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Portland, Maine

UNE Art Gallery in Portland presents “The Lives of the Jewelers,” opening July 1

Composite of two images: left, dogwood flowers; right, a gold ring with green stone against a yellow rose
At left, a Kousa Dogwood Tree in Flower (photo: Christine Peters). At right, Christine Peters, 18k Gold and Oxidized Sterling Emerald Bauble Ring.

The University of New England Art Gallery on the Portland Campus is pleased to present “The Lives of the Jewelers.” An opening reception, free and open to the public, will be held Friday, July 1, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

From the forms of the region’s plants and animals to global social and cultural histories, inspirations abound for Maine jewelers, who use metals and other precious materials to embody their creative responses to their physical and cognitive environments.

In “The Lives of the Jewelers” — open through Oct. 9 — Maine metal artists display their work in the form of both jewelry and extended applications of their chosen materials, alongside imagery and text describing the sources that inspire them.

Like Vasari’s 1550 text “The Lives of the Artists,” which illuminated the practices of Renaissance visionaries, this exhibition will provide a window into the motivations and intellectual preoccupations of individual contemporary Maine jewelers, who bring their visions of beauty so directly into daily life. 

Curated by Maria Wolff and UNE Gallery and Exhibitions Director Hilary Irons, the exhibit features work by Ebenezer Akakpo, Aminata Conteh, Shelby Goldsmith, Michael Good, Tim McCreight, Naomi Grace McNeill, J. E. Paterak, Kyle Patnaude, Christine Peters, Sharon Portelance, and Maria Wolff. 

The UNE Art Gallery is located 716 Stevens Ave. in Portland and is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., or by appointment. For more information, please contact Hilary Irons at hirons@une.edu or (207) 221-4449

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.