The drought remains with us, but it is hard not to appreciate the stellar weather, cool temperatures, mostly clear skies, with occasional bilious clouds that make one remember the childhood wonder of looking for familiar shapes in them. The breezes have been stiff since Erin passed by, enough for the sound of the surf to penetrate my small nook in the woods, you can feel the energy of the water, the hum of it all around, especially at night when all else is still.  Stillness is gradually returning here, many summer friends have needed to return home, schools are beginning, events here are also winding down. This weekend was a busy one, the much-anticipated Fireman’s Auction drew a large crowd, community was felt among all that attended, the Art For Arts Sake at Hodgdon was visited and much enjoyed by a steady flow of patrons, and continues today. 

Art will be among the things to look forward to in the next weeks, all happening at the Southport Memorial Library, located at 1032 Hendricks Hill Road.  For one more week you can enjoy “MidCoast Rambles and Beyond,” a show of paintings by Nancy Custer Carroll, a collection of oil and gouache paintings including seascapes, cottages, lighthouses, vintage yachts, and a series focusing on local navigational buoys.  All works are offered for sale. 

Nancy, a lifelong summer resident of Capitol Island, former sailing program director at BHYC and past commodore and sailing coach at the Southport Yacht Club, winters in Vermont, where, until she began painting, she was a children's librarian.  Her painting skills are both self-taught and gleaned from a sea of talented contemporary realist painters that include Julian Merrow-Smith, TJ Cunningham, Katie Whipple, Alex Venezia, and Emilie Lee.  Summers she rambles here and there along the coast of Maine with her easel, brushes, and colors as well as gathering images as she sails. 

Following Caroll’s work will be a retrospective exhibit of paintings by Richard Wiggin Johnson. It will begin Saturday, Sept. 6 and run through Oct. 31. On the 6th, from 2 to 4p.m., Richard and Ernestine’s daughter and grandsons will be at the library and are looking forward to seeing old friends and neighbors or anyone who remember Dick and Ernestine and would like to admire his work. He was a long-time resident of Southport, having lived on Landing Road for over 30 years, and was the first artist to exhibit at the Library in 1999. Considered one of Midcoast Maine’s top marine painters, he worked in oils, acrylic, and watercolors. 

While you are admiring the artwork, make sure to put in a bid for the watercolor of Old Southport by Cecile Clifford. The silent auction continues through September 2nd, all proceeds go to the library which is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m, with additional evening hours of 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  The librarians are welcoming and helpful, the lending collection broad, the gardens colorful, and there is an ongoing book sale. For more information, or if you have an interest in volunteering call 207-633-2741. 

If your interests are more with artifacts, boats and history, visit the Hendricks Head Museum for a docent led tour of the home and boat house, which are open through September. The hours are Tuesday and Thursday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.  Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. 

While preparing for the weekend events, errands needed tending, while doing so, I found another Southport connection beyond the island itself, but worth a mention, and perhaps a visit you might like to make as well while off the island.  Trying to avoid the traffic building on Route 1, I turned right after the Wiscasset bridge onto Eddy Road and saw an open flag at number 96 for a Studio and Showroom for Fine Contemporary Furniture, I was intrigued, so I went up the long dirt drive. After entering I was greeted by Eben Blaney, the artist/craftsman who lives and works there. A bit of conversation opened a story of history and of his and his family’s time on Southport. His father was Roy Blaney, a wooden boat builder of Boothbay Harbor, his shop was on Atlantic Avenue, and there he built over two dozen sailboats. The last boat that he built there was the Jenny Ives, a 40-foot ketch, and for two years after completion Roy and his family lived on the boat and then made their way to the Cross Road on Southport, about 1983, Eben was in high school. His father built a boat shop behind the house, and despite failing eye sight built one last boat, a cat boat, FCW27’ named the Molly Bloom by Ann Blaney. With all of this you would assume that Eben might be a wooden boat builder, but he resisted going that route, though the allure of working with his hands and wood stayed with him, throughout many other endeavors, and supported him. He worked with others in carpentry, cabinet making and furniture making, but eventually went off on his own, which he remains now. His work is stunning in its simplicity of line, shape, and color. It seems to continually evolve. There is, however, a rooting in the wooden boats he watched being built in the Harbor and on Southport. Look for yourself at how form and function really are beautiful art partners. You can call for more information at:  207-882-4208 (s) or 207-319-3963 (c) or the website www.ebenblaney.com  

Until next week, may peace be with you all.