“INFORMATION AGES” by Jeff Jacques, pictured left, and Dambil baskets from the Somali Bantu Community Association of Maine.
Art Walk LA organizer L/A Arts has announced new music at this Friday’s Art Walk LA, with performances by Chicks With Sticks at Dufresne Plaza, Maine Music Society Chamber Singers next to Ben’s Burritos, Ramblin’ Chops & The Revelator at Bear Bones Beer, pianist Lexi Wegiel at She Doesn’t Like Guthries, and singer/songwriter Chris Robley at Poise Yoga and Foot Sanctuary. There will also be a surrealist puppet performance by Inventing Trees at Rinck Advertising.
CONTRIBUTED IMAGES
“With 27 venues showing the work of 30 plus artists, Art Walk LA is a great Friday night downtown,” said L/A Arts director Louise Rosen.
This year marks Art Walk LA’s seventh year in Lewiston and second year in Auburn, bringing free, public exhibits from artists in all media. Now taking place on the third Friday of each month from 5-8 p.m., Art Walk LA has also expanded its run to December to include the holiday season.
“At the L/A Arts Gallery at 221 Lisbon St. we are delighted to be opening two new shows from local artists and artisans,” said Rosen. “ New Paintings from Jeff Jacques and an exhibit of craft work from members of the Somali Bantu Community Association of Maine and other African makers. Jeff is an abstract expressionist painter living and working in Lewiston, and will be showing many of his newest, large format acrylic paintings.
The women artisans of the Somali Bantu community are skilled weavers, using palm fronds to make handled baskets called dambils and oval mats called salis. Beautiful examples of both will be on display along with unique garments, instruments and other items from several other African countries including Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Kenya, Somalia, and Sudan, curated by our collaborator from Sudan, Mahasin Arbab.”
About L/A Arts
L/A Arts is the arts agency for the cities of Lewiston and Auburn. Working with government agencies, businesses, schools, community organizations and local arts and cultural organizations, L/A Arts creates opportunities for community members across generations and economic strata to experience, learn, and participate in the arts. The organization implements programs and initiatives that support the work of local artists and cultural organizations and highlight the essential role the arts play in shaping an economically vital, socially integrated, and forward looking future for our community. Their primary work is in several areas: Arts in Education programming in LA public schools; Community Arts events such as Art Walk; Arts Agency initiatives including the five-year Cultural Plan LA and supporting Arts & Culture Lewiston Auburn; and fulfillment of a NEA Our Town grant designed to develop new artisan based manufacturing models for LA.
About the Somali Bantu Community Association of Maine
The mission of the Somali Bantu Mutual Assistance Association of Lewiston/Aubun to assist members of the refugee community at large on housing, employment, literacy and education, health, and safety matters. This includes empowering children and families to achieve lifelong success through personal and social change, by providing them with information about how to connect to a new life in the United States.
They aim to prevent child abuse and neglect by promoting positive parenting, healthy families, and homes where children are valued and loved, and to preserve pride in the cultural traditions of Somalia. As the Somali Bantu community grows in central Maine, they strive to provide transitional services that address the needs of our immigrant population. The organization provides services for men, women and children, free of charge, in an effort to develop a united community of Mainers.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
