Special Events 2026
The Flying Seeds – Music for “Song of the Wild” Opening
In addition to her talents as an artist, Emily Sabino – co-curator of the "Song of the Wild” exhibition – is also a vocalist with The Flying Seeds, a group she founded with her husband Lenin. They’ll be performing at the exhibit’s opening reception.
The Flying Seeds combines musical styles from the Peruvian Andes with folk traditions of the Unites States. Lenin plays a variety of Peruvian instruments and the guitar. Their first album was "Street Songs and Meadow Music" and their soon-to-be-released album, "Cielo Azul," is a collection of visionary troubadour ballads. Music critic Dan MacIntosh wrote that their music "is filled with expertly played and sung music," and that "Emily sings...in a Karen Carpenter-like voice over a pop backing with just the right amount of Peruvian instrumental spices… in the loveliest revolutionary voice you’re ever likely to hear."
Image: The Flying Seeds
Saturday, June 20, 4:30pm – 6:30pm
Open to public
Location: Maine Art Gallery
Gyotaku - Demonstration of Fish Printing from Asia
Gyotaku comes from Japanese, “gyo” meaning "fish" + “taku” meaning "rubbing” or “impression.” Gyotaku is a traditional Japanese form of printmaking dating from the mid-1800s. Sumi and/or printers’ inks are applied to a fish, after which a piece of rice paper is pressed onto the fish, and then pulled to give an exact impression. Historically, fishermen used gyotaku to record their catches, and gyotaku prints can still be seen hanging in tackle shops in Japan. It is rumored that samurai would settle fishing competitions using Gyotaku prints.
Currently Gyotaku has evolved into an art form, with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art featuring these hand-pulled prints. The Smithsonian magazine in 2020 wrote traditional Japanese fish-prints collected from the Edo period could become a boon for conservation. The prints corroborate the abundance of the region’s dwindling species. Demo coincides with with the exhibition, Song of the Wild, on display at the gallery. Refreshments will be served.
Images provided by Jean Kigel
Thursday, July 9, 4:30pm – 6:30pm
Open to public
Instructor: Jean Kigel
Location: Maine Art Gallery
Thank you First National Bank, a genuine Maine community bank deeply committed to serving our entire 18-branch region, we go all out to meet your needs.
"The Impact of Air" - A Talk
Saturday, July 11, 4:30pm – 6pm
Open to public
Location: Maine Art Gallery
Naturalist and Director of Community Science at Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, Sarah Gladu, will explore how air -- and the things in it, including light, moisture, and pollution -- impact the landscape around us. The shapes of trees, the ways pollen is transferred from flower to flower, and the patterns clouds make in the sky, are all impacted by air and its various attributes. Sarah will share some observations about the reciprocity between air and mountains, owl feathers and flower anthers, among other things. Join us to explore these fascinating topics that connect directly to the artwork in our “Song of the Wild” exhibit, on view June 18 - July 26.
Sarah Gladu has worked in environmental education since 1992. In 2005, she was hired to run Coastal Rivers’ education program and direct Camp Mummichog. Currently, she is the Director of Community Science at Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust and coordinates the community science projects, with a focus on water quality. She is Chair of MCOA (Maine Coastal Observing Alliance) a regional water quality network focused on understanding the impacts of coastal acidification and climate change on coastal waters. Previously she worked for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, coordinating state-wide water quality monitoring programs. She has a B.A. in Environmental Policy from Brandeis University, where she also attained a Teaching Certification and a Wildlife Management Certificate. In 1998, she received a Master of Environmental Learning and Leadership from the University of Minnesota.
A reception with wine and hors d'oeuvres will follow.
Top to bottom: Painting by Eric Hopkins, "Over the Horizon." Naturalist and Director of Community Science at Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, Sarah Gladu (photo by Kris Christine).
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“Nature as Muse” - A Panel Discussion
Thursday, July 16, 4:30pm – 6pm
Open to Public
Location: Maine Art Gallery
We like weaving together various artistic modes when we can, and in that vein, we’re excited to present a panel talk, “Nature as Muse,” in conjunction with the “Song of the Wild” exhibition. The panelists represent three different artistic fields: Emily Sabino, painter; Jonathan Lavan, photographer; and Kay Tobler Liss, novelist. They will each talk about how the natural world inspires them in their creative endeavors.
Sabino is visionary naturalist painter whose work expresses an elemental connection with plants, trees, creatures, water and the sky. She left work a few years ago in a fast-paced digital world to concentrate on painting. Her work has been shown in galleries across Maine and beyond.
Lavan is a citizen scientist and wildlife expert. He’s been SCUBA diving for 30 years and taking photographs both above and below the waterline for the past decade. He’s been a teacher, speaker, author, and research associate for many well-known and little-known environmental organizations and leads diving, photography, and naturalist trips all over the world.
Liss is an author of two literary novels that center on the human connection to the natural world. She also writes a monthly Nature Journal she posts online. Her passion is to combine her writing with her love of nature. She’s taught nature studies to children and classes on nature poets, essayists and novelists to adults.
Images top to bottom: Emily Sabino with her work "Seeds of the Future," Jonathan Lavan with his dog Toast, and author Kay Tobler Liss.
Past Events
Panel discussion on Sustainable Farming in Maine
Thursday, May 21, 4:30pm - 6pm
Open to the public
Location: Maine Art Gallery
Representatives from three Maine organizations and businesses that have been leaders in sustainable farming and the thriving farm-to-table movement will speak on a panel about their respective history, mission, and successes. Join us for this food-for-thought event!
Anna Fiedler of Maine Farmland Trust, an organization that has helped save thousands of acres of farmland over decades, will highlight the important role farms play in our communities. She will talk specifically about the successful efforts that ensured The Morris Farm (now The Commons at Morris Farm) in Wiscasset remained a farm. Fiedler will also introduce Ryan Esberg, one of the new owners, who will share his family’s vision for the farm’s future.
Erica Berman, co-founder of Veggies to Table, a farm in Newcastle, Maine, that donates its organic produce and flowers to locals in need, will join the panel. Berman will discuss her farm’s mission, its founding, and its success over the last seven seasons in donating 95,050 pounds of food and 153,700 flowers to over 35 local organizations and families.
Morning Glory Natural Foods, located on Maine Street in downtown Brunswick, is a family-owned, independent natural food store specializing in local and organically grown foods. As pioneers of the organic food movement in Maine, Morning Glory has been in business for 40 years and provides a market for many local vegetable farmers, dairies, organic meat farms, and bakeries. Owner Toby Tarpinian, the son of the former owners, grew up in the store, and will talk about the business and its fascinating history.
A reception will follow with goodies provided by Morning Glory Natural Foods.
Celebrating the sale and easement closing at Morris Farm (L to R): Brett Sykes, Co-Director of Farmland Protection at Maine Farmland Trust; Lindsay and Ryan Esbjerg and family; Terry and Chris Baldwin; Robin Hackett, Farmland Steward at Maine Farmland Trust.
Erica Berman, co-founder of Veggies to Table. Photo courtesy of Veggies to Table website.
Morning Glory Natural Foods on Maine St., in Brunswick, ME.
Thank you Back River Bistro for sponsoring this event.