River Arts invites the public to the opening of a new show, “Changing Tack,” Friday, July 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the West Gallery featuring the work of artists Jean Beal of Belfast and Alice Kirkpatrick of Pownal.

Jean Beal studied at the Museum School of Fine Arts and graduated from MECA (then Portland School of Art) in 1992. Alice Kirkpatrick earned her BFA in art from Colby College, and has pursued numerous art workshops and courses at Maine College of Art, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, and others.

Beal and Kirkpatrick have been painting together every Wednesday for eight years, sometimes teaming up on a single piece, other times working independently but with shared input. They have produced several collaborative bodies of work, including small abstracts, and a series exploring intimate views of plants.

This current work is linked by the parallel scouting of new territory. Jean's “Twenty Carrot/Stick Figures” emerged as an early crop from the multigenerational farm in Belfast she calls home. It's a gently offbeat, closely observed investigation of the possibilities of “carrotness.”

Kirkpatrick's paintings, "Inside and Out," result from exploring the possibilities of oils, and broadening her reach to discover new locales and subject matter. The exhibition will run through July 29 and is open during River Arts gallery hours.

River Arts is located at 241 US Route 1 in Damariscotta. It is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information about events, exhibitions and classes visit www.riverartsme.org or call 207-563-1507.