Spice in your Art Walk

“Sun Dried,” by Stacey Cramp

Tomorrow's my favorite day of the month--First Friday Art Walk. It's always a wonderful way to score free wine and yummy nibbles, while checking out amazing art. Adam and I plan to stop by the annual (and most likely the last) Polaroid Auction at SPACE Gallery. This is an excellent (and very affordable) opportunity to pick up tiny images shot by some of Maine's leading photographers.

If you're headed for the East End of town, go see "Spices of Life" at Rabelais books (a foodie book lovers dream store). I checked out this photography show by Stacey Cramp yesterday and it's beautiful. She documents the food ways of remote villages in India, which remain largely untouched by our fast food nation.

You can find the complete Art Walk lisitngs here or pick up this week's copy of Switch magazine, where we have the full map.

Way with weeds

"Mullein in Field," by John Knight

Despite RoundUp maker Monsanto's best efforts to make us fear native plants, artist John Knight doesn't subscribe to their toxic philosophy. Instead he celebrates these common plants in monumental and boldly colored artworks. You can check out a selection tomorrow night during Portland's First Friday Art Walk. His works are on view at the Portland Downtown District offices at 549 Congress St.

If you want to read more about Knight and his work, be sure to pick up today's copy of Switch Magazine, where I have a story about him in our Art Walk Guide.

Locavore harvest

Earl Dotter photograph

Another Art Walk venue we hope to hit tonight is the Meg Perry Center where "Farmworkers Feed Us All" is opening. The show by photojournalist Earl Dotter and audio-producer Tennessee Williams was up at the Augusta State House at the end of February. It offers a peek into the lives and working conditions of migrant workers during the 2007 harvest in Maine.