This week the Rotary welcomed Peter Bruun as our speaker.  Peter is an artist and executive director of Bruun studios.  He shared his personal journey, his development of Studio B, as well as current Lincoln County projects.  Studio B uses art and story to create spaces where everyone is seen, heard, and valued, cultivating individual self-esteem, and building stronger communities.  Peter’s personal history and passion aim to make this world a more compassionate healing environment for persons in pain, especially from addiction or mental health issues.  

Peter was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1963. Peter spent his elementary school years in New York City.  As a child, Peter enjoyed making art, and though he was encouraged in his art making (his grandmother gave him his first oil paint set when he was 12 years old), the idea of becoming an artist never crossed his mind. During his freshman year at Williams College, Peter took an introductory art history course and discovered he had a knack for the subject. Peter unexpectedly found himself in his element. In fall of 1983 as a junior, Peter spent a semester abroad in Florence, an experience that proved pivotal. He fell in love with looking at art, and he made a monumental realization: he could be what he wanted to be, and he wanted to be an artist. 

After losing his daughter in 2014 to addiction illness and overdose, Peter focused his heart and his energy into using his art and individual skills to make this world a safer, less shaming, and more respectful place for folks to get help with pain, addiction, and mental illness.  His heartfelt commitment is to make clear that there are folks who will care and hear the stories of those suffering and bring us all together to connect in a safer healing community.  

Now in 2024, Peter has impressive and severely needed programs going on in Maine. Studio B is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) extension of the earlier initiative Bruun Studios, with art workshops and exhibits focused to connect and affirm worth and dignity. In his Lincoln County project “19 Towns, 19 Stories” he leads a project to highlight stories of personal battles with addiction.  

Interested volunteers can help in offering personal sharing or referring persons in need of a safe place to be heard, or help lead projects, or offer financial assistance. Rotary offers our deep gratitude to Peter for sharing his work with us tonight.  

Announcements

This Thursday we are welcoming the wonderful seniors from the 2024 graduating class at Boothbay Region High School. We'll meet them, hear their plans for their futures, applaud them all and be amazed at their enthusiasm and eloquence. We'll also present several “Service Above Self” Scholarships.  It's an annual Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club event that never fails to make us proud of our young people and more optimistic about our future.   

The Rotary will have a float again in the Windjammer parade. Please contact Karen Pritchard to volunteer.  

We welcomed Ellen, a guest from Portland Rotary who shared a “Circle of 5” fundraiser her club runs which allows groups of five persons to each donate $200 for the year, building larger donations per each number of groups and individuals are rotated and receive a “Paul Harris” award. See Judy White if you are interested in forming a circle at our club.   

During our sergeant at arms the club held several club members or spouses in our hearts for surgeries or illness.  

The Rotary Barn is open every Saturday from 8:30 to 11 a.m.  We are accepting donations of gently used furniture, kayaks, tools, dishes, collectibles, and well, just about anything for the Big, Gray Rotary Barn.  Send Deb a text at 207-380-3550 for pickup or drop off plans. 

If you're interested in the fun and work of Rotary, join us any Thursday at 6 p.m. for a great buffet dinner, followed by a fun meeting with amazing people.  We meet at our clubhouse, 66 Montgomery Road, Boothbay Harbor.