After canceling last year’s event due to COVID-19, Lincoln Arts Festival held its Art for Arts Sake show and sale August 12-15. The event had a new venue and featured 20 local artists whose work included fine art, print-making, fiber arts, weaving, ceramics, glass, plants and assemblist sculpture.

The event moved from Hodgdon Yacht Services on Southport to the YMCA Field House tennis courts, which provided comfortable open space for the visually exciting and diverse selection of works. From Nora Lally, who arranged succulents as “Living Pieces of Art,” to the wonderful light captured in oil paintings by Rick Dickinson, visitors could take their time admiring, and in some cases buying, the art. A popular free event for residents and summer visitors, the three-day show has had as many as 600 attendees each year.  

Leslie Muir-Volpe, a fiber artist who creates miniature quilts, embroidery and unique keepsakes, has taken part in the show for more than 20 years as an artist, participant and this year as coordinator.

“It’s always been a win/win,” she said. “It’s a great venue for the artists and it brings a great art show to the community. It’s a nice mix,” she explained. “There’s something for everyone, from old master style painting to abstract and expressionist pieces.”

“Leslie has done a terrific job,” said Lincoln Arts Festival’s president, Jody Lunt. Lunt also was grateful to the YMCA for providing the space. “The Y was very generous. The space feels bigger and yet somehow intimate.” Lunt pointed out the addition of ficus trees on loan from Boothbay Region Greenhouses placed around the displays.

She added, COVID-19 restrictions prevented the event last year. This year’s move was needed because Hodgdon Yacht Services needed the space for its work. Unfortunately, the pandemic meant the LAF Chorus performance of Vivaldi’s “Gloria” scheduled for earlier in August had to be cancelled at the last minute when the number of COVID-19 cases in Lincoln County increased, requiring face masks indoors.

Other events planned for the festival this summer are a poetry workshop Sept. 11 via Zoom, a jazz concert Aug. 28 and a concert by pianist Stephen Porter on Sept. 18. Learn more at https://www.lincolnartsfestival.org/