Jane Dahmen to be Signature Artist for Eighth Annual Maine Artists at Maine Audubon Art Auction

FALMOUTH, Maine, August 2, 2005

Painter and Newcastle resident Jane Dahmen will be the signature artist for the eighth annual Maine Artists at Maine Audubon art auction, the only event of its kind to support conservation of Maine's wildlife and wildlife habitat.

"I'm honored to be the signature artist," said Dahmen, who has painted for the auction an acrylic-on paper diptych landscape of Maine Audubon's Hog Island Audubon Camp in Bremen. This is the third year in a row Dahmen has donated work to the fundraiser.

Dozens of leading artists with ties to Maine contribute their paintings, photography, sculpture, ceramics and jewelry to the auction, which will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, September 30 at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth. A silent auction and reception will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. with guest host Kim Block of WGME News Channel 13, followed at 7:30 p.m. by a live auction led by well-known Maine auctioneer Kaja Veilleux. The artwork can be previewed online anytime or in person at the center starting September 23.

Most of the works for sale portray or are inspired by Maine's natural world. For 30 years Dahmen has sailed along and painted the Maine coast, which has been such an inspiration that she and her husband moved to the state from Massachusetts this winter. She now paints in a home studio overlooking the Damariscotta River.

"The light in Maine is fresh and bright; you can really see the stars at night, and colors are vivid," said Dahmen. "Or it can be atmospheric when the fog rolls in."

Dahmen hopes that the landscapes she paints will inspire people not to harm nature. "If people are inspired to protect the scenes I have painted, I'll feel I have made some small contribution."

"The faster the pace of life is, the more we get away from things that really matter-birds, trees, grass, bodies of water," she added. "Nature restores us."

Dahmen began making art as a printmaker; in 1984 UNICEF published one of her prints as a card and staged a one-person show of her work in Boston. In 1989 Graphique de France published three of her gouaches as posters and distributed them world wide until 1997.

She has a bachelor's degree in art history from Colby College and also attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Her work has shown at numerous galleries and museums in New England and is included in many corporate and private collections, including that of President George H.W. Bush. Three of Dahmen's paintings were part of a year-long exhibition at the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo.

Other well-known artists participating in this year's Maine Artists at Maine Audubon art auction include Mary Bourke (signature artist 2003), John Bowdren, Carolyn Caldwell, Heidi Daub, Suzanne deLesseps, Kate Fitzgerald, Kathleen Galligan, Bruce Habowski, Julie Hahn Cunningham, Connie Hayes (signature artist 2000), Janet Laird-Lagassee, Marguerite Lawler, Mark Lazzari, Jack Montgomery, Thomas Paquette (signature artist 2002), Jane Ryan and Mike Stiler.

To date, Maine Artists at Maine Audubon is sponsored by Spectrum Medical Group; Brown Goldsmiths; Lee Auto Malls of Maine; Verill Dana LLP; Piper Shores; Walden Asset Management; Amaryllis Clothing Company; Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson; Casco Bay Framing; DeLorme Publishing Company; Just Framing; OceanView at Falmouth and O'Naturals.

Proceeds from the auction benefit Maine Audubon's work to conserve wildlife and wildlife habitat. Tickets are $30 each or two for $50, and include hors d'oeuvres, drinks, desserts and live music. For reservations and information, call (207) 781-2330, ext. 231.

MAINE AUDUBON works to conserve Maine’s wildlife and wildlife habitat by engaging people of all ages in education, conservation and action.

Support for Maine Audubon comes from its 11,000 members and supporters, including individuals, foundations and corporations. Members are automatically members of their local Maine Audubon chapter and National Audubon Society, Inc., of which Maine Audubon is an affiliate. Contributions to Maine Audubon are used only in Maine.

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