French impressionist painter Claude Monet said, “My garden is my most beautiful work of art.” This comes from an artist whose paintings of gardens are legendary.
At the Preserve, we share this sentiment with Monet. Our gardens are works of art, which is why it was so meaningful for us to welcome painters into our landscapes this summer.
Through a new partnership, the Preserve collaborated with the Bar Harbor Historical Society to host plein air painters in our gardens. Twenty-six Maine-inspired artists painted and held classes in our lands and gardens as part of BHHS’s 2024 Hudson to Harbor Artist Invitational.
We could not have imagined how beautifully this partnership would turn out. Our visitors were curious and delighted to observe the artists. Students in the classes were inspired by their surroundings and their teachers. Most of the artists had never painted in Preserve landscapes and found new outlets for their creativity.
And then there is the artwork! Below is a sampling of artists’ beautiful interpretations of our gardens. Seeing the gardens through their eyes gives us a whole new perspective on these landscapes.
We were so inspired by the artwork, that we planned an exhibition at the Northeast Harbor Library for December. We will be in touch with more details as that exhibit is finalized.
Top row (left to right): Summer Circus by Carol Shutt; Asticou Reflections by Rick Osann; At the Gardens by Kerry Eaton
Bottom row (left to right): Floral Footpath by Vicky Smith; Autumn Azalea by Gabriela Niejadik; Lush by Shannon Westphal
All the artwork from Hudson to Harbor can be viewed and purchased on the Bar Harbor Historical Society’s website.
The Preserve welcomes photographers and painters in our landscapes. Please click here to learn more.