Road Trip!

If the phrase "road trip" causes you to conjure up bad mix tapes, a hot and stuffy car filled with cranky fellow passengers, and a few bags of stale potato chips, think again.

I recently took a (short) road trip down to York, where I visited the George Marshall Store Gallery, situated on the banks of the beautiful York River, to see
the Gallery's current exhibition, Road Trip 2008. Curated by Mary Harding, it is a journey worth taking.

Harding traveled all over New England for months, visiting artists in their studios and homes, and this exhibition is the result of her voyage. Intended to bring together disparate styles and mediums, Road Trip 2008 is a stimulating collection of works you might never expect to see hanging next to each other, from abstract sculpture to reality rendered in paint.

The arrangement of the works does well to keep the viewer engaged. There is a good mix of styles throughout, meaning you must constantly remain open-minded, which is the best way to view any kind of art.

Portland artist Noriko Sakanishi's collages are quietly evocative hanging next to a massive oil by Durham, NH artist Arthur DiMambro, entitled "Table of Plenty." It reminded me of 17th century Flemish still life paintings, but it was modernized with brighter, more incongruous colors, and frenetic brushstrokes.

I also enjoyed the small oil paintings of Rockland's Connie Hayes. "Arch of Shade," a small painting of a lonely road shaded by leafy trees was one of my favorites. The piece is such a perfect remembrance of the lazy days of summer.

Tom Curry, of Brooklin, has several pieces in the exhibition, but my favorite was "Center Harbor," an oil painting on birch panel. The painting just explodes with brightness and color so vivid it was like looking into the hot summer sun. The way he blended the sky reminded me of Georgia O'Keefe's seamless desert landscapes.

Another Maine artist, Arthur Cadieux from Eastport, shows a large canvas entitled "Passamaquoddy Blues." Situated on the wall facing the front door, this piece beckons you to come inside and explore.

I also enjoyed the abstract works of Duncan Johnson, from Hartford, VT. Constructed from interlocking pieces of wood, his sculptures are simple in design but complex in execution. Edward Mackenzie, of Richmond, showed unique sculptures made from found objects, such as "Piano Birds," made from piano parts.

Don't miss the Gallery's downstairs portion, which is currently displaying Gracefully Still, a one-woman exhibition showcasing the layered watercolors of Susan Wahlrab. Both exhibitions are on view until September 7.

* All photos taken by Jamie Thompson