Brunswick's Eleven Pleasant Street Gallery will exhibit Frank Valliere's show, "Classic Ruin: A Retrospective of Frank Valliere" from May 1 to 31.
The exhibit is organized by VSA arts of Maine, an organization that represents artists with disabilities. VSA exhibits both group and individual shows, selecting a body of art through a biennial call for art to adult Maine artists with disabilities.
VSA holds a biennial exhibition titled "A Matter of Perception" to support and celebrate Maine artists with disabilities.
The purpose of both the exhibit and the gallery is to spread awareness of disability issues, provide opportunities for artists with disabilities to exhibit their work and showcase how talented these artists are.
VSA is especially interested in supporting working artists, and exhibit artists such as Valliere who also seek to sell their work.
VSA exhibitions are often themed and feature only artists from Maine, and showcass many Brunswick artists.
For example, June's show, "Back and Black," is the product of Brunswick artists Diane and Earl Black.
According to Brandi Sladek, the Office Manager and P.R. Coordinator for VSA, there is a great artistic value in the channeling of Maine's unique character.
Valliere, who is legally blind, has portrayed this character in the creation of his landscapes.
"The poetry of his rural landscapes is just mind-blowing," said Sladek. "They tell the story of rural Maine."
Valliere described his own work as exploring the relationship between cast-off human objects and the natural environment.
"I am taken in by different atmospheres, the random patterns and colors," said Valliere. "Objects of human existence left to the environment seem to be telling their stories [and how they take on] more and more the character of their surroundings."
A reception for the show will be held on Friday, May 14 from 5-8 p.m.