Melissa Lizotte, The County
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Ever since art galleries in Maine closed to the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, artists with County roots have used nontraditional avenues to showcase their work and connect with fellow artists.
“The Sleeping Baker” is one of many sculptures from Raphael Gribetz featured on the new online art gallery Lights Out, showcasing Maine artists. (Courtesy of Daniel Sipe)
Presque Isle native Daniel Sipe, who now lives in Norway in western Maine, recently launched a new online gallery, Lights Out, with co-founders Reed McLean of Norway and Karle Woods of Belfast. Through the Lights Out Facebook and Instagram pages, YouTube channel and soon to be launched website, they hope to create virtual platforms for artists throughout Maine to post photographs of their work and connect with each other.
Lights Out initially launched as a pop-up gallery in Portland but canceled their exhibitions after the pandemic began. As Sipe and his colleagues realized that artists were losing chances to display and talk about their work in a public setting, they decided to help keep Maine’s art scene alive.
Read more about Lights Out Gallery in Presque Isle here.