My Natural Inclination

On May 18th, 1987, I arrived at Clean Water Action in Washington, D.C. for my observation day. An observation day is basically a second interview where you spend the day with a trainer watching them do their job and trying it out for yourself. It is an opportunity for the trainer to decide if you have what it takes to go door-to-door talking to people about the environment, asking people to get involved and contribute to the organization. It is not a job everyone is cut out for. But I had discovered I had a talent for asking people for money on a brief stint raising money for George H.W. Bush. I'm sure they thought I was a spy. My roommate and I would rescue stamps from the stamp machine that the campaign decided couldn't be used because they got tattered. So I went out on my observation day confident I could do the job. Besides it was for a good cause, something I really believed in.

Blue Jay by Kenny Cole

When I arrived they had forgotten that my appointment was scheduled for that day. After a bit of shuffling, I went out in the crew with my trainer, Pete Northup. The area we were canvassing was a combination of middle-class townhouse development and subsidized housing. I will never forget one house we went to had a prosthetic leg hanging from the tree outside "airing out" we later learned. I can't remember exactly what the issue was we were working on at the time but I do remember people were supportive, of course that wasn't the case across the board. If it were, I doubt we would need so many non-profit citizen based organizations keeping politicians and big business in line.

I went on to become a trainer, manager then Canvass Director. I was able to help start up Clean Water's first office in Texas, to work for the California League of Conservation Voter, and even helped start a canvass for the Alaska Center for the Environment. My years actively involved in environmental issues were transformative. I met some of my very best friends, learned how to manage people and best of all learned that a group of determined individuals can gather enough public support to accomplish almost anything. So here we are 25 years later and I am celebrating both my 25 year anniversary and my two year anniversary of opening Monkitree with a show to benefit the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I'm no longer knocking on doors but I can still do what I can to help!

Natural Inclination
May18-July 20, 2012

Monkitree
263 Water Street
Gardiner, Maine 04345

Beast In Show

Anyone who has a dog, cat, or animal of any sort that they have brought into their lives knows just how amazing these relationships can be. And people who have these strong bonds with animals tend to share these bonds with other animal lovers. It is one thing we know we have in common. When we are out walking our dogs, we chat about how old he/she is, how long we have had them, how we came to have them. We, of course, may never know these individuals names but they know our dogs name.

Two animal lovers whose names I do know, are the very talented Susan Mathias and Nancy McGinnis. They are the artists in the upcoming Beast In Show- An Art Show And Sale To Benefit Our Furry Friends. Artwork of animals and for animals. The opening reception is November 18th from 5:30-9pm at Monkitree and it is going to be fantastic. A portions of the sale of Susan's work will benefit the Kennebec Valley Humane Society and the sale of Nancy's work will benefit the Maine Greyhound Placement Service. Plus Monkitree will donate 10% of the total sales during the opening to the Kennebec Valley Humane Society. And to make it even more fun we have a drawing for a piece by each artist and will be holding a silent auction with gift certificates donated by local businesses. This last bit is a new development. It was exciting to have people so willing to get involved.

So come on out and enjoy an evening of amazing art and amazing people while you support local artists, local business and most importantly the animals.

A Weekend Away

Tomorrow morning we are leaving town to go to my 25th high school reunion in Rumson, NJ. I have little reason to get back to my hometown. No one in my immediate family lives there but I am excited to get back and see friends I rarely see. I am imagining I will have many people asking me what I have been up. So I have been reflecting on the past 6 months to a year quite a bit. Monkitree has now been open for six months...which is a bit hard to believe. It seems like yesterday. Am I where I want to be after six months...no. Am I where I expected to be after six months...yes.

Starting a business is a process and we are building as we go. Right now I am in the midst of selecting works for a "Local Artist Show" to open November 19th. It is amazing to me the amount of talent here in Maine. I am excited to offer people the opportunity to show their work and grateful that the artists want to show in my gallery. This show is a unique opportunity for me to meet the many talented artists living nearby and for me to share their work during the busy Holiday Season.

I have no doubt people will be asking about my life this weekend. Am I rich? No. Am I successful? I'm still working on it. Am I happy? Absolutely. Peter and I made a great decision taking this journey together.

Writing While Angry

It is probably not a good idea for me to read the comments section on newspaper articles. I find the comment sections are frequented by people who abhor change and enjoy maligning every idea presented. Yesterday there were two articles in the Kennebec Journal about the town of Gardiner- one about the possibility of turning Water Street into a two-way street and the other about contaminated soil found while redeveloping the waterfront park. Neither of these seem like emotionally charged issues to me.

The two-way street article was about including the idea in the city plan so it can be researched, discussed and appropriate public process can take place. There was one comment in particular that caught my attention because it seemed to be about me since I am the only person not from Maine who has opened a business downtown... unless they are lumping in anyone not from Gardiner. It reads-

"The truth is that the central Maine market is just limited. A lot of these people who move here don't seem to understand this...there's just not a lot of money in the area to spend on frills. Gardiner may develop over the years. But some of these people who move to Maine with their little artsy vision of what they'd like it to be need to shut up, listen and learn."

