7 Lakes Alliance Announces Inaugural Maine Lakes Arts Residency

7 Lakes Alliance has launched the 7 Lakes Alliance Artist Residency, a new initiative that uses art to deepen public awareness of lake ecology and conservation. Centered in the Belgrade Lakes watershed, a network of seven interconnected lakes, including North Pond, East Pond, Great Pond, Long Pond, Messalonskee Lake, Salmon Lake, and McGrath Pond, the residency will host artists for a 10-day program on Long Pond.

Through their work, resident artists will create experiences that engage community members of all ages in understanding and addressing environmental challenges facing the watershed, including the spread of invasive aquatic plants that threaten lake health.

Colorful fish puppets created with paper maché

“Protecting our lakes takes more than science, it also takes connection. This residency uses art to engage people of all ages to connect more deeply in understanding the challenges facing our lakes and lands and inspiring them to be part of the solution,” said Chris Monz, CEO of 7 Lakes Alliance.

The residency is a brainchild of 7 Lakes volunteer and donor Michelle Davis, founder of  The Worldling Project, an open-source art initiative that inspires new ways of thinking about the relationship between humans and nature. She is joined by Carol Pino, an artist with 40 years’ experience teaching art and other forms of recreation and movement, and Janel Twogood, an artist and industrial designer with a focus on materials reclamation and recycling.

“This inaugural year we will engage the community in making puppets and a float for the July 4^th parade with a focus on identifying invasive plant species and celebrating the wildlife that depends on healthy lakes to thrive,” says Davis, who grew up summering on Long Pond. “Join us, march in the parade and stand tall for our lakes.”

7 Lakes Alliance invites community members, especially children, to participate in a series of workshops led by the founding artists, playfully known as the “Flounders.” These sessions are designed to foster creativity and connections to nature:

1 hour – puppet making workshop

• Go to the 7 Lakes Alliance event page to sign up for the Wednesday, June 24, 1 – 3:30 PM workshop.
• Go to the 7 Lakes Alliance event page to sign up for the Wednesday, July 1, 1 – 3:30 PM workshop.

3 hour – Drop in puppet making workshop

• Sunday, June 28 beginning at 9 AM at the 7 Lakes Alliance Building

4th of July Parade

• Saturday, July 4 at Harvest Thyme Farm

All participants are invited to walk in the July 4^th “We are all in the same lake,” puppet pageant in the village of Belgrade Lakes.

The 7 Lakes Alliance Art Residency is made possible through the generous support of the Dave Davis and Niki Janus Giving Fund and Michelle Davis. If you have any questions or would like to be considered for an art residency in the future, reach out to Michelle Davis at michelledavis100@gmail.com. For 7 Lakes Alliance Questions, contact Sally Whittington at sally.whittington@7lakesalliance.org.