Casco Bay Artisans

Salt Water & Sunshine Vol.2 Artist Reception
2024-08-02 17:00 - 19:30 UTC | Casco Bay Artisans, 68 Commercial St, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Summer in Maine Continues!
The days are getting ever so slightly shorter and the golden sun has started adding more oranges and pinks to the sky. Hot sunny air lingers until night falls and the breeze cools, carrying the faint smell of campfires and the songs of loons. The works of Ben Boothby, Lee Gordon, Rebecca Hayes, and Robin Swennes exemplify this incredible season in Maine. Boothby brings together shape, form, color, and line in the masterful detail of his wood sculptures. Gordon fuses the elements of Maine’s marshes and oceans in his glass vases. Hayes turns her hyperrealistic style toward the Forest City, painting iconic locations from the greater Portland area. And Swennes honors one of Maine’s most important agricultural crops and symbols in her immersive paintings of blueberries.
Summer isn’t over. Come see us on the wharf.
Opening Reception Friday August 2nd, 5-7:30pm.
Highlighted WorksBen BoothbyBen Boothby ‘Duality Sequence’ Oil on Inlaid Veneer Panel 16” x 15” x 4” $4945
Ben Boothby ‘Parallax Motif II’ Oil on Inlaid Veneer Panel 27” x 12” x 4” $5980
Ben Boothby ‘Fascia Catalyst’ Oil on Inlaid Veneer Panel 14″x26″x3″ $6,900
Ben Boothby ‘Cantilever Iteration’ Oil on Inlaid Veneer Panel 12” x 16” x 4” $4140
Lee GordonLee Gordon ‘Marsh View Series (Teal)’ Hand Blown Glass 8”x13”x4” $550
Lee Gordon ‘Small Touchstones (Teal)’ Hand Blown Glass 3”x6”x3” $240
Lee Gordon ‘Small Touchstones (Dark Blue’ Hand Blown Glass 4”x6”x2” $240
Lee Gordon ‘Small Vase’ Hand Blown Glass 5” Round x 8” $290
Rebecca HayesRebecca Hayes ‘Harbor Fish Market’ Oil on Canvas 32”x22” $8700⁠
Rebecca Hayes ‘Custom House Wharf’ Oil on Canvas 21.5″x17.5″ $4200
Rebecca Hayes ‘Top of the East, 2024’ Oil on Canvas 48” x 30” $8500
Hayes ‘The Honey Paw’ Oil on Canvas 31.75” x 25.5” $8800⁠
Robin SwennesRobin Swennes ‘Get Your Maine On’ Acrylic on Wood 30″x30″ $4100
Robin Swennes DNA Blue’ Acrylic on Wood 30″x30″ $4100
Robin Swennes ‘Red, in the Crantextual Sense’ Acrylic on Wood 16″x16″ $825
Robin Swennes ‘Blue Impressions’ Acrylic on Panel 12” x 12” $475

