Putting it all together....

73 Central Street, Downtown Bangor

The space at 73 Central in downtown Bangor is being shaped into its momentary gallery self. There are people who think we’re a little nuts, this obsession with the details, the details over which, in reality, we could acknowledge we have little control. You know, it is an empty storefront! And come on, you also know we will only inhabit it for three hours. The space, filled up with 100 paintings on the walls hung in grids of three paintings across and three deep, will—if we have our way—be overflowing with people and no one will even notice the setup.

But we’re furiously putting together the CD playlist—some Etta James, for sure—ironing the tablecloth, gathering the twigs and branches for the flower arrangement, and marking off the righteously challenging grid on the wall that will enable us to hang these works the way they deserve.

It takes a village—and we’re grateful to live in one. We hope to see all the rest of you villagers at TEN’s opening and celebration and sale and closing on Thursday October 27 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Untitled - Diana Young

Acrylic on Canvas, 10 x 10"

Central Maine is not known for a fall of cascading reds and yellows with 75- or 80-degree winds brushing our cheeks, but that’s what we’ve been experiencing these recent days, bookended by frosts and blackened corners of gardens. For all of us TEN artists who are hunkering down to create these 10 new pieces in a small window of time, it’s an odd scenario. Many of us so want to be out and about sucking in every scent, lick of sun, the vestiges of coatless-weather days because real fall can’t be far behind.

It’s all good for Diana Young, who already finished all 10 of her paintings days ago. When she was asked whether she’d make new work for this show, she said, “I don’t know whether I’ll have the time to make a new painting.” But when she was told, “No, not A painting, Diana—10 paintings,” she said, “Oh, that’s a worthwhile challenge.”