Five young artists spent a week ensconced in a tiny Maine village near the Canadian border. The abundance of lobsters and fresh air starkly contrasted with the dilapidated homes dotting the nearby Native American reservation.
"Conversations" with the landscape and the locals fueled unique visual responses, which was Penn State art professor Yvonne Love's intention when she spearheaded the residency for her Abington students.
Love's connection with onetime New York art dealer Brenda Taylor brought the close community of Abington women to the coastal town of Machiasport. Taylor opened her house as a studio space for the week, which was key to the outcomes and experiences of the artists.
"We fed off of each other’s energy and excitement in a communal studio and living environment," Abington senior Susan Stanton said.
Each artist plucked remarkably different threads from the experience. The clear frigid waters sent Kate Roche, who majors in art with a minor in biology, scrambling for her microscope. She developed paintings and mixed media pieces based on her observations.
Senior Rebecca Elmer discovered a book of local Native American legends that entranced her. She created gourd carvings and paintings based on the character of The Rabbit Magician.
It was Stanton's first time exploring the far northeastern United States, and her sense of wonder led the way.
"I wanted to let the environment dictate and influence my approach," she said. "I was experimenting with printmaking processes so I brought materials that allowed me to print with found objects."
A stop at the Harvard Museum of Natural History on the 700-mile trip to Machiasport also impacted Stanton's choices for the week.
"The vibrant colors, facets and textures of the rare rocks, minerals and gemstones were so inspiring and influenced my color palette," she said.