Gesture. Color. Form.
2024-09-20 08:00 - 2024-10-28 17:00
Opening Friday, September 20th, 5-7pm
Gesture. Color. Form.
Five Maine Artists and the Influence of Abstract Expressionism on Their Work.
Abstract Expressionism is considered the first distinctly American art movement. Emerging after the post WWII era and emboldened by more experimental ways of painting from Europe, the Abstract Expressionist (AbEx) painters continued to push the ideas of movement, color theory, and non-objective shapes into practices that challenged how to ‘paint’ a painting, full immersion in fields color, and the emotional impact of the artist’s gesture on the canvas.
Works of this era prioritized expression and spontaneity rather than formal subject matter. These paintings explored the unconscious mind and the inner self. There were two primary offshoots of the movement: the action painters and the color field painters. The pioneers of Abstract Expressionism include Jackson Pollack, William deKooning, Mark Rothko, Barnet Newman, Lee Krasner, Helen Frakenthaler, and Robert Motherwell.
We have invited gallery artists Russ Cox, Cade Jarvis, Erika Manning, Rachel Somerville, and Patrick Walsh to examine how this movement and its precepts influence their own practice as abstractionists today. Here’s what they have to say:
Russ CoxAs an artist, the mental imprinting of cultural exposure, places, landscapes, and their associated experience are integral to my approach as I move in and out of a canvas. The freedom to draw upon this within my process of painting – although not always achieved – is movement without constraint while creating abstract relationships within the work. This is when the act of painting is truly satisfying, and achieving a balance between what’s considered pure expressionism and abstraction is what I find particularly compelling. More simply, I move with tools in hand and the work emerges.
Painting for me is a physical act, and the freedom to express within that movement has been guided by the previous generation of expressionists and color field artists. My champions of “modern” expressionism and color field styles start with Joan Mitchell and Willem de Kooning’s exceptionally strong colors and brushstroke, Jackson Pollock’s gestural movement, Helen Frankenthaler’s staining and magnificent shapes that utilize negative space so brilliantly, and the masterful Indian artist V.S. Gaitonde’s soft moods achieved within his non-objective work. Not only have these artists influenced my process and discernment while painting, their risk-taking demonstrated a pathway for my ongoing experimentation in developing my own techniques and approaches in completing my paintings.
Joan Mitchell said, “I carry my landscapes around with me”. I love this idea as I too bring out cherished landscapes I carry. While Mitchell didn’t exactly say this at the time, my guess is that she might agree that our experiences and feelings not just of place, but of actions, nature, and our shared human condition have no place to go but eek onto the canvas, sometimes boldly, sometimes subtly, for us to create our own meaning.
Featured WorksRuss Cox ‘Daybreak’ Oil on Canvas 48″x60″ $7200
Russ Cox ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Oil on Canvas 48″x60″ $7200
Russ Cox ‘All The Places You’ll Go’ Oil on Canvas with Handcrafted Spalted Wood 39” x 51” $7200
Russ Cox ‘Party On The Wharf’ Oil on Canvas Scroll 48”x80” $6550
Cade JarvisIn these paintings, painter Cade Jarvis wanted to continue to push his fascination with the colors of the sky and the beauty it displays for all to witness. These paintings act as captured moments in time while also pushing the viewer to create their own emotional attachment to each painting. This approach is reflected in the works of many artists in the Abstract Expressionist movement who focused heavily on color theory and the relationships their artworks had on viewers. Artists like Mark Rothko, Joseph Albers and Al Reinhardt are some of Jarvis’s favorite artists who he constantly looks to for inspiration in his own paintings. Their Color Field paintings and interaction between color, time and play between viewer and painting are ideas that Jarvis continues to push in his own work and continue to nurture in his expansive repertoire of techniques as an artist.
Featured WorksCade Jarvis ‘Evening Crescendo’ Acrylic on Panel 12”x24” $1850
Cade Jarvis ‘19:52 – 18:05 (Perspectives of Time)’ Acrylic on Panel 7”x31” $950
Cade Jarvis ‘22:18 – 17:57 (Perspectives of Time)’ Acrylic on Panel 7”x31” $950
Cade Jarvis ‘18:56 – 12:03 (Perspectives of Time)’ Acrylic on Panel 7”x31” $950
Erika ManningI consider myself an abstract painter whose work is loosely based on the routes traveled in both the inner and outer landscape of life.
While steeped in classical ways of drawing and painting, one of the overarching influences in my work has always been Abstract Expressionism. From a very early age I was enamored with AB EX artists such as Mark Rothko, Richard Pousette-Dart, Joan Mitchell, Helen Frankenthaler, Lee Krasner, Richard Diebenkorn, Willem Dekoonig and more recently Lynn Drexler and Alma Thomas. Other influences have been Stone Age Cave painting, stained glass church windows, religious icons, Surrealism, my life long practice of Yoga as well as intuitive Spiritualist artists such as Hilma Af Klint.
