Category: portland me

The Little Water Girl

The Humble Fabulist1 Comment

”Precious”

”When the renovations to the Portland Public Library were newly completed, I noticed an elderly woman standing in the foyer quietly contemplating the Little Water Girl sculpture, and as I passed by the woman, I heard her whisper the word “precious” to herself.  I’m rather fond of the piece myself, so I glanced over caught the woman’s eye and gave her a little smile. She brightened up, took a step towards me, and began to say something, as if she had to tell someone what she was feeling, but instead she just laid her hand on my arm and sighed, as if whatever she said just wouldn’t be enough.”

– Portland author Cliff Gallant 

Bronze on a granite base
Artists: George E. Wade, sculptor; Frederick A. Thompson, designer of granite base
Donated in 1917 by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)

Portland Public Library

Portland, ME

November 19th, 2018

In America

The Humble Fabulist2 Comments

”In America, is a series that explores Asian-American identity through self-portraiture. The work focuses on the artist’s search for an emotional home and a sense of belonging. It is about leaving one’s home in search of a new one; about redefining oneself in the process of keeping the original cultural backbone while adapting to a new one. It’s an internal emotional journey that parallels life’s ongoing journey.”

Ni Rong

In America (2012)
Archival pigment print on Hahnemuhle Fine Art paper

Portland Public Library

Portland, ME

November 19th, 2018

Portland, Maine || First impressions

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It snows a lot in Portland in November. Not like in New York, where the snow wilts and melts and is quickly turned into a grey mass of rock salt, sleazy mud and greasy dirt – no.

In Portland, the snow is fresh and white, crisp and crunchy under the feet. It calls for walks all day long, until it’s too dark and too cold to stay outside any longer.

Walking in Portland: Victoria Mansion to City Hall, down to the Old Port and Harbor Fish Market where our juicy Maine Lobster comes from, passing by the city’s oldest historic site that is the Eastern Cemetery and outside Portland Observatory, the only remaining historic maritime signal station in the United States. Our walk ends at the Fort Allen Park catching the icy cold breeze from the harbour and glimpses of Fort Georges which is accessible only by boat.

Portland, ME

November 19th, 2018