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River Arts

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from River Arts, Nonprofit Organization, 36 Elm Street Plaza, Damariscotta, ME.

06/05/2026

River Arts is pleased to present photographer Daniel O'Leary's solo exhibition, "The Damariscotta River, Winslow Homer in Maine, and A Few Photographic Memories". O’Leary’s exhibit runs June 4 through June 24 in the River Room at River Arts in Damariscotta.

For photographer Daniel O’Leary, photography is often an exploration of place. After moving to Maine and restoring the historic Winslow Homer Studio at Prouts Neck, he became intrigued by the landscapes that inspired artists, seeking out the exact vantage points from which Winslow Homer created his celebrated seascapes. That curiosity later led him to Monhegan Island and other locations associated with Maine’s rich artistic heritage.

Drawing on decades of experience as a reporter for the Detroit News and later as an art museum director, O’Leary brings both a documentarian’s eye and an appreciation for art history to his work. Today, from his home in Newcastle, he continues to photograph the region, particularly the area south of Damariscotta.

This exhibition offers viewers an opportunity to experience Maine’s coast through the lens of a photographer deeply attuned to its history, character, and enduring beauty. O’Leary’s images reflect both a reverence for place and a curiosity about the artists who have found inspiration here, creating a compelling visual dialogue between past and present.

River Arts is located at 36 Elm St. in Damariscotta. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 10 to 4. For additional information, visit the website: riverartsme.org or call the gallery (207) 563-6868.

Image: Daniel O'leary

06/02/2026

It was a spirited gathering for the Members' Show Opening Reception at River Arts in Damariscotta last weekend! Thank you to Donna Strawser and Penny Ross for the photos.

05/21/2026

Here are a few of the fabulous pieces in the dynamic "Members' Show" currently showing at River Arts in Damariscotta.
Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, May 23rd, from 2-4. Meet many of the artists, enjoy light refreshments, and engage in some lively conversation.

The "Members' Show" runs through July 4.

05/19/2026

"Members' Show" opening reception Saturday, May 23 from 2-4
at River Arts in Damariscotta

River Arts in Damariscotta launches the summer season with a blockbuster “Members’ Show.” Featuring the work of 134 artists, the gallery is filled with a vibrant salon-style exhibition showcasing an impressive range of original artwork. The public is invited to celebrate the opening and meet many of the participating artists at a reception on Saturday, May 23 from 2–4 p.m.

Bringing together artists from across Maine, this expansive exhibition highlights a rich diversity of styles, mediums, and artistic perspectives. Each artist has chosen work that reflects their unique creative vision, resulting in a dynamic collection that captures the spirit and energy of Maine’s contemporary art scene. Visitors will experience an abundance of new work, including painting, sculpture, pastel, ceramics, original printmaking, wood, glass, fiber art, and photography.

“Members’ Show” runs from Tuesday, May 19 through Saturday, July 4.

Also on view during the opening reception, Mark Christopher’s River Room exhibition, “The Colors of Nature,” continues through June 3. Guests will have an opportunity to meet Christopher during the May 23 reception from 2–4 p.m.

River Arts is located at 36 Elm Street in Damariscotta. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit the website or call (207) 563-6868.

Image: Libby Reed

05/16/2026

New River Room Show: Mark Christopher "The Colors of Nature"
Show runs through June 3rd. Opening reception May 23 from 2-4.

River Arts is pleased to announce artist Mark Christopher’s solo River Room exhibition, "The Colors of Nature". This original and one-of-a-kind show features striking sculpture, intricate bird carvings, and luminous oil paintings inspired by the natural world.

Christopher, who resides in Cushing, traces the beginnings of his artistic journey back to a high school wood shop class.

“My bird carving art started in high school wood shop class at age 15,” Christopher shares. “The teacher had duck decoys he carved, and with his guidance and encouragement my interest in birds and woodworking grew from curiosity into a lifelong passion. It’s fascinating how one person and one experience can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.”

Although Christopher later pursued a career in wildlife biology, art remained a constant thread throughout his life. Over the years, he participated in wildfowl carving exhibitions and competitions, steadily refining his craft and gaining recognition for his work. Eventually, his creative interests expanded into stone sculpture and oil painting.

“Oil painting allows me to explore color, mood, composition, and artistic expression more freely,” he says. “I’ve always retained my love of birds, but over time it became a quieter, more reflective appreciation.”

For many years, family, work, and daily responsibilities took precedence over artmaking. Now, decades later, Christopher finds himself returning to the creative passions that first inspired him.

