Maine's Capital Area

On Friday, October 16, 2015 at 7pm The Bookey Readings at the Harlow presents MAINE SPEAKS: A Maine Ethnic Heritage Celebration, an evening celebrating Maine’s ethnic diversity in a round robin of spoken word and music. Four native Maine poets, and two native Maine musicians will perform their work during this unique celebration of Maine’s heritage, including Jeri Theriault, Gary Lawless, Jason Grundstrom Whitney, Steve Cowperthwaite, Margaret Donelian Ericson and Charlie Ipcar.

The Harlow Gallery is located at 160 Water Street in downtown Hallowell. The evening starts at 7 pm and refreshments are served. A $3 donation is appreciated at the door to support poetry and other programming at the gallery.

Poet Jeri Theriault’s paternal grandparents moved from Quebec to Waterville in the early 20’s. She is the author of three chap books of poetry, a Pushcart nominee, Fulbright recipient and teacher at Waynflete.

Poet Gary Lawless is of Irish decent, part owner of Gulf of Maine Bookstore, Brunswick, with 16 collections of poetry. He gives poetry readings and workshops locally and in several locations in Europe and is the publisher of Blackberry Books.

Poet Jason Grundstrom­ Whitney is a Bear Clan Member of the Passamaquoddy. He is a published poet, a musician, and activist, as well as a Hospice social worker.

Poet Steve Cowperthwaite is of English heritage, the recipient of Boston’s St. Botolph Club Foundation Emerging Artist award in 2013, with a chapbook published by Moon Pie Press in Westbrook. He is considered one of the best storytellers in Maine.

Musician Margaret Donelian Ericson works at Colby College as the Art and Music Librarian. She sings and accompanies traditional folk by the button accordion or guitar and travels to Ireland to research traditional music documented by early women folk music collectors. She will perform some of these songs during the evening.

Musician Charlie Ipcar has 6 solo CD’s of songs of the sea and will be accompanying his selected songs with a 5 string banjo or Anglo concertina. He has performed coast to coast in the US, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia at festivals, folk clubs, coffee houses and concerts.

During the reading “It Takes a Community: Transforming Violence” will be on view at the Harlow Gallery. (For more information please visit: http://harlowgallery.org/it-takes-a-community-transforming-violence/) Presented in partnership with the Family Violence Project of Augusta, “Transforming Violence” uses the power of art to voice a collective rejection of the use of domestic violence to control and manipulate others, and challenges our society’s overall acceptance of violence. The gallery is open Wednesday -Saturday, 12-6 pm and exhibitions are always free and open to the public.

The Harlow Gallery, a membership based 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to connecting and celebrating art, artists and community in downtown historic Hallowell since 1963, was recently voted “Best Gallery in Maine” for 2015 by the readers of Down East Magazine.

For more information about The Bookey  Readings at the Harlow Gallery, contact Jay Franzel at