ROCKLAND — At least for one night, the artists ruled.
The Maine Arts Commission recognized several of the state's outstanding artists Friday night in a ceremony at the Strand Theatre in Rockland. There was no red carpet, but the Maine Artist Fellowship Showcase served as a nice stand-in for the Oscars of the state arts scene, providing artists the chance to bask in the spotlight.
"Being an artist is sometimes about being alone in the studio," said Portland artist Lauren Fensterstock, who won a fellowship in the visual arts. "It's so much fun to have a celebration like this. It means a lot. There is such a great arts tradition in Maine, it's an honor to be recognized."
Other winners were master printer David C. Wolfe of Portland, poet Lee Sharkey of Vienna and filmmaker Ryan Bennett of Pittsfield. Each winner received $13,000 from the Maine Arts Commission. It's the largest state-funded grant available to individual artists in Maine, and one of the largest grants made by a state arts agency in the country.
The winners appreciated the recognition. Some said they plan to use the money to pay down debt. Others will use it to advance their education and invest in new equipment.
"I tuck away in my cave and my shop and don't get out much. The recognition is nice. The money is helpful, too," said Wolfe.
"The most important thing is that it recognizes the work of a lifetime devoted to poetry," said Sharkey. "That sort of recognition doesn't come all that often. Most of the time I am working in the wilderness, doing what you have to do."
Friday's showcase also recognized the newly appointed Traditional Arts Masters. This year's masters are French accordion player Normand Gagnon of Rumford, fiddler Greg Boardman of Auburn, weaver and knitter Susan Barrett Merrill of Brooksville, and carver Thomas Cote of Limestone.
As part of the Traditional Arts program, each master commits to working with an apprentice for a calendar year. The idea is that the master will pass along skills to the apprentice.
Each winner in the Traditional Arts category wins $4,000.
Friday's showcase had a variety-show feel, with an awards ceremony mixed in. The masters performed music, accompanied by their apprentices. Others talked about their work while showing slides. There were movies, stories and anecdotes.
Donna McNeil, director of the Maine Arts Commission, said the recognition brings prestige to individual artists and reminds people the role of the arts in Maine's economy and cultural heritage.
"In the vernacular of today, this grant can be viewed as job retention, allowing artists to continue to do their work, contributing their gifts to our quality of place and their taxes to our revenue base," McNeil said.
Felicia Knight, a member of the Maine Arts Commission and former communications director of the National Endowment for the Arts, served as emcee for Friday's event. It's important for the state to recognize creative excellence, she said, because it doesn't happen often enough.
"One of the things that American culture as a whole doesn't tend to do very well is honor its artists. An event like this puts artists in the spotlight, and it gives the opportunity for their state to say, 'We value what you do and the contributions you are making to your society and your community."'
Staff Writer Bob Keyes can be contacted at 791-6457 or at: bkeyes@pressherald.com
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