The Bollard Bulletin for April 17, 2025
Reimagining Franklin Street and other hallucinations
Highlights
You’ve finally discovered it, the secret reason this Substack exists: to tell you about shows like Tony From Bowling’s gig tonight at The Apohadion Theater (107 Hanover St., Portland). No other local media will mention it and tell you how killer this psychedelic indie-rock band from Pittsburg is, which is so killer. Here, listen for yourself. They’ll be joined by “garage emo” band Big Stink, from New Jersey, New Hampshire psych punks Dog Lips and locals Beach Broads for the 8 p.m. show. Tix: $10-$20 (all ages).
Phil Elverum, who accidentally gained lo-fi fame with The Microphones and now performs art-damaged folk as Mount Eerie, can’t seem to book a show in Portland that doesn’t sell out, so SPACE (538 Congress St., Portland) added a second, earlier show today at 5:15 p.m. exclusively for Bollard Bulletin readers (actually, anyone can go). Singer/songwriter Hana Stretton opens this one, too. Tix: $32 (all ages).
You’ve heard of college rock. Now dig some college opera. It’s regular opera, just cooler somehow (and significantly cheaper). The University of Southern Maine’s Osher Opera Theatre presents a production of Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus at Cornell Concert Hall (13 University Way, Gorham) tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. Tix: $5-$10.
Saxophonist and bandleader McCoy Mrubata, a past member of Hugh Masekela’s peerless South African jazz band, performs with Maine guitarist Gary Wittner at the Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center at Fryeburg Academy (18 Bradley St., Fryeburg) at 7 p.m. Tix: $25 ($5 students).
Not to be confused with satirical animal-show host Brian Fellow, or some ’50s-era college doo-wop group that never existed, the Ashley Bryan Fellows are exceptional emerging writers of color or indigenous heritage who’ve received the Ashley Bryan Fellowship offered by the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance. This year’s recipients — Johann Alexander, Liz Iversen, Coco McCracken and Leila Christine Nadir — read and discuss their work at Mechanics’ Hall (519 Congress St., Portland) at 6:30 p.m. Free.
OK, we lied — there’s actually another reason this Substack exists, and it’s to let you know about opportunities to make your community more livable. Portland’s Planning & Urban Development Department is hosting an open house at the Portland Public Library (5 Monument Square) from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. titled Reimagining Franklin Street, a chance for locals to weigh in on ways to make the infamously dangerous and disruptive former “arterial” part of a real neighborhood again. Get up to speed with this study from 10 years ago.
Visual Arts
33 by Hand Breaking Soil, photographs by Kat Miller, shows through April. Hours: Thurs.-Sun. noon-6 p.m. 142 High St., Portland. 33byhand.com.
82Parris Prologue to Spring, a group exhibition, shows through April 25. 82 Paris St., Portland. 82parris.com.
Art House Picture Frames Artwork by the Addison Woolley Group shows through May during business hours. 61 Pleasant St., Portland. 221-3443. View more at addisonwoolley.com.
Bowdoin College Museum of Art
• Reimagining the Américas: Empathy and Activism Beyond Borders, work by contemporary American artists promoting human rights, shows through June 1
• Irreplaceable You: Personhood and Dignity in Art, 1980s to Now, shows through June 1
• Art, Ecology, and the Resilience of a Maine Island: The Monhegan Wildlands, work by past and contemporary artists, shows through June 1.
• Poetic Truths: Hawthorne, Longfellow, and American Visual Culture, 1840-1880 shows through July 20
• Hello, Stranger: Artist as Subject in Photographic Portraits since 1900 shows through Aug. 10
• Flora et Fauna: Nature in Ancient Mediterranean Art and Culture shows through March 7, 2026
Free admission. Hours: Tues., Wed., Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. 245 Maine St., Brunswick. 725-3275. bowdoin.edu.
Casco Bay Artisans Contemporary glass sculpture by Varda Avnisan, Wes Hunting and Treg Silkwood, and Petals & Leaves, a group show of paintings and illustrations, show through April 28. Hours: Mon., Thurs. and Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 68 Commercial St., Portland. 536-1577. cascobayartisans.com.
