MaineToday.com | The Native Tourist: As I was saying eight months ago about fine art in the sticks...

The Native Tourist
Brian Westbye, a native son, (re)discovers Maine.

January 19, 2008

As I was saying eight months ago about fine art in the sticks...

It's not often that I have occasion to update older dispatches. But it's not very often that the context that makes those older dispatches valid leap off the page and return from my most distant memory bank.

While perusing the archives today, I came across Maine Magic, the 1979 tome from Bill Caldwell. Caldwell penned some 3,000 columns for the Portland Press Herald, and I remember the book from my youth. Subliminal influence, no doubt. When I got to pg. 76, a familiar image appeared.

Reprinted without permission, but with full attribution.

Happy sculpture in a Maine meadow

WHITEFIELD - At first sight, drivers blink in disbelief. They slow down their cars and look again, at the hillside meadow filled with delightful, unusual sculptures with a touch of humor and a lot of beauty. And then the cars stop, drivers and passengers climb out and look in happy surprise at the sculptures of Roger L. Majorowicz, of Kings Mill, Whitefield, Maine.

Majorowicz is a renowned sculptor in the traditional media of bronze, stone and wood. "But when I bought a Maine farm, I began to see special beauty in abandoned farm implements and machinery, much of it lying in open fields. So I collected it. Bought it to the forge and blacksmith shop I built at my farmhouse. And out of it came the sculptures which I have put in the field across the street from my home," says Majorowicz from his studio in Baltimore, Maryland...

The City of Baltimore has eight major works by Majorowicz and important sculptures of his are in other cities and many galeries (sic) across the nation. Reluctant to talk about prices, Majorowicz acknowledges that his big works carry price tags in the $40,000 range. But only Maine has the special "farm sculpture" shown here. Pressed to indicate at least the price range of some of these, Majorowicz estimated something over $12,000 for the Don Quixote. All, by the way, are heavy and imbedded in concrete.

And each is a joy of imagination, whimsey (sic) and consummate skill to be seen in Maine meadows.

So there y'are. I think the seeds of a future dispatch have just been planted.

Got an idea for a story? Do you know of Maine people, places and things I should visit? Drop me a line and tell me where to go.

Posted by Brian Westbye at 08:18 PM

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Comments

Hi Bryan,

My name is Erin Davis, I'm a student at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies (in Portland) and I came across your blog while doing research for a project here.

The mission of the Salt Institute is "Telling Maine Stories." I'm originally from Ohio, though I moved to Portland from Chicago and I'm looking to profile/document/tell the story of a unique Mainer and thought perhaps you'd know of someone from your travels. I was drawn to your article because of the title referencing Fine Art in the Sticks as I'd love to find someone who has an extensive or unique collection of some kind, a profession unique to maine or to rural areas (taxidermy for instance), or a compelling individual with a unique personal story. Does anyone or anything come to mind?

Thanks for any Maine-y insight! And best of luck with your writing.

Sincerely,

Erin Davis
Portland

Posted by Erin Davis
February 18, 2008 03:31 PM