Making the work is about letting go, improvising, getting out of the way, and letting the painting be what it wants to be…which generally is not what I as the artist thought it might be. I always start with big expansive line gestures of Prussian Blue paint, and the Surrealist technique of “liquid down a vertical plane”. This helps to give me some loose structure to start with. The viewer can sometimes see these initial gestures peeking through the layers of paint in the
finished work. I feel this adds to the collective history of the painting, and have always been drawn to the idea that artwork is comparable to human experience in that the story and what is underneath isn’t always visible on the surface.
While I am not a color field painter, I’ve always enjoyed that idea as well as the use of deep saturated layers of color in my work. I like incorporating hues that vibrate on either end of the color wheel to activate the surface of the painting. Recently I’ve been drawn to explore a more neutral and quieter pallet to see how that changes both my experience in creating the work, as well as the viewers experience.
My painting practice has always been an intuitive form of personal expression. The process of making the work is linked to a form of spiritual growth, and is in essence the way I navigate my world. It is my hope that the viewer completes the work by sensing a spirit of place that is known on some level, but perhaps one that is more of an instinctive recognition.
Featured WorksErika Manning ‘Blue Harbor I’ Oil on Canvas 30” x 24” $4140
Erika Manning ‘Blue Harbor II’ Oil on Canvas 24” x 24” $3450
Erika Manning ‘Blue Harbor III’ Oil on Canvas 30” x 24” $4140
Erika Manning ‘Blue Harbor IV’ Oil on Canvas 24” x 24” $3450
Rachel SomervilleMy practice is about liberation, rebellion, and freedom. When I paint, I’m processing my thoughts, feelings, and experiences—the good, the bad- the drama. I’m swimming through the wins, the failures- sadness and the joy.
My practice is deeply connected to music; sound drives the dance of my brush. With music comes texture and color, which also guide the flow. Painting is like dancing—an unrehearsed dance that bubbles up from the soul. As Ernst Ludwig Kirchner wrote, “The painter needs to feel the power of life flowing through him like a river; otherwise he cannot paint.” For me, painting is a release, an escape, a celebration, and a confession. It embodies emotion and lived experience. It is the calm and the storm all at once—a mourning and a celebration.
Featured WorksRachel Somerville ‘Your Wish is My Command l’ Mixed Media on Canvas 16″x20″ $2200
Rachel Somerville ‘Your Wish is My Command II’ Mixed Media on Canvas 16″x20″ $1800
Rachel Somerville ‘Eighties Galaxy’ Mixed Media on Canvas 22″x28″ $2400
Rachel Somerville ‘En Route l’ Mixed Media on Canvas 11″x14″ $1800
Patrick WalshArtist Statement:
My recent work is deeply inspired by the natural world. Particularly, the unique flora and fauna
of Maine. These paintings seek to explore the subtle, yet profound differences within natural
environments, reflecting how these variations mirror the individuality of human beings. I use a
mostly monochromatic palette to encourage the viewer to look more closely and discover the
minute details that often go overlooked in our fast-paced, modern world. The work aims to
challenge viewers to appreciate the nuances of the natural world and, by extension, the diversity
within humanity itself.
Abstract Expressionism Reflection:
From the time I saw my first Rothko, I was overtaken by the abstract expressionist movement.
Artists like Clyfford Still, Willem De Kooning and Barnett Newman carried my love for this art
world movement and have heavily influenced my own work over the years. My use of
expressive, vivid color palettes along with a sense of gesture and expression, resemble similar
characteristics of the Abstract Expressionist era. Much like many Abstract Expressionists’ work
aimed to evoke emotion through color alone, my recent work makes use of contrasting colors,
creating a dynamic visual tension that draws the viewer in. The brush strokes and mark making
that form the flora of my work convey a certain sense of movement and energy, creating a
connection to nature that’s as much about feeling as it is about representation. The stylized and
abstracted forms paired with intense pigment, bring forth an emotional or even spiritual
connection to nature. Similar to artists from the Abstract Expressionist realm sought to explore
the sublime or question the human condition. I carry such a deep appreciation of all the Abstract
Expressionist artists and work within me, that it’s carried through into my own work, and, taking
a step back to observe that connection, I’m so grateful that it has.
Featured WorksPatrick Walsh “Willard” Acrylic on Canvas 20”x24” $3200
Patrick Walsh ‘Coneflower’ Acrylic on Canvas 52″x64″ $5800
Patrick Walsh ‘Sweater’ Oil and Acrylic on Canvas 36” x 48” $6090
Patrick Walsh ‘My Flowers’ Acrylic on Canvas 20″x24″ $3200

