Newcastle artist Denise Rankin will be featured at Savory Maine Dining in Damariscotta from Sept. 11 through Oct. 21. Her oil and acrylic paintings will be exhibited in Savory Maine’s main dining room.

The public is invited to attend the opening reception for Rankin to be held on Friday, Sept. 19 from 3 to 5 p.m.

Savory Maine will provide finger foods and beer and wine will be available, compliments of the artist.

Collectors of her work enjoy her offbeat subject matter, whimsy and the nostalgic reverberations of her paintings. Among her recent subjects have been old typewriters, penny candy, mason jars, slips and wing-tips, and her partner Joe as everyone's favorite butler.



A recent series of paintings features objects wrapped up in string. It was inspired by the aftermath of 9/11, her expression of the loss of our personal freedoms in exchange for greater feelings of security.

 Underway are paintings of drive-in theaters, which now live mostly in our memories.

Some of her favorite painters are Henri Matisse, John Singer Sargent, Janet Fish, and anyone who paints diners.


“I paint what tickles my fancy,” Rankin said. “I paint unencumbered by logic or even common sense, as a way to love life, the pure messy joy of it. Painting the landmarks of Maine I leave to others. No ‘over the mantel’ paintings for me.”

Rankin experiences a real thrill in unusual subject matter, strange juxtapositions, the whimsical and blowing up of plain old everyday things.

She is the newest partner in the Old Post Office Gallery in Georgetown, where she has been guest artist several times.

For several years she served as a board member, and exhibiting artist, at the Pemaquid Art Gallery in Lighthouse Park.

Rankin also participates throughout the year in juried shows at River Arts. She has had solo exhibitions at the TIME gallery in Portland, Miles Memorial Hospital, and two-person shows at the Damariscotta River Grill and Just Framing in Bath.

Savory Maine is located at 11 Water Street in Damariscotta. Days and hours for lunch and dinner: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The same hours apply to Sunday, with brunch and dinner served. Closed Wednesday.

For more information, call 207-563-2111 or visit www.savorymainedining.com.