Center for Maine Contemporary Art
• The Sun, Trying to Disappear, work by Sara Cwynar, Kate Greene, Ian Kline, Elle Perez, Lieko Shiga, and Carmen Winant
• Fruition, collaborative works by Allison Cekala and Nate Luce
• i forgot to remember, large-scale works by Katarina Weslien
• From the Collection of Lord Red, wall sculptures by Kyle Downs
All on view through May 4. Hours: Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m. Admission: $10 ($8 students and seniors, under 18 free). 21 Winter St., Rockland. 701-5005. cmcanow.org.
Coffee By Design Paintings by Nicole Karr show through April. Hours: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. 1 Diamond St., Portland. 874-5400. coffeebydesign.com.
Colby Museum of Art
• Square + Triangle: Home in the Colby Museum’s Collection shows through April 21
• Radical Histories: Chicanx Prints from the Smithsonian American Art Museum shows through June 8
• Into the Wind: American Weathervanes shows through June 8
• Hors-champs, a video installation by Stan Douglas, shows through Aug. 24
• Alex Katz: Repititions, paintings by Katz, shows through March 29, 2026
• Some American Stories, works from the museum’s Lunder Wing, shows through Sept. 26, 2026
Free admission. Hours: Tues., Wed., Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m. 5600 Mayflower Hill, Waterville. 859-5600. colby.edu.
Cove Street Arts
• Infinite Light, sculpture in various media by Sonja Weber Gilkey, shows through May 24
• Variations, a group show curated by Bruce Brown, shows through June 7
• Out of My Mind, paintings, drawings and prints by Richard Wilson, shows through June 14
• Adventure of the Unknown, paintings by Grant Drumheller, shows through June 14
• Emergent, prints by Alice Spencer, shows through May 10
Hours: Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sat. 10 a,m,-5 p.m. 71 Cove St., Portland. 808-8911. covestreetarts.com.
Farnsworth Art Museum
• Arts@theIntersection: Year Two, work by middle and high school students in the Midcoast, shows through May 4
• Capturing Her Environment: Women Artists, 1870-1930, shows through July 20
• Manors, paintings and murals by Anne Buckwalter, shows through Sept. 21
• Re-Indigenizing Sacred Landscapes: From the Wigwam at Catawamkeag, shows through Jan. 4, 2026
Hours: Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: $20 ($18 seniors, $10 students, under 16 free). 16 Museum St., Rockland. 596-6457. farnsworthmuseum.org.
The Foundry Artists’ reception for WOOD / METAL / FABRIC: Biddeford Furniture Makers and Woodworkers, work by Caitriona Fiero, Sten Havumaki, Derek Preble, Stefan Rurak and Gabe Sutton, Fri., April 18, from 5-7 p.m. Shows now through May 2 by appointment and during announced hours. 30 Upper Falls Rd., Biddeford. theleveebiddeford.com/foundry.
Greenhut Galleries Maine: The Painted State, a biennial show of landscape paintings, shows through April 26. Hours: Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 146 Middle St., Portland. 772-2693. greenhutgalleries.com.
The Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art & Design Opening reception for the Maine College of Art & Design 2025 MFA Thesis Exhibition, Fri., April 18, from 5-7 p.m. Shows through April 26. Hours: Wed., Fri.-Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 522 Congress St., Portland. 800-639-4808. meca.edu.
LA Arts Gallery Inside Vision: An Outside Exhibition of Inside Art by Maine State Prison inmates shows now through May 9. Hours: Tues.-Thurs. 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Fri. noon-6 p.m. 168 Lisbon St., Lewiston. 782-7228. laarts.org.
Maine Jewish Museum Traces, paintings by Masha Ryskin and Serge Marchetta, Lorica: Masks of Eternity, photography by Craig Becker, and Elements of Light and Color, abstract paintings by Linda Gerson, show through May 2. Hours: Mon., Wed.-Fri. and Sun. noon-4 p.m. Free admission. 267 Congress St., Portland. 773-2339. mainejewishmuseum.org.
