The Miles Memorial Hospital League Art Committee is delighted to honor the over 50 years of cumulative service of past presidents and members, Julie Babb and Carol Smith.

Both were honored with commemorative plaques now affixed beneath their own donated paintings currently hanging in the hospital.

Julie Babb of Damariscotta is a well-known local artist, renown for her exquisitely detailed paintings of birds and the natural world. She has been an active member of the Art Committee for over 27 years and for 12+ of those years, she led the group as chairperson. Julie is quick to credit the assistance and support of Connie Bright, the hospital’s Director of Volunteers, in enabling her to lead the group for so many years.

Carol Smith, a Damariscotta resident for many years, and now living in Boothbay, has studied with local artists and paints bright florals and landscapes in acrylics. Carol has been part of the Art Committee for over 21 years and served as president of the group for 6 years in the early 2000s.

Since the summer of 1986, with the inaugural display of watercolor paintings by Wini Long of New Harbor, the Art Committee has staged rotating exhibitions in the Hall Gallery of the hospital, including the selection and scheduling of art, as well as assisting with the hanging of the exhibited artwork. The Committee is responsible for the collection of a percentage of any generated sales which is subsequently turned over to the MMHL League.

The stated goal of the MMHL Art Committee is to provide original works of art of the highest quality throughout the public areas and patient rooms of the hospital. The art that is ultimately displayed in the public and patient areas of the hospital is chosen and determined by the Art Committee, who according to hospital policy, have the authority to accept or reject proposals related to donated or purchased works of art. The Committee is also responsible for maintaining an inventory of all hospital artwork in coordination with the Office of Volunteers.