Bob Keyes

Staff Writer

Bob Keyes writes about the visual and performing arts for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. He appreciates that his job requires him to visit museums and attend plays and concerts across Maine, and most enjoys interviewing artists in their studios. He’s a New Englander by birth, and has lived in Maine off and on, most recently since 2002. He lives in Berwick with his wife, Vicki, and their son Luke.

Latest

Published
April 10, 2011

Artist: Mural shows people, not politics

TREMONT – It started with a walk. Judy Taylor, as she so often does, hiked Beech Mountain near her home at Seal Cove to clear her head and step away from the clutter of a busy life. And there they were, in front of her. Men working. She heard them before she saw them — […]
Published
April 6, 2011

Artfully composed

John Harbison’s music is inspired by another medium – painting – in a piece to be performed Saturday at the Portland Chamber Music Festival spring concert.
Published
April 6, 2011

Blowout brings together four harmonica legends

Mark Hummel began playing the harmonica in high school, mostly because he couldn’t play the guitar. “All my friends were really good guitar players, and I wasn’t,” said Hummel, who leads the Blues Harmonic Blowout tonight at Empire Dine and Dance on Congress Street in Portland. “I gravitated toward the harmonica and never let up. […]
Published
April 6, 2011

Prizes awarded to five PMA Bienniel artists

PORTLAND — The Portland Museum of Art Biennial opens Thursday, but the festivities began today at a members’ opening reception, where five prizes were awarded to artists in the exhibition. The Purchase Prizes were awarded to four artists: Philip Brou for “Black Box”; James Groleau for “Arbil Rubia Riyadh” and “Sinjar Karbala Basra”; Siri Sahaj […]
Published
April 3, 2011

Creating together, 6,000 miles apart

PORTLAND — In the further-evidence-that-the-world-is-getting-smaller department, we give you “Dunia Moja,” a print exchange between members of Peregrine Press in Portland and a group of women from the east African island of Zanzibar. The art exhibition, on view through May 28 in the Lewis Gallery at the Portland Public Library, is a collaboration between artists […]
Published
April 3, 2011

Bob Keyes: For Maine arts, a galvanic eruption

Wisdom is the hardest thing to come by in life, and oftentimes wisdom and clarity in situations rife with rancor come only when one steps away and views a situation with the benefit of perspective. That certainly seems to be the case with the lingering controversy of the Maine labor mural held hostage. As far […]
Published
April 3, 2011

Hay! It’s that time again

And this man’s grass-based sculptural creation is but one in a wildly diverse lineup of artists and media.
Published
April 3, 2011

Great ticket deals offered for the historic ‘Chautaqua!’

STONINGTON – It might not have been the wisest business decision, but artistically, it’s a slam dunk. Opera House Arts, the nonprofit arts group that operates the Stonington Opera House, will host the National Theater of the United States of America and its traveling “Chautauqua!” show for its only Maine performance at 7 p.m. on […]
Published
April 3, 2011

Arts Planner

Today • The Portland String Quartet performs a concert of Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart at 2 p.m. today at Woodfords Congregational Church, 202 Woodford St., Portland. A preconcert lecture begins at 1 p.m. Tickets cost $22; $20 for seniors; free for ages 21 and younger. This week • Tribute artist Elvis Wade will join the […]
Published
April 2, 2011

This year, Nateva’s a no-go

Slow ticket sales and a struggle to accommodate more fans at the Oxford Fairgrounds prompt music promoter Frank Chandler to back out.

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