Shows
Radio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleHow We Find Ourselves AgainDr. Lisa Belisle—physician, writer, and host of Radio Maine—returns for a solo episode that resonates with emotional depth and quiet strength. In this intimate reflection, she explores the art of wayfinding: how we move through uncertainty, loss, and transformation with grace and authenticity.
Drawing on recent experiences, Lisa speaks candidly about the death of a cherished patient, the evolving role of caregiving, and the one-year anniversary of her father's passing. Her words are grounded in the perspective of a healer and shaped by a lifelong connection to Maine’s rugged, contemplative landscape.
Rather than o...2025-07-1309 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleMatthew Russ Braves the Elements to Plein Air Paint in MaineMatthew Russ was born in Portland, Maine and raised in nearby Cape Elizabeth. He earned a B.A. from Colby College, majoring in studio art with a concentration in oil painting, during which time he studied for one year at Crawford College of Art in Cork, Ireland. He lives with his wife KC in Waterville, where he maintains a studio. Matt celebrates Maine’s landscape in his paintings. He paints from life, working outdoors in all seasons and often backpacking into remote locations. He favors protected lands, such as Maine State Parks, the Kennebec Highlands, the Morse Mountain Conservation Ar...2024-07-2537 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleUnexpected Divergence Leads to a Parallel Life of Medicine and Media: Dr. Lisa BelisleMany of us have experienced points in life’s journey when, as New England poet Robert Frost once described, “Two roads diverged.” In this 100th episode of Radio Maine, our host Dr. Lisa Belisle reflects upon her ongoing role as a communicator and on-air host. and the significant divergence that brought her to this place. Lisa remembers the sudden death in 2007 of her Bowdoin College classmate, Hanley Denning, who had brought hope and light to countless children whose families lived near the Guatemala City dump. That pivotal event, and a desire to support Hanley’s organization–Safe Passage–revealed an unexpecte...2023-01-2911 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleThe Dangerous Job of Avalanche Control in the Utah Ski Country, with Author and Journalist Ed PowerAuthor Ed Power first became intrigued by the human interaction with nature, and the risks inherent in this intersection, growing up as a surfer and sailboat racer on the mid-Atlantic coast. A former longtime editor and publisher, Ed had previously worked as a journalist for Virginia’s largest newspaper, The Virginia Pilot, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. When Ed eventually retired, he and wife, Marguerite, moved to Utah to become, in his words, “ski bums.” The sounds of morning avalanche control explosions soon piqued his journalistic curiosity. Ed describes this dangerous and fascinating profession in Dragons in the Snow: Avalanche Detecti...2023-01-0132 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleMaine’s Home Staging Expert Got Her Start Well Before The Real Estate Boom. Meet Elizabeth PolanskyElizabeth Polanksky was ahead of the curve when she started Maine’s first large-scale home staging business in 2000. The subsequent growth of the state’s real estate market has resulted in a significant demand for her skills and aesthetic sense. Elizabeth’s perseverance and business acumen have led to multiple important collaborations. Recently she helped facilitate a series of shows featuring Portland Art Gallery artists at the Cumberland Club, an historic social gathering spot in Portland, Maine. Join our conversation with Elizabeth Polansky today on Radio Maine.
Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a memb...2023-01-0129 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleEditor of Maine Home+Design Magazine Talks About Her Job and New Life in Maine: Meet Danielle DevineDanielle Devine is the editor of Maine Home+Design (MH+D), a beautifully curated magazine that showcases the state’s premier interior designers, architects and builders, as well as countless trade specialties. After a short stint working in finance, Danielle put her undergraduate education in English and art history to use through her work with national and international design publications. Having spent many years in New York, Danielle’s young family moved to Maine when her husband opened an architecture office here, and she was thrilled when a position became available with MH+D. Join our conversation with Danielle, as s...2022-12-1730 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleMaine Healthcare Professional Laura Mrazik Discusses her Enduring Passion for ArtArtist Laura Mrazik is a person of many talents. Her educational background includes an undergraduate degree in community health education and a master’s in public health from the University of Maine system. She currently works as the manager of telehealth for one of Maine’s largest healthcare organizations. Most evenings, after her young children are in bed, she can be found in her home studio, engaged in something for which she has always had a passion: painting. Join us to learn more about emerging artist Laura Mrazik, her ongoing commitment to art, and the contribution that it has made...2022-12-0931 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleQuincy Hentzel Discusses What’s New with the Portland Maine Regional Chamber of CommerceQuincy Hentzel had been leading the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce for three years when the global pandemic dramatically shifted the landscape. Previously Quincy had been highly regarded, and known to be proficient at leading the effort to support business in Maine’s largest city, but this put her leadership skills to the test. In a time of great uncertainty, multiple stakeholder groups had proposed initiatives that could negatively impact economic viability. Quincy met this significant challenge unphased, while continuing to address other important issues such as affordable housing, workforce and inclusivity. Join our conversation with Quincy Hentzel today on...2022-12-0435 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleFrom Northern Maine To Commander of US Naval Forces Europe. Meet Admiral ”Grog” Johnson USN Ret.Growing up in a small town in Northern Maine, Admiral Gregory Johnson, USN, Retired, could not have foretold that he would spend more than three decades traveling the world with the United States military. With a BA in political science from the University of Maine in Orono, and an acceptance letter to attend law school in his home state, it seemed his dream of becoming an attorney was within reach. Then Greg got word that he would soon be drafted to serve in Vietnam. He rescinded his law school acceptance and joined the Navy, where he would go on...2022-11-2740 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleMaine Interior Design Meets the Optimism of Brady-Anne Winn at Nineteen SkiesInterior designer Brady-Anne Winn has approached her life with both unbridled optimism and unwavering persistence. Despite a few setbacks, and occasional advice from others that did not ring true, she has remained committed to her vision, and provided the space for her clients to do the same. In naming her most recent venture Nineteen Skies, she pays homage to the global pandemic, reflecting her belief that a seemingly ominous horizon may portend unseen opportunities. With that commitment, and a high degree of humility, Maine native Brady-Anne has become a respected member of the state’s interior design community. Join our...2022-11-1931 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleClassical Uprising: Dr. Emily Isaacson Is Immersing Maine in Classical MusicMaine native Dr. Emily Isaacson is the founder and artistic director of Classical Uprising, a group of immersive community-oriented music programs that include the popular Portland Bach Experience. Emily is passionate about creating access to classical music, and illuminating its meaningful intersection with contemporary culture. Her original doctoral work in conducting and music literature provided her with a unique–and occasionally uncomfortable–perspective on leadership and inclusivity that has strengthened her resolve to have a more open and appreciative approach within this competitive field. Join Dr. Emily Isaacson’s conversation with Dr. Lisa Belisle today on Radio Maine.
Eve...2022-11-0931 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelislePortland, Maine Art and Culture: Cooper Dragonette Discusses his Artistic Path and ”Plein Air” StyleKnown for his plein air landscapes, artist Cooper Dragonette has spent recent months experimenting with a different reality: that of time past. His newer pieces draw upon his unique background as an teacher and instructor, exploring Maine’s remote outer islands with the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School. Considering this contrast of approaches–integrating one’s self and memories into one’s work, rather than focusing solely on the present moment–provides an opportunity for reflection on the nature of being human, and how art is uniquely positioned to capture this experience. Please join our conversation with Cooper Dragonette on this ep...2022-11-0635 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleIconic Maine Artist Philip Barter on Painting His Former Place of Employment: The Working Waterfront"Philip Barter turns 83 in 2023, and the Portland Art Gallery is celebrating his 60 years of creating iconic Maine art with a solo exhibition. Much of the work presented will be from Philip’s private collection that he has meticulously stored away for decades. This is what Carl Little, Maine art critic and author, says about Philip Barter "Barter's art harks back to Marsden Hartley and other American Modernists and their abstracting ways; a kind of school has sprung up in his impressive wake. You can hear the gallery-goer point to a brashly painted Maine landscape by a contemporary and say, 'I...2022-10-3029 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleNew England Artist Moves to Utah. Catching Up With Julia Blake on Radio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleJulia Blake’s family and faith have had a profound impact on her art. She often returns to images of bright red poppies, which represent seasonal rebirth, and trees that represent the female deity. As a mother of six, Julia also strives to create a consistent and long lasting identity for herself as an artist. She has similarly encouraged her children to go out into the world to find their own paths. While Julia’s family considerations have recently prompted a move back to Utah from New England, she remains a vibrant member of the Portland Art Gallery community.