Gesture. Color. Form. Opening Reception
2024-09-20 17:00 - 19:00

Diane Dahlke: A Few of My Favorite Things Opening Reception
2024-11-01 17:00 - 19:00
Diane Dahlke helps us usher in the season of giving with a show dedicated to the little joys in life and the moments that lift our spirits. Join us.
Opening Reception Friday Nov 1st
5-7pm

Spring Double Feature
2025-04-04 - 2025-04-28
Spring Double FeaturePetals & Leaves: An Offering to Spring and New Contemporary Glass
We’re kicking off Spring with an ode to the season and fresh contemporary glass art. Our double feature starts with Petals & Leaves, a group show about the budding and blooming season with work by gallery artists including Diane Dahlke, Russ Cox, Jess Lauren Lipton, Joyce Weinstein, Patrick Walsh, Sue Riger, Robin Swennes, Jonathan Eiten, and more.
Our second feature focuses on new contemporary glass from nationally recognized artists Varda Avnisan and Wes Hunting to start with new glass arriving from Treg Silkwood.
Full CatalogFeatured WorksSue Riger ‘Softly & Tenderly’ Acrylic on Canvas 36”x36” $3100
Wes Hunting ‘Large Colorfield Vessel (Pink Purple)’ Blown Glass 19″x17″x5″ $2900
Diane Dahlke ‘Rosemont Tulips’ Oil on Panel 18″x24″ $3500
Varda Avnisan ‘Purple Haze’ Glass 12”x13”x12 $2100
Jonathan Eiten ‘In Memoriam’ Oil on Panel 10” x 12.5” $850
Wes Hunting ‘Coral Optical (diamond shape)’ Blown Glass 14″x7″ $2000
Joyce Ellen Weinstein ‘Sunflowers’ Oil on Canvas 30″x40″ $1600
Varda Avnisan ‘Coastal Sunrise’ Glass 12”x12”x12 $1120
Patrick Walsh ‘Willard’ Acrylic on Canvas 20”x24” $3200
Featured Works at The Little Tap HouseWe are extending our Petals & Leaves feature to The Little Tap House located at the corner of Spring and High Streets across from the Portland Museum of Art. Be sure to stop in and see these gorgeous pieces in person.
Patrick Walsh “Somewhere in Rhode Island” Acrylic on Canvas 16”x20” $2800
Patrick Walsh “Highway Goldenrod” Acrylic on Canvas 30”x24” $3045
Patrick Walsh “Meeting” Acrylic on Canvas 10”x10” $1800
Patrick Walsh “Grass” Acrylic on Canvas 24”x24” $3200
Patrick Walsh “The Lawn Outside Salvation Army” Acrylic on Canvas 48”x48” $5800
Patrick Walsh “Secret Beach” Acrylic on Canvas 12”x12” $2000

Spring Double Feature Opening Reception
2025-04-04 17:00 - 19:00
Spring Double FeaturePetals & Leaves: An Offering to Spring and New Contemporary Glass
We’re kicking off Spring with an ode to the season and fresh contemporary glass art. Our double feature starts with Petals & Leaves, a group show about the budding and blooming season with work by gallery artists including Diane Dahlke, Russ Cox, Jess Lauren Lipton, Joyce Ellen Weinstein, Patrick Walsh, Sue Riger, Robin Swennes, Jonathan Eiten, and more.
Our second feature focuses on new contemporary glass from nationally recognized artists Varda Avnisan and Wes Hunting to start with new glass arriving from Treg Silkwood.
Featured WorksSue Riger ‘Softly & Tenderly’ Acrylic on Canvas 36”x36” $3100
Wes Hunting ‘Large Colorfield Vessel (Pink Purple)’ Blown Glass 19″x17″x5″ $2900
Diane Dahlke ‘Rosemont Tulips’ Oil on Panel 18″x24″ $3500
Varda Avnisan ‘Purple Haze’ Glass 12”x13”x12 $2100
Jonathan Eiten ‘In Memoriam’ Oil on Panel 10” x 12.5” $850
Wes Hunting ‘Coral Optical (diamond shape)’ Blown Glass 14″x7″ $2000
Joyce Ellen Weinstein ‘Sunflowers’ Oil on Canvas 30″x40″ $1600
Varda Avnisan ‘Coastal Sunrise’ Glass 12”x12”x12 $1120
Patrick Walsh ‘Willard’ Acrylic on Canvas 20”x24” $3200
Featured Works at The Little Tap HouseWe are extending our Petals & Leaves feature to The Little Tap House located at the corner of Spring and High Streets across from the Portland Museum of Art. Be sure to stop in and see these gorgeous pieces in person.
Patrick Walsh “Somewhere in Rhode Island” Acrylic on Canvas 16”x20” $2800
Patrick Walsh “Highway Goldenrod” Acrylic on Canvas 30”x24” $3045
Patrick Walsh “Meeting” Acrylic on Canvas 10”x10” $1800
Patrick Walsh “Grass” Acrylic on Canvas 24”x24” $3200
Patrick Walsh “The Lawn Outside Salvation Army” Acrylic on Canvas 48”x48” $5800
Patrick Walsh “Secret Beach” Acrylic on Canvas 12”x12” $2000

