The Charles Danforth Gallery

In The Midst of
Making
by Annie Bailey

November 29-December 15, 2017
 

Events

Potluck lunch and artist talk
Thursday, December 7th—
noon-1pm

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About Exhibition

The Charles Danforth Gallery at the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) is exhibiting, In the Midst of Making by Annie Bailey currently on view until December 15.  An artist talk and potluck lunch discussion about imaged-based storytelling through moving panoramas, or “crankies”, will be held in Jewett Hall’s Danforth Gallery on Thursday, December 7, from noon to 1 p.m.
     Visitors to the Danforth Gallery will have a unique opportunity to see an artist in the midst of the creative process, while witnessing a contemporary version of this ancient art form take place.
     Bailey, a UMA artist in residence, is making an illustrated scroll that depicts the life of Maine lighthouse keeper and heroine, Abbie Burgess.  In 1856, Burgess, a teenager, maintained the lamps on Matinicus Rock lighthouse for over 20 days when her father was unable to return to the island due to a significant storm.    
     “For me, Abbie Burgess and the lighthouse is a beacon of light for our time,” said Annie Bailey, “She is a strong woman, a hero, and her story is one that I believe deserves on-going exposure. I am proud to share her tale of self-reliance and strength, especially through a moving panorama, which would have been a popular form of storytelling during her lifetime. ”  
     Inspired by the history and tradition of scroll painting, moving panoramas, and contemporary crankies, Bailey explores Maine’s maritime history through the lens of the illustrated scroll. Having grown up spending much of her life on the waters of Penobscot Bay, Bailey’s work is often inspired by local history and lore. Her first illustrated crankie depicts the devastating true account of the local sinking of the Royal Tar in Penobscot Bay in 1836.  The Account of the Royal Tar 1836 is available for viewing at the Danforth Gallery.  
     The illustrated scroll has a broad and varied context in storytelling history. Chinese landscape handscrolls, as well as narrative Japanese emaki (picture scroll), were painted as early as the 11th century.  Moving panoramas (illustrated scrolls moved by mechanical cranks) became popular in the mid-19th century in Europe and America. A contemporary revival in the moving panorama, now referred to as “crankies”, has been underway for the last several years, primarily in the folk music scene.
     Annie Bailey is a multi-media visual artist born and raised in Tenants Harbor, Maine. She earned her BFA at the Rhode Island School of Design in 2010.  Her work has been exhibited at the Farnsworth Art Museum, Caldbeck Gallery, National Geographic, and the Rockland Shorts International Short Film Series. For additional information http://www.anniebaileyart.com.

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