Maine Historical Society Best Friends: Mainers & Their Pets, an educational exhibit of historical photographs and artwork, shows through June 6. Maine’s Untold Vegetarian History shows through May 17. Notorious: Maine Crime in the Public Eye, 1690-1940, photographs, prints and other historic materials, shows through Dec. 31. Hours: Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: $10 ($5 kids 6-17). 489 Congress St., Portland. 774-1822. mainehistory.org.
Maine Museum of Photographic Arts Trace, photography by Jodi Colella, Joseph Podlesnik, June Kim, Frank Lopez and others, shows through May. Hours: Tues., Thurs.-Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Donations encouraged. 15 Middle St., Portland. 808-8919. mainemuseumofphotographicarts.com.
Mayo Street Arts Miniatures, small-scale prints, ceramics, sculpture, textiles, paintings, prints and more, shows by appointment through April 28. 10 Mayo St., Portland. 879-4629. mayostreetarts.org.
Merrymeeting Arts Center The Quest for Quiet, paintings by Peter Herley, shows Saturdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. through April 19. 9 Main Street., Bowdoinham. merrymeetingartscenter.org.
Moss Galleries Falmouth Gallery (251 Rte. 1; 781-2620): Playing Notes, watercolor paintings by Frances Hynes, and Angels Above Fear, paintings by John Hultberg, show through May 31. Portland Gallery (100 Fore St., 804-0459): Aflutter, oil paintings by Hunt Slonem, shows through April 19. Hours: Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (both locations). elizabethgmossgalleries.com.
NOTCH8 Gallery Found & Lost, a group exhibition, shows through April 19. Hours: Thurs.-Sat. 2-6 p.m. 58 Center St., Portland. 358-9433. notch8art.com.
Osher Map Library Our Favorite Things, an exhibit of maps and illustrations and historical items from the collection selected by library staff, shows through April 22. Hours: Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 314 Forest Ave., Portland. 780-4850. oshermaps.org.
Orange Bike Brewing Acrylic paintings by Meg McAndrew show through April. Hours: Wed. and Thurs. 2-8 p.m., Fri. and Sat. noon-8 p.m., Sun. noon-6 p.m. 391-4343. orangebikebrewing.com.
Portland Art Gallery Work by Cooper Dragonette, Dan Daly, Sarah Verardo and others shows through April. Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily. 956-7105. portlandartgallery.com.
Portland Museum of Art
• As We Are, work in various media by 14 artists, shows through April 27
• Skin Deep, photograms by Jo Sandman, shows through Aug. 17
• Passages in American Art, works from the museum collection, is ongoing.
Hours: Wed., Thurs., Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Admission: $20 ($18 seniors and students; under 21 free). 7 Congress Square. 775-6148. portlandmuseum.org.
Portland Public Library Pencils & Inks: The Unseen Work Behind Comics, an exhibition highlighting the stages of comic and graphic novel creation, shows through April 19. Hours: Mon., Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tues.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 5 Monument Square. 871-1700. portlandlibrary.com.
Richard Boyd Art Gallery The American Landscape, a group exhibition of paintings, shows through April 29. Hours: Fri.-Sun. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 15 Epps St., Peaks Island. 712-1097. richardboydpottery.com.
Roux & Cyr Emerging Artists: The Future of Maine Art, shows through April. Hours: Fri.-Mon. 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tues.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 48 Free St., Portland. 221-7700. rouxandcyrgallery.com.
SPACE Envision Resilience: Shifting Tides and Evolving Landscapes, work referencing the climate crisis by seven Maine-based artists, shows through April 26. Hours: Thurs. and Fri. noon-6 p.m., Sat. noon-4 p.m. 534 Congress St., Portland. 828-5600. space538.org.
University of Southern Maine Art Gallery The 2025 Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition shows through May. Call for hours. 780-5409. 5 University Way, Gorham. usm.maine.edu.
Zero Station Lace, photographs by Peter Shellenberger, shows through May 17. Hours: Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 222 Anderson St., Portland. 347-7000. zerostation.com.