Midsummer Feature
2025-07-17 - 2025-08-25
Summer is in Full Swing on the Wharf!
Let’s celebrate the sunny season with new works from gallery masters Paul Brahms and Anastasia Gatto.
This summer we are introducing painter David Lazarus, printmaker Jaclyn Janis, and glass artist Treg Silkwood.
Come see why the best place to be this summer is on the Maine Wharf.
Thursday July 17th, 5-7pm
Featured WorksPaul Brahms ‘Tidal Line’ Oil on Canvas 50”x50” $14,800 ⁠
Anastasia Gatto ‘Stormy Sea’ Encaustic on Panel 37″x37″ $6415
Jaclyn Janis ‘Dawn Patrol at Higgins’ Reduction Print Framed 38.5″ x 30.5″ $2000

David Lazarus ‘One Fine Day’ Oil on Panel 11” x 9” $800

Treg Silkwood ‘Smokey Grey Driftwood Trio 2025’ Blown Glass 27”h x 18”w x 9”d $7500⁠
Next Up
From Maine with Love Opens August 28th

Through her stunning photo-realistic paintings, artist Rebecca Hayes takes us on a journey through greater Portland history finding forgotten moments and cherished memories.

Rebecca Hayes ‘Red’s Dairy 1950’s’ 16″x12″
Presale Available. Please Contact Us.
Rebecca Hayes ‘Harbor Fish Market 1970’s’ 20″x16″
Presale Available. Please Contact Us.
Join Us for Our Summer 2025 Feature Openings!

July 17th
Paul Brahms, Anastasia Gatto, Jaclyn Janis,
David Lazarus, Treg Silkwood
August 28th
Rebecca Hayes “From Maine With Love”
featuring historical images of greater Portland’s past.
September 25th
Russ Cox: New Works

July Summer Feature Opening
2025-07-17 17:00 - 19:00
Summer is in Full Swing on the Wharf!
Let’s celebrate the sunny season with new works from gallery masters Paul Brahms and Anastasia Gatto.
This summer we are introducing painter David Lazarus, printmaker Jaclyn Janis, and glass artist Treg Silkwood.
Come see why the best place to be this summer is on the Maine Wharf.
Thursday July 17th, 5-7pm
Featured WorksPaul Brahms ‘Tidal Line’ Oil on Canvas 50”x50” $14,800 ⁠
Anastasia Gatto ‘Stormy Sea’ Encaustic on Panel 37″x37″ $6415
Jaclyn Janis ‘Dawn Patrol at Higgins’ Reduction Print Framed 38.5″ x 30.5″ $2000

David Lazarus ‘One Fine Day’ Oil on Panel 11” x 9” $800

Treg Silkwood ‘Smokey Grey Driftwood Trio 2025’ Blown Glass 27”h x 18”w x 9”d $7500⁠
Next Up
From Maine with Love Opens August 28th

Through her stunning photo-realistic paintings, artist Rebecca Hayes takes us on a journey through greater Portland history finding forgotten moments and cherished memories.

Rebecca Hayes ‘Red’s Dairy 1970’s’ 16″x12″
Presale Available. Please Contact Us.
Rebecca Hayes ‘Harbor Fish Market 1970’s’ 16″x12″
Presale Available. Please Contact Us.
Join Us for Our Summer 2025 Feature Openings!

