John Mead painting of roachback trout, a native species which is now extinct
A once in a lifetime opportunity will be provided when eleven major museums in Maine mount simultaneous folk art exhibits in the summer and fall of 2008.
Maine is the repository of numerous outstanding pieces of traditional American folk art. Many have never before been seen by the public. These objects either have significance to the heritage of the state and/or are among the finest examples of New England folk art in the country.
Rare frontal view portrait attributed to Rufus Porter
Traditional American folk art celebrates the work of ordinary people who, with little or no academic training, have produced things of extraordinary beauty and charm. The term folk art embraces useful objects, hand crafted and embellished with aesthetic intention, such as pottery, quilts and weathervanes. It also includes decorative objects, made to adorn or commemorate, such as portraits, models, carvings and needlework.
The Maine Folk Art Trail 2008 will have broad appeal. A book containing over 100 images of some of the best examples from ten of the museums will be available by mid-May.
Participating museums include:
| Bates College Museum of Art | Lewiston | Museums of Old York | York | |
| Colby College Museum of Art | Waterville | Penobscot Marine Museum | Searsport | |
| Farnsworth Art Museum | Rockland | Rufus Porter Museum | Bridgton | |
| Maine Historical Society | Portland | Saco Museum | Saco | |
| Maine Maritime Museum | Bath | Sabbathday Lake Shaker Museum | New Gloucester | |
| Maine State Museum | Augusta |
Days and hours vary for each museum. For more details check the website, www.MaineFolkArtTrail.org.
Plan your summer now. Follow the Trail up the rocky seacoast and inland to the beautiful lakes regions.
The Rufus Porter Museum has compiled possible routes to visit all the museums on the trail in either 7 or 4 days, starting in York and ending in Portland: Printable PDF version of 7 and 4 day routes
A 144-page hard cover book titled Folk Art in Maine will be published, featuring more than 100 of the best objects exhibited on the trail.
This book serves as an introduction for the novice, a treasure for the collector, and a companion piece to the museum exhibits in the Folk Art Trail. The book features a general introduction by Stacy C. Hollander, senior curator of the American Folk Art Museum in New York City, and commentary from curators of Maine’s folk art collections.
It will be available for sale at each museum location and from Down East Books in Camden beginning in May 2008. Click on the book cover to order.
 Weathervane by Bridgton native James Lombard |
 Presentation box decorated by John Mead; Dr. Kimball later moved from Bridgton to Hawaii to be physician to the last Queen |
 John Bellamy-carved eagle |
J. H. Davis watercolor
photo by K. Lindberg
The Rufus Porter Museum recognizes the important artistic endeavors of celebrated western Maine folk artists working in the early 1800s. Outstanding examples of their art will be on exhibit at the museum from June 3 to October 12, 2008.
J. H. Davis watercolors, a William Prior portrait of his daughter, the Ingersell Family Record, Bellamy carved eagles, James Lombard weathervanes, several John Brewster portraits, Portland School needlework and other local decorative painters such as John Mead and Vivian Akers will be represented in this well rounded exhibit of Maine folk art.
In addition, the set of murals signed and dated 1837 by Rufus Porter and his son, Stephen Twombly, will be on exhibit at a separate location in Bridgton. Referred to as the Howe Westwood murals, they are considered his finest work in landscape murals.
The Rufus Porter Museum is entirely devoted to folk art, so a visual treat is in store for visitors in the year 2008.
 Bridgton founder Enoch Perley; signed John Brewster 1825 photo by K. Lindberg |
 Ingersell family record, 1818 |
 Rosamond Prior, painted by William Prior in 1846 photo by K. Lindberg |