Galleries

July: The Artists Collective

The Speers Gallery at the Kennebunk Free Library presents an exhibit of original works by The Artists’ Collective. The exhibit will run July 1-30, 2026, with a reception on Tuesday, July 7 from 5-7 pm. All are welcome.

The Artists’ Collective is a group of fifteen local artists woven together by their love of painting and the guidance and teaching of water media classes, Dennis Rafferty. Dennis shares his joy of the painting journey and love of Maine through his classes at the Unitarian Church in Kennebunk. A Kansas native, Dennis has been teaching art since 1987 at the Kansas City Art Institute, at Heartwood College which existed in Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, and now privately. His classes, currently held on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, meet students where they are in skills, interests, and subject matter but he offers specialized techniques as they occur or are requested by class members. Water mediums included are watercolor, gouache, and acrylics.

     With members longevity as students with Dennis spanning well over a decade,  Monday’s group includes former oil painter Pat Minichello; Marie Wilson-Lago who specializes in acrylics and marsh scenes; Mary Elizabeth Grady, who approaches painting intuitively through love of color; Gerri Bogdan, who has fun experimenting with various media; John Bubar who characterizes  his decade of time with Dennis as “Time flies when you’re having fun.”; and Liz Roper, who dabbles in a variety of subjects that include nature and man-made settings.

     The Wednesday afternoon group includes members with a variety of backgrounds. Heather Bruhl, who holds a BFA in oil painting, is the show organizer. Marleen Clark and Nikki Evans reconnected with acrylic painting after some breaks. Felted bird artist Danielle Bonney McPherson, calligrapher and draftsman Paula Webb along with newly discovered interest painter Judy Metcalf are studying watercolor.

       Part of the flexibility and strength of the Collective is that the commonalities of joy in creating and the fun-loving mood of both groups, lets members move back and forth between Monday and Wednesday, as needed. Come meet the members, socialize with them, and see their various works at their Opening Reception Tuesday, July 7 from 5-7 at the library.

The KFL Maine Children’s Book Illustrators Gallery, houses original works of art from children’s books by Maine illustrators. Represented artists include Barbara Cooney, Dahlov Ipcar and Kevin Hawkes. It was created in 1995, following the expansion of the Library, and is a wonderful means of educating patrons of the richness and diversity of Maine artists. It also serves to promote literacy by presenting literature in a visual form to the young and young at heart. The Gallery is located on the lower floor in the Library and is open to the public whenever the library is open.