A NATURE-INSPIRED WORK OF ART by Spindleworks artist Micah Webbert.
Spindleworks, Brunswick’s nonprofit art center for adults with disabilities, is hosting an art exhibit this summer titled “Forest Through the Trees.” Kicking things off with a silent auction this Friday, “Forest Through the Trees” aims to draw attention to our living planet and raise awareness of the diversity of species which are affected by humans, with the focus this year on plant life.
The auction benefits the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust, another token of appreciation shown by Spindleworks toward environmental awareness.
“There is a strong love for animals and for life in general here at Spindleworks,” said Brian Braley, director of the art center. “I think most of the artists represent that in their work and in their daily lives.”
In addition to the 45 Spindleworks artists who are contributing, a variety of community members will be contributing as well. Thirty percent of art sale profits will go to the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust, along with 100 percent of profits from the silent auction.
“We recognize the roll the land trust plays in protecting species in our community,” said Braley. “Plant life is a great way to realize the importance of habitat. Animals need a place to live, and plant life provides that. But humans put a strain on these habitats. We need to reverse the trend.”
Art that has been donated to the exhibit consists mostly of handmade items, drawings and paintings, like Spindleworks artist Micah Webbert’s colorful offering, seen to the right. All art is original and adheres to the common theme of habitat awareness, which the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust strives to protect.
“We’ve always been an organization that has led the way in community conservation,” said Nikkilee Cataldo, education and outreach coordinator at Brunswick Topsham Land Trust. “In the last few years we’ve put a lot of emphasis on trying to reach out to the community. My hope is that being chosen (by Spindleworks) is a result of that effort.”
Cataldo hopes that this is the beginning of a long, prosperous relationship between the land trust and Spindleworks.
“Once we see what our audience might be and what funds get raised, we can hopefully start to invest the money in what our community cares about,” Cataldo said. “But right now it’s all about working with a great new partner.”
This is Spindleworks’ sixth art show focused on the environment. The shows began in 2011 after the success of the All Species Parade, which Spindleworks coordinated in partnership with Arts Are Elementary in Brunswick. Though there is no parade scheduled this year, Braley hopes members of the community can help organize it again.
“The parade really drew attention to the diversity of the world’s species,” said Braley. “But we wanted to go a step further in effecting the change. By acting locally and supporting the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust, we hope that we can have a global impact in doing a small part of protecting the future of our planet.”
The silent auction takes place Friday from 5-8 p.m., and the “Forest Through the Trees” exhibit runs until Aug. 29. For more information, visit spindleworks.org.
bgoodridge@timesrecord.com
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