The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Reed Fine Art Gallery has received a major upgrade—a beautiful, new, 2,000-square-foot space in a brand new place–and officials are hosting an event to both “unveil” the gallery and rededicate it on Friday, Sept. 18, from 6-8 p.m. during Homecoming weekend. This free event is open to the public and everyone is invited and encouraged to attend.
The gallery, which has been housed for many years at the Campus Center, has been relocated to the second floor of the Center for Innovative Learning (formerly the Library). The relocation has provided the gallery with a much bigger, open space complete with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, the ability to host much larger exhibits, and a view that looks out over the campus. The Sept. 18 Reed Rededication Celebration will serve as a special evening honoring the gallery’s namesake and history, while creating new memories to start its future.
“We are delighted to present this new space to the campus and community during our Sept. 18 celebration, and give the Reed Fine Art Gallery a much more modern and spacious place to continue its important work of showcasing artists from the local to the national level, presenting a wide range of art forms and media, and providing a space for everyone to experience and connect with art,” UMPI President Linda Schott said.
The Rededication Celebration will include a reception—featuring music, arts-themed refreshments and a cash bar, as well as a unique live painting activity by UMPI alumnus Ken Lund (who will paint the celebration at the new space as it happens). This toast to the Arts in Aroostook County will also include a rededication ceremony, with a tribute to the Reed Family who established the Reed Fine Art Gallery, and a ribbon-cutting for the new space.
“Although the space was meant to host a wider variety of artists, we thought it best to begin with the successes originating right here at the University of Maine at Presque Isle,” Heather Sincavage, Reed Art Gallery Director, said. “Many of our alumni have gone on to do great things and we felt it was important to feature their amazing work and achievements.”
On display in the new space will be a first-of-its-kind alumni show, entitled Now and Then: Honoring the Legacy of the Arts at UMPI. This special exhibition featuring 18 of the Fine Art Program’s alumni, will serve—fittingly—as the very first show to go on display in the newly relocated Reed Fine Art Gallery.
“We can’t wait to unveil this new space to the community, and to celebrate the gallery’s legacy and future,” Sincavage said. “We hope to see many friends, art lovers, and the wider community join us for this special night.”
All are invited to attend this free event. To RSVP or for more information, please call 768-9452 or email umpi@maine.edu.