River Arts in Damariscotta celebrated the opening of “Anything Goes” on Jan. 4 with a show of artwork created by four artists in four different mediums. The show will run through Feb. 7. A public reception will take place on Saturday, Jan. 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. 

Holly Anderson Baumm’s impressive textile fine art, “Gratitude,” was inspired by her four grandparents. Baumm created a visual journey that utilized traditional and innovative techniques. “The piece brought me great joy to create as it embraced love, memories, recollections of old photos and reflection to tell its story,” said Anderson Baumm. 

For Baumm the process working with mixed media helped bring the piece to fruition through symbolism, form, line, texture, and color.  

Fresh from her studio, Alice de Mauriac’s large abstract paintings succeed as a remedy for the winter doldrums. The spicy reds, pinks, and oranges heat up the room and create a magical impression of excitement balanced with an aura of calm.  

Of her inspiration de Mauriac says, “’Anything Goes’ seemed like an opportunity for breaking boundaries. Anticipating exhilarating works from the other three extraordinary artists, I was energized to take risks and ended up with a breakthrough of my own!”  

Inspired by Eleanor Estes’ 1944 children’s book, “The Hundred Dresses,” about bullying and standing up to do the right thing, Heather Greene has created 100 colored pencil drawings of 100 dresses. The impetus for these drawings is to bring light to an issue that is as relevant today as it was 80 years ago when the book was written.  

In words and watercolor, Diana Mullins explores nurturing, healing, and freedom. She contemplates the imminent and the transcendent, the internal and external, the mysterious and whimsical. These eight works have been selected from her poetry manuscript entitled, "Lengths of Ash."  

Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. River Arts is located at 36 Elm St. Contact River Arts at info@riverartsme.org or (207) 563-6868 for more information.