“I am excited to rekindle the three art forms that still carry a spark in my heart,” he says. “Bird carving, stone sculpture, and oil painting each present unique emotional, intellectual, and technical challenges. I enjoy them for their expressiveness, their healing qualities, and the way they encourage growth and connection. I hope you will enjoy my artwork and perhaps find some inspiration in it, which creates a connection and bond between us, which is an immeasurable satisfaction for me.”

River Arts is located at River Arts in Damariscotta. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 563-6868 or visit River Arts.

05/02/2026

John Lorence and Jorge Pena's dynamic show "Stories in Color" continues in the River Room at River Arts in Damariscotta through May 13th.

Image: Jorge Pena "Whatever was, always is"

04/26/2026

Call to Artists: Members' Show
Submissions now open through Saturday, May 16 at 4 pm.

River Arts in Damariscotta is pleased to invite members to participate in an upcoming “Members’ Show.” All current and new members are invited to submit one piece for this non-juried exhibition. Submissions are open now through Saturday, May 16, at 4:00 p.m.

The show will run from May 19 through July 4, with a gala opening reception on Saturday, May 23, from 2 to 4 pm.

Now is a wonderful time to become a member and join the River Arts community. The “Members’ Show” celebrates the talent of River Arts’ member artists and showcases the wide range of art being created in Maine.

All media are welcome, including—but not limited to—painting, sculpture, fiber, photography, ceramics, original printmaking, drawing, encaustic, and pastel. Works may be representational or abstract. The “Members’ Show” offers artists the opportunity to submit work for an impressive salon-style exhibition.

All submitted works must be for sale. River Arts retains a 35% commission on all sold work. Entry and membership forms are available at the gallery or online at riverartsme.org.

Artists may submit one piece measuring no larger than 30 inches in height or width, including the frame.

Annual dues are $60 for individual artists or $90 for a household membership. Please check with us if you are unsure whether your membership is still active. There is a $15 hanging fee for participation in the “Members’ Show.”

River Arts is located at 36 Elm Street in Damariscotta. For more information, email [email protected], call 207-563-6868, or visit riverartsme.org. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm.

Image: Sally Loughridge "Quiet Marsh" Members' Show 2025

04/23/2026

Opening Reception: Saturday, April 25th from 2-4 at River Arts in Damariscotta.
John Lorence and Jorge Pena: "Stories in Color" in the River Room

River Arts in Damariscotta invites the public to a new exhibition in the River Room gallery, “Stories in Color,” featuring the work of John Lorence and Jorge Peña. The show runs from April 23 through May 13, with an opening reception on Saturday, April 25 from 2–4 p.m.

“Stories in Color” brings together two distinct artistic voices, each exploring personal narrative through vivid palettes, symbolic imagery, and a deep connection to place.

A longtime Maine painter and educator, John Lorence studied at Cranbrook Academy of Art and has spent decades teaching and exhibiting throughout the state.

Lorence shares, “As an artist, I have been adaptable and sustained by particular themes. Some of these ideas have become series, as in: habitat and environment; nautical and sea images; classical mythology; and landscape (many places). I have lived in Maine for over 50 years, since the 1960s, and there is so much inspiration right here. My point of view as a painter reflects the spirit and energy from my mentors, under whom I was a student many years ago. And, based in Maine now, with travels to the ‘four winds,’ I identify as a Maine painter.”

Jorge Peña is a Maine artist whose work explores cultural heritage and the natural world through bold color and symbolic imagery.
Peña says, “My art is color, shapes, symbols, episodes, memories.
My art is personal; it comes from my heart. It is an intrinsic way to tell my story, my points of view, to tell others what interests me, reflecting my background and my current world, representing my surroundings and my ancestry. My overall vision about what I create shows the duality of two different worlds. My current world in Maine will show that after more than 22 years of planting my roots in this state, I am still in the process of discovery of an “exotic world,” a discovery of its vegetation, waters, rocks, seasons, and people. It is impossible to disassociate from my ethnicity; then, indigenous imagery appears within my work. The work shown in this exhibit is linked to my love of nature, where the landscape and certain elements—rocks, soil elements, forests, trees, or weathered tree bark—dominate. Here they are as conceived.”

Together, Lorence and Peña offer two unique approaches to storytelling through color.

River Arts is located at 36 Elm St. in Damariscotta. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 10 to 4. For additional information, visit the website: riverartsme.org or call the gallery (207) 563-6868.

04/18/2026

Jamie Spooner's vibrant show "Glimmer & Glow: Illuminating the Coast of Maine" continues in the River Room at River Arts in Damariscotta through April 22.

04/14/2026

It was a festive Saturday afternoon celebrating the opening of "New Works" at River Arts in Damariscotta.

Address

36 Elm Street Plaza
Damariscotta, ME
04543

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+12075636868

Website

http://www.riverartsme.org/

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