2022-10-2935 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleBeloved Torpedo Factory Artist Moves to Maine: Artist Sheep JonesSheep Jones is much beloved by art collectors across the United States. Raised in Waterville, Maine, she was affiliated for many years with the acclaimed Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia. When her husband, Charlie, died in his early 60’s, Sheep returned to Maine, to be near her sister, Julie Cyr (also an artist), in coastal Belfast. Following Julie’s death due to cancer in December 2019, Sheep once again restructured her life to spend more time with her sons and grandchildren. She now alternates between their homes in California and Texas, and her own in Belfast, while maintaining art...2022-10-1633 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleCareer Communicator with an Intriguing Personal Trajectory: Jon Foley ShermanJon Foley Sherman has an intriguing academic and professional background. A self-described “career communicator,” his formal education includes an undergraduate degree from Middlebury College in Vermont, a Diplôme from L'École International du Théàtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Jon draws additional expertise from his background in theater, teaching, and consulting. He now works in a mission-driven healthcare organization, where he brings his passion to understanding and improving patient and staff experiences. Join our conversation with Jon Foley Sherman today on Radio Maine.
Every wee...2022-10-0943 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleA California Art Instructor Shows Abstract Installations in Portland, Maine: Meet Bibby GignilliatBibby Gignilliat had a varied career path, including more than two decades running her own business, before she decided to do something that would feed her soul. Heeding the advice of author Julia Cameron, well known for her book, The Artist’s Way, Bibby returned to doing something she loved as a child: creating art. She sought out the teachers and colleagues who supported this new journey, and slowly gained the confidence she needed to emerge as a mixed media collage artist. Using skills she gained through teaching corporate cooking classes and facilitating events, Bibby launched an online art co...2022-10-0238 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleMaine Artist Bella Weidner on Art, Homesteading, and Van LifeArtist Bella Weidner has never been afraid of doing what she wants to do–including selling her Cumberland, Maine homestead, so that she and her young family could travel the country in their camper. She comes by her adventurous inclinations honestly, with parents who first came to the U.S. from Argentina, and then uprooted themselves once again as they moved with their children from California to New England. Along the way, Bella developed an eye for beauty and color, which led her to pursue an art education. Bella now lives and creates art in Stockton Springs (near Belfast), wher...2022-09-2533 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleTeaching Expands Perspective and Inspires this Established Maine Artist: Dietlind Vander SchaafTeaching is an important source of perspective and inspiration for artist Dietlind Vander Schaaf. Through her interactions with students, she has the opportunity to reflect on her own very prolific art practice, both with regard to process and outcome. Dietland continues to experiment with colors and her signature mark-making, while at the same time acknowledging that vision often comes before the ability to execute a given idea–and that this tension is not always easy. She remains committed to her creative evolution, and carries this into the business of art-making as well. Join our conversation with Dietlind Vander Schaaf on...2022-09-1839 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleParticipating in the Thoughtful Building of Portland Maine’s Future: Meet Emily McConnellGrowing up in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine, Emily McConnell considered Portland to be “the big city.” Though she felt a certain attraction to its urban energy, Emily did not yet have a sense that she would one day be contributing to its evolution. Maine’s largest municipality has experienced increased attention nationally in recent years, both for its liveability and for its economic opportunities. Anticipating the increased demand for housing options, the NewHeight Group has been at the center of several exciting projects, including the conversion of the former Northern Light Mercy Hospital building on State Street. NewHei...2022-09-1133 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelislePortland, Maine Artist Spreads Happiness With His Art and Hands-On Engagement: Meet Rick HamiltonRick Hamilton’s art brings joy to those who experience it. This is true when it is invited into the homes of those who have chosen it for their own, and also for those who are present during its creation. Such was the case recently, when Rick brought his easel, paints and a 6 x 10 foot canvas to the Portland Art Gallery, and created the piece “We’ll Always Stick Together,” with the participation of gallery visitors of all ages. This experience continued a dialogue of happiness that Rick seems always in the midst of, and produced