River Arts is pleased to announce Ruth Monsell’s upcoming solo show, “Celebrating 25 Years in Maine: Works in Oil and Cut Paper”, in the River Room at River Arts. This retrospective show runs June 5 through June 25. Meet the artist at an opening reception on Saturday, June 7 from 2-4 p.m.

Monsell’s passion for the French impressionists shines through in her work engaging the viewer and spreading light and joy.

Said Monsell,  “I have been an artist since I could hold a crayon. The pursuit of art has never left me, but in the past two decades, I’ve been able to create art more steadily, largely through my website, 'Artful Heirlooms,' through which I fulfill commissions for portraiture, including silhouette portraits, and through event art engagements. The human face and figure have always been my most compelling and challenging subjects.  As a lover of history, it’s also been rewarding to help keep alive the art of the silhouette, and have worked at so many museums and historic sites. Thus most of my landscapes wind up peopled. My life in stunning Maine since 2000 has given me much inspiration."

Recently Mondsell had two engagements at Bowdoin College's 100th anniversary of the Hawthorne-Longfellow Library, with original silhouettes of them as Bowdoin undergraduates in view. "There are few silhouettists left," noted Monsell. "Fortunately, I’ve passed on the art form to my artist son.”

River Arts is located at 36 Elm St. in Damariscotta. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call (207)563-6868 or visit the website: riverartsme.org.