“This is such a fun and engaging show,”  said one enthusiastic visitor to the opening of Maine Art Gallery’s “Art to Table: Visual Sustenance” exhibition on Saturday. The rain and chill in the air didn’t keep folks away from coming to see the variety of 88 works in all mediums on the historic building’s two floors. 

The juror, internationally recognized artist Tina Ingraham, spoke about what a delight it was to jury the show, and how the theme lent itself to a broad spectrum of interpretation. The paintings, sculpture, photography and assemblages, whether abstract or representational, depict vegetables and fruits, dairy cows and lobsters and folks sitting at a table enjoying a meal. 

The gallery’s president, Kay Tobler Liss, thanked the artists for entering the show and for their role in bringing people together “to celebrate and remind us, despite the news headlines, that the central truth of life on our planet is beauty and the creative spirit.”

In conjunction with the exhibit’s theme, a panel discussion representing three organizations and businesses involved with Maine’s sustainable agriculture will be held at the gallery on Thursday, May 21 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Anna Fiedler of Maine Farmland Trust will highlight the important role farms play in our communities. She’ll talk specifically about the successful efforts that ensured the Morris Farm (now The Commons at Morris Farm) in Wiscasset remained a farm. She’ll also introduce Ryan Esberg, one of the new owners, who’ll share his family’s vision for the farm’s future.

Erica Berman, co-founder of Veggies to Table, a farm in Newcastle that donates its organic produce and flowers to locals in need, will join the panel. Berman will discuss her farm’s mission, its founding, and its success over the last seven seasons in donating 95,050 pounds of food and 153,700 flowers to over 35 local organizations and families. 

Morning Glory Natural Foods, located on Maine Street in Brunswick, is a family-owned natural food store specializing in local and organically grown foods. As a pioneer of the organic food movement in Maine, Morning Glory has been in business for 40 years and provides a market for many local vegetable farmers, dairies, organic meat farms, and bakeries. Owner Toby Tarpinian and his mother, Susan, who founded the store, will talk about the business and its fascinating history. 

The talk will be followed by a reception with goodies provided by Morning Glory Natural Foods. Back River Bistro in Wiscasset is sponsor of this program. The Gallery is grateful to: Les Fossel Restoration Resources, sponsor of “Art to Table;” Sherri Dunbar of Tim Dunham Realty, season sponsor; Ames True Value Hardware, capital sponsor; and Maine Farmland Trust, sponsor of the opening reception.

A nonprofit organization, the Maine Art Gallery is dedicated to the advancement and preservation of the visual, fine and applied arts through exhibitions, lectures, demonstrations and educational programs for children and adults since 1958. More information can be found at www.maineartgallerywiscasset.org and on Facebook at Maine Art Gallery Wiscasset. The gallery is located at 15 Warren Street, Wiscasset, with free on-street parking.