Maine's Capital Area

Artists Speak Out on Domestic Violence: “Transforming Violence” Returns to the Harlow Gallery After Ten Years. Ten years ago in October 2005, the Harlow Gallery and the Family Violence Project presented “Transforming Violence”, a multimedia, multi-voiced, interactive art exhibition and lecture series. Harlow Gallery executive director Deborah Fahy was then newly hired when Cony teacher Chellie Calloway was murdered by her estranged husband in front of their children. Fahy remembers,  “I was walking down the hill to the Harlow Gallery sick at heart. Chellie’s children attended Hall-Dale at the time, so it really hit home. Then I realized I could actually do something through my new position at the gallery and began networking. “Transforming Violence” was the result.”

Ten years later “It Takes a Community: Transforming Violence II” is being presented October 2-14, 2015 at the Harlow Gallery in partnership with the Family Violence Project of Kennebec & Somerset Counties, with an opening reception on Friday, October 2nd from 5-8pm. There is a schedule of related events planned for all ages, including performances and hands on workshops. Visit harlowgallery.org for details.

Participating artists by town include:

• Augusta: Darbe Anagnost, Robin Miller, Kathryn Pinkham, Mary Becker Weiss and Cony High School students and their art teacher, Jason Morgan
• Bath: Judy Grace and Bonnie Lee
• Belfast: Karin Spitfire
• Belgrade Lakes: Robin Nolan LeGrand
• Falmouth: Anne Strout
• Gardiner: Aleana Chaplin, Allison McKeen, Helen Wright and Nick Hertler and Cleopatra Poland of SpinOff Studios
• Hallowell: Nan Bell, Chris Cart, Nancy McGinnis and Lisa Thrace
• Lincolnville: Petrea Noyes
• Newport: Jeanne E. Finley
• Manchester: Bruce Armstrong and Donna Lausier
• Orono: Constant Albertson and Blake Eden
• Pittston: Scott Minzy
• Rome: Bobbi McCarthy
• Skowhegan: Nikki Currier
• Waterville: Laura Blake

Because it takes a community, “Transforming Violence II” has been made possible by our sponsors, Levey, Wagley, Putman, PA, Summit Natural Gas, Laflin & Wolfington Realty and Pinnacle Tree.

Transforming Violence is also supported by Harlow Gallery season sponsors: The Bank of Maine, Capitol Dental Care, Current Media,Dead River Company, the City of Hallowell, the Jennings Family of Hallowell, Kennebec Savings Bank, Scrummy Afters Candy Shoppe, the Vallee Brothers, Chris & Ray Vallee and by grant funding from the Quimby Family Foundation.

“It Takes a Community: Transforming Violence II” is funded in part by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, and by a grant from the Kay E. Dopp Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.

The Harlow Gallery is a 501(c)(3) membership based arts nonprofit dedicated to promoting the arts in central Maine since 1963.  The Harlow Gallery presents a broad range of art, including art that is socially relevant and challenging because the arts and humanities can be a powerful voice for social change.  In presenting this exhibition, we see an opportunity to provide a valuable service to the community by providing a space and time for education, discussion and healing through the arts.

The Family Violence Project is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to stopping domestic abuse of women, children and men.  They provide a 24 hour toll-free helpline, individual advocacy, support groups, children’s programs, emergency shelter and referrals, community and school-based education and abuser education.  The Harlow Gallery will donate half of any sales proceeds from this exhibition to the Family Violence Project in support of these life saving programs.  For more information visithttp://www.familyviolenceproject.org/mission.php.