Four years ago, Deborah and Peter Loughlin had an idea. They wanted to open a gallery for local artists, where Deborah and others could display their work in a professional setting. The Isaac Dyer estate, an elegant 1766 farmhouse on the national register of historic homes and residence of the Loughlins, seemed like a perfect place.
The house was the summer estate of Isaac Dyer, a prominent Maine statesman of the early republic and a great lover of art. Deborah points out a series of round pegs imbedded high on the walls of the former parlor, which once held a vast collection of paintings. Every time the Louglins hold a show, “I say a mantra to Isaac,” says Deb, “I think he would say, ‘Bravo!'”
Deborah Loughlin, a sculptor by trade, works as the outreach coordinator for USM’s art department. Her connection with the school and its young artists drove her to open the doors of her home as a professional gallery. “I wanted to show student work to the public,” she said. “[In a place] a little more formal [than the school galleries.] Clean and special. Professional.”
“Professional” is an apt descriptor of both the atmosphere of Isaac Dyer Galleries and the work of the four graduating USM seniors participating in the show.
Seth Wilson, a Shapleigh native, displayed his collection of ceramics. His pieces reflect what he calls “the constant struggle [between the] duality in everything.” His pieces especially revolve around the themes of nature and death. One sculpture shows a living arm reaching for the sky, but pulled back by several skeletal hands. An unglazed pot bears the image of a small songbird in relief. Another piece expresses this duality through the glazing of a vase in complementary colors.
Wilson became interested in ceramics when he took a summer course in Kennebunk. It was a perfect fit. “I feel I can express myself more though a sculptural piece of pottery,” he said.
Kalan Marciniack’s interest in philosophy blends with another in figurines to create a series of small human sculptures. Philosophy taught him to question his self-identity, especially the relationship between himself and others. His piece “In apprehension how like a god” expresses the doubt of man in regards to his relationship with the world. A male figure stands upon the globe, a pensive expression on his face. Marciniack is also interested in questions of gender and the divide between classical ideals and gender expressions in the modern world. His nude studies of male and female figures reverse roles, with the male figure withdrawing and the female in a mode of attack.
Photographers Julia Wood and Nick Anagnostis displayed work from their private collections. Wood, who plans to leave Maine after graduation, has embarked on a project of memory, taking intimate photos of her close friends “in the spaces they represent.” “Kelly” sits thoughtfully before rows of books and “Derek” sits in meditative concentration with his guitar. Her photo of “Jeff” is especially moving due to the intensity of the subject’s gaze. “Jeff’s” eye contact privileges the viewer, providing a more intimate understanding of his relationship with the photographer. Wood’s color photography is detailed and focused. “I like moving around spaces, finding the moments others miss,” she said.
Anagnostis was planning on becoming a chef before taking an art class. He says art “jump-started something” and he quickly changed course and entered USM. “The art program here is well-organized,” he said. “Everything fell into place.”
Anagnostis is a traditional photographer. He enjoys working with film because of its hands-on quality. His black and white photographs, printed in silver gelatin on galvanized steel, express the “vulnerability and confidence in the female form” and feature women he is close to, his fiancée and his friends. “Black and white captures innocence more easily than color,” he says.
Besides portraiture, Anagnostis also enjoys shooting antique cars and likes the disconnect the pictures create between the present and past. Nick hopes to stay in Maine and begin working as a professional photographer.
The show will run through April 29 and is open to all USM students. After this show closes, the Isaac Dyer Gallery will open again on May 3 with an installation show featuring the work of USM art professors, running until the end of the month. In the near future, the Loughlins hope to have their barn fully renovated into a working studio space so they can continue with art outreach and hold workshops.
Isaac Dyer Galleries is located less than a quarter of a mile from the USM Gorham campus, following route 114 North beyond the east entrance. Gallery hours are from 2 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and 2 to 4 p.m. on Fridays. Saturday viewings are available by appointment and the Loughlins can be reached at 839-8426 or through the gallery website at dragonflyhoney.com for more information.