory Maine’s owner says. “It feels so appropriate that the first show and the last show be of Polly’s work. Polly is a dear, dear friend. It will feel great to be surrounded by her vibrant paintings while I am cooking.”

In the coastal Maine art community, Polly has shown frequently at the Boothbay Region Art Foundation, River Arts in Damariscotta; and she is a member of the Saltwater Artists Gallery in New Harbor.

Savory Maine is located at 11 Water St. in Damariscotta. The entrance is on the lower level facing the Damariscotta River. For further information please contact Grace Goldberg at Savory Maine 563-2111 or e-mail her at gracehgoldberg@hotmail.com