July 17th
Paul Brahms, Anastasia Gatto, Jaclyn Janis,
David Lazarus, Treg Silkwood
August 28th
Rebecca Hayes “From Maine With Love”
featuring historical images of greater Portland’s past.
September 25th
Russ Cox: New Works

Rebecca Hayes 'From Maine with Love' Opening Reception
2025-08-28 17:00 - 19:00
Rebecca Hayes ‘From Maine With Love’
New Paintings Inspired by Vintage Scenes
Through her stunning photo-realistic paintings, artist Rebecca Hayes takes us on a journey through Greater Portland history finding forgotten moments and cherished memories. In collaboration with historian Paul Ledman, author of “Walking Through History: Portland, Maine on Foot” and “Portland, Maine: Connections Across Time,” Hayes has brought her sharp brush work and eye for color to iconic locations including Harbor Fish Market, Red’s Dairy Freeze, and Congress Square. Each painting will be accompanied by text from Ledman for historical context.
Additional paintings of contemporary Greater Portland will be on view in the gallery.
Rebecca Hayes is an artist based in Portland, Maine. She grew up in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Opening Reception: Thursday August 28th, 5-7pm
Rebecca Hayes ‘Red’s Dairy 1970’s’ 16″x12″
Presale Available. Please Contact Us.
Rebecca Hayes ‘Harbor Fish Market 1970’s’ 20″x16″
Presale Available. Please Contact Us.
Join Us for Our Summer 2025 Feature Openings!

August 28th
Rebecca Hayes “From Maine With Love”
featuring historical images of greater Portland’s past.
September 25th
Russ Cox: New Works

Rebecca Hayes 'From Maine with Love'
2025-08-29 - 2025-09-22

Cade Jarvis: Portals
2026-03-12 - 2026-04-06
Opening Reception Sunday March 15th, 11-2pm
Cade Jarvis takes us on a journey into color and soft gradients that pull you deeper into the work. His technical precision allows your eye to flow through paths of color winding you into his world.
Sneak PeekCade Jarvis ‘Shimmering Lights on Acadian Tides’ Acrylic on Panel 48″x36″
Cade Jarvis ‘Petals Drifting in a Spring Breeze’ Acrylic on Panel 11”x14”
Cade Jarvis ‘Soft Rays of a Spring Sun’ Acrylic on Panel 9”x12”

Cade Jarvis: Portals Artist Reception
2026-03-15 11:00 - 14:00

Full Bloom Fever
2026-04-12 - 2026-05-10
Opening Sunday April 12th!We’re kicking off spring with new bold, bright, and joyous floral paintings from Sue Riger. Come find the perfect bouquet that will stay in bloom for years to come.
Sue Riger is a popular painter, teacher, and mentor. She dabbled in graphic design and web design with success after earning her BFA from Penn State University, but she always longed to be painting. Pursuing her goal of becoming a painter was challenging and fun. She plunged into online and live painting classes, workshops and residencies from professional painters in a variety of styles. As a result of consistent experimentation and practice, Sue is now an accomplished artist. She joyfully engages in painting as a response to the beauty around us.
Sue’s paintings are characterized by strong light and well-developed layers of beautiful color. Her creative outlets include exclusive original paintings for galleries, commissioned work, and art for print licensing. Creating extensive series of works for her agents taught her to hone her painting skills as well as generate quality large-scale high-resolution images for the print industry. She believes an artist’s work should not leave the studio until it is her best.
Empowering other artists is Sue’s way of paying it forward. She created several painting courses and launched her own online school. A skilled teacher, she offers both live and online learning opportunities in representational and abstract techniques. Sue is also a mentor to aspiring artists via Mastrius Official, a company based in Canada dedicated to helping artists reach their goals. Her practice of sharing helpful content and beautiful art has launched her to become an influencer on Instagram where she delights in interacting with artists, collectors, agents, and galleries.
Featured WorksSue Riger ‘Blue Sky’ Acrylic on Canvas 24”x24” $2500
Sue Riger ‘Poetry of Petals’ Acrylic on Canvas 40”x30” $3050
Sue Riger ‘Bloom Into Light’ Acrylic on Canvas 36’x48′ $4312
Sue Riger ‘Petal Party’ Acrylic on Canvas 24”x24” $2500
Sue Riger ‘Garden Whispers’ Acrylic on Canvas 60″x48″ $6900
Sue Riger ‘Vivid Living’ Acrylic on Canvas 24”x24” $2500

Opening Reception: Full Bloom Fever
2026-04-12 11:00 - 14:00
