River Arts will host its First Annual Membership Show from October 24-November 21. All River Arts members are invited to submit two pieces for consideration. There will be an opening reception on Friday, October 24 from 5-7pm.

Details about the delivery, hanging and other special arrangements for the works can be found on the River Arts website, www.riverartsme.org. Information about membership also can be found on the website or at River Arts in the Coffin House, 170 Main Street, Damariscotta.

River Arts telephone is 563-1507; email is info@riverartsme.org.

Hours are: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10am-4pm; Friday, 10am-7pm and Sunday, 1-4pm.

Labels: RIVER ARTS

Tere K. Porter, O.D. has been rewarded for his keen artistic eye with accolades at the Oxford county Fair. Tere was awarded a first place in Landscapes for a scene of Mount Washington with snow and fall foliage at lower altitudes, and first place for a close up photograph of a Blue Flag Iris.

Tere was born in Aroostook County and after receiving a high school graduation gift of a 35mm camera from his parents in 1960, has been taking photographs ever since.

When Tere's children were in junior and senior high school in Oxford Hills, he switched to video taping of all of their music concerts. He continued this after they graduated for the Music, Arts and Drama Boosters Club to help support the SAD 17 fine arts program until about 2000.

"I like video for action and sound shooting and I have video taped many of our vacations such as, our trip to Alaska," said Tere "but still photographs are and always have been my first love."

Tere is known for his fondness of nature photography as he strives to capture the feel of a flower blossom, a sunset of vivid hues, or the brilliance of fall foliage.

"I have recently converted my office to be an Office/Gallery," Tere says. "I have 40 photographs hanging in the waiting room of my office which is located at 66 Paris Street in Norway."

Visitors are encouraged to call ahead of time at, 743-6271. Anyone interested in Tere's work can view 2600 examples on his website, where images can be purchased. The website address is tereporter.photostockplus.com.

An artist's educational credentials do not always have much relevance to the eventual creative work of the artist, but Andrea Sulzer, who will be teaching two drawing classes at River Arts during September, has a most unique educational background that clearly influences her drawings. She began as a Fine Arts Major at Smith College, then transferred to New York University where she received a degree in French. From NYU, she went on to get a Masters from Columbia University?s Teachers College and then a Master of Science in Forest Biology from the University of Maine, and finally yet a third Master?s degree, coming full circle back to Fine Arts from the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland.

This past summer, her work was on display at Bowdoin College in an exhibition entitled "After Nature." The College described the works as, "teeming graphite compositions, both tiny and huge, [that] explore the intimate interstices of the relationship between landscape and memory."

Sulzer, who has been exhibiting her work both in the US and abroad since 2003, will teach at River Arts from September 25-29th. On those days, from 10am-1pm, she will teach intermediate/advanced drawers and on those same days, from 2pm-5pm she will teach beginning drawing.

For the intermediate and advanced students, Sulzer says, "In this class we will focus on drawing as process and work on discovering new ways of responding to a drawing as it develops. Experimentation and risk-taking will be encouraged." Students are asked to bring watercolor brushes and a sketch/notebook to the first class. Other materials will be provided.

For the beginners, Sulzer says, "How to start-that is sometimes the biggest hurdle for beginning drawers. In this class we will look at different approaches to drawing using a variety of media. Hopefully this class will broaden your idea of what drawing is and how it can play a part in your life." Beginning students are asked to bring a sketch/notebook to the first class. Other materials will be provided.

Sulzer has had many prestigious awards and residencies; collections of her works can be found at Bowdoin and Bates Colleges and in private collections in Maine, New York, London and Edinburgh.

Fees for the five-day classes are $250 for River Arts members and $275 for non-members. There is a materials fee of $40.

Labels: GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN DRAWING

Greater Androscoggin Humane Society Silent Art Auction - At Holly's Deli on Court St., Auburn. 14 local Artists of Captive Elements Art House will donate portions of all works auctioned that evening for this benefit. Oil, acrylic, photography, metal sculpture and more media will be displayed.

Postcards and prints will be available. 3 works will be given away in a raffle! Food and music will be provided by Holly's. Come support the Humane Society, a local restaurant, and a locla gallery. FMI 786-3606

Captive Elements Art House, 25 Landry Rd. Suite 3, Lewiston. 786-3606.

Labels: Captive Elements Art House Resident Artists