What should I learn from? The other commenter who said that Gardiner is a relic of the past? Or the ones who refuse to walk a block? I prefer to do some research and listen to people who have. I listen to the people who have talked to the Department of Transportation to see if it is feasible (and by the way it is). Of course that doesn't mean it will happen...just that it is something we can talk about like grown adults. As for my artsy vision, I am selling (and yes I did say selling) the work of people from Gardiner, West Gardiner, Pittston, Litchfield and many other towns in Maine. And I will bring to Gardiner art and craft that has never been sold locally. And ultimately I will offer the works online to a much larger market (since my business plan has already taken into account the "central Maine market").

Just yesterday a couple came in because they had heard what I was doing here. They found Gardiner to be charming. They loved the buildings and wanted to talk about my experiences moving here and buying a building. I told them what I truly believe- that Gardiner is a great town, an undiscovered gem that will become so much more than it is. That my friends is what will help Gardiner...people who see potential.

Support Gardiner Businesses-
Corniche, Sweet Love and Baxter Tea Co., A1 Diner, A1 To Go, Moda Bella, Raggamuffins, Blue Sky Bakery, The Mad Dog, Bagel Mainea, Reny's, The Girltrend Shop, The Depot, Mike's Water Street Grille, Gerard's Pizza, Dennis' Pizza, Johnson Hall, and more.

Slow Change

While we have a vision for what we are hoping to accomplish with our gallery/shop and building, we will be making slow and deliberate changes. I gave myself a deadline of this Friday evenings Artwalk to accomplish two things- a card rack and a display table. Sounds easy enough... if what we were doing was buying a card rack and a display table but instead we are building/creating them. We want to create a unique experience for people when they come into Monkitree- a mix of modern and traditional. Unique objects in a unique space. We painted a panel bright green and attached Lucite shelves to display cards. For the table we are using an antique bed frames that came from a hotel in Rumson, NJ where I grew up.

We are also bringing in new merchandise slowly but surely. The art work changes every two months but new craft, cards and jewelry will be added gradually as money and display space permits. There is sure to be something new and interesting to discover every time someone visit Monkitree.

One of my favorite things about working with art and artists is helping these objects find good homes. Does that sounds corny? It probably does. I can't help it. I love when I can connect the right object with the right person...whether it is a painting, a bowl or a piece of jewelry. Take the mustache ring, for example. I knew when I saw it that I had to get Jessica in here to see it. Sure enough one went home with her... only after she said to me, "I put mustaches out there to the universe and now they come to me." Of course mustaches aren't every ones design element of choice. You may even be thinking that surely Jessica is the only one who will buy a mustache ring but in fact, I just got a message on Facebook today from my sister saying she has a friend who jokes about getting a mustache tattooed on her finger so she can hold her finger up and make believe she has a mustache. This may be the perfect gift for her friend!

I particularly enjoy the moment the decision is made. For some the decision is quick for others it takes time and is quite deliberate. But when the decision is made there is always a smile...and sometimes an big exhale because they no longer have to worry about the piece they love going to someone else's home. I just spoke with someone yesterday who can't wait for Michael's show to close so she can take her pieces home and find just the right spot for them. They will have a good home.

what's next?

One thing that excites me about a gallery is the constant change. I am sitting here enjoying Michael Sprouse's beautiful work and planning the next show. While Michael's is a solo show the next will feature three photographers all using Holga or Diana cameras. These cameras are known for their unusual light leaks, vignetting, and distortions. Photographers have been drawn to what are ultimately "toy cameras" because one never knows exactly what will be captured. Like a potter pulling a raku vase from the flame, the photographers can appreciate the surprise that current technology has all but eliminated.

And as I plan the new show I am already beginning to think about which of Michael's pieces I am going to miss when they are no longer here. Right now I can think of four of them including the one right across from my desk (the one that is pictured). It is called Principle Front and I get lost in it. I suppose instead of missing what isn't yet gone I can look forward to what will be hanging before me in a couple of months.

What Will Gardiner Become

My vision of Gardiner becoming a destination for arts and culture isn't just a pipe dream. Sitting right in the middle of our downtown is Johnson Hall, an Italianate brick structure built in 1864. In its heyday it held 1200 people for dances and entertainment of all sorts. It was converted to a theatre when the talkies came along in 1929. It fell into disrepair in the 1950's and in 1987 is was purchased by a group looking to restore it.

Johnson Hall has been working to design the restoration that will turn Johnson Hall back into a hall that would house a 400 seats performance space and business and community meeting space. I have toured the space several times and when it is renovated the space will be incredible. With a 400 seat auditorium, Gardiner will be able to attract a wide variety of music, theatre and film. Of course they still need to raise a great deal of money to be able to move forward. They will qualify for tax credits for historic renovation and that will help. I am hoping it will only be a couple of years before construction begins.

I am imagining a very lively downtown with thriving businesses (including my own). We need more people with vision to invest in the downtown. There are great historic buildings available. Sure they need some work but the prices are reasonable ... compared to what they will be when we are drawing 400 people to town for performances!

Gardiner Main Street has organized a Commercial Real Estate Open House for this Saturday 11-3 to show off the great properties we have here.