a sizable work that now...2022-09-0431 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleThis Maine Artist Is Painting Every Bird Mentioned by Shakespeare: Meet Missy DunawayArtist Missy Dunaway has the unique ability to be both far-ranging and deep in her approach to her work. While attempting to convince a fellow college student of the ongoing relevance of William Shakespeare several years ago, she gave his contribution to language as one example. A known ‘word chemist,’ The Bard not only engaged in the creation of new vocabulary, he also extensively used the known vocabulary of the time: his collected works include more than 30,000 different words. Among these are descriptions of 64 separate species of birds that eventually became the inspiration for Missy’s current series of painti...2022-08-2827 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleEditor-in-chief of Culture Magazine on Writing and Journalism: Meet Susan Sherrill AxelrodSusan Sherrill Axelrod is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers. A former restaurant owner, she is now the Editor-in-chief for Culture (“the ultimate publication for those who love cheese”). Her love of culture goes beyond the culinary: she has an undergraduate degree in French and Italian literature, and has traveled all over the world. Now a Maine resident with a strong connection to the Boothbay region, she shares her talents with the Portland Art Gallery community via “Art Matters,” a weekly web and email column featuring interviews with our artists. Learn more about Su...2022-08-2824 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleHope Moves Her Forward: Artist Joyce Grasso on her Journey, Inspirations, and Career.Joyce Grasso’s life experiences, and adversities, have been quietly informing her art for many years. A native of Portland, Maine, her family had a shoe store on Congress Street–across from what is now the Maine Historical Society’s Wadsworth-Longfellow House–for more than half a century. She had a front row seat to the cultural diversity of Munjoy Hill, and enjoyed weekend forays to Cape Elizabeth and Old Orchard Beach. She also felt the limitations of career choice, as did many women of her generation. Despite these limitations, and significant health challenges, her art reflects the abundance and hope...2022-08-1439 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleGreg Day’s Art Draws on his Background in Architecture and Passion for CartographyGreg Day has always had an interest in lines and intersections. Early in life, Greg would lay out and draw intricate city maps at his kitchen table. After graduating from a small high school in rural Maine, Greg went on to study architecture. While his work in this profession was brief, both this and his fascination with cartography would eventually influence his art. Learn more about artist Greg Day on today’s episode of Radio Maine.
Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, designers, and more. Subs...2022-08-0730 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleMaine Artist Julia Einstein Finds Inspiration in the Most Delightful Subject: FlowersJulia Einstein’s art is all about the details. She seeks “gestures” in her subjects - most often flowers from her garden, or the farm where she is currently an artist in residence - and takes great care to arrange and paint them at precisely the right time of day. Previously a resident of Kennebunk, Maine, Julia made use of her extensive art history background when she worked as an educator at the Portland Museum of Art. Now a resident of Raleigh, North Carolina, where she moved to be near her family, Julia maintains her connection to the Pine Tree St...2022-07-3134 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleDeeply Rooted in Bailey Island Maine’s Community, Brett Johnson Makes a Life in Interior DesignThe founder of Maine Street Design Co., longtime interior designer Brett Johnson has many loyal clients across the state. Raised on the Maine coast, he has a deeply rooted family and personal history on Bailey Island. Building on the success of his Portland design studio and design center, he opened a new retail location in Bath, Maine in the midst of Covid, and has continued to grow his business despite the globally-felt challenges of the past few years. In the process, he has also reinvented himself personally, venturing forth to parts of the world that simultaneously broadened his horizons...2022-07-2436 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleDedicated to Healing Others Sally Thomas Earns Her Doctor of Ministry, Launches Wondering TogetherSally Thomas has dedicated her life to healing others, in myriad and evolving ways. Through her work as a nurse, and then a nurse practitioner, she came to understand the importance of emotional connection. With that in mind, she pursued a Doctor of Ministry, and initiated the “Wondering Together Project,” which brings families together through shared conversation. Learn more about Sally Thomas, and the importance of interrelatedness, today on Radio Maine.
Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, designers, and more. Subscribe to Radio Maine on YouTub...2022-07-1746 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleThis Garden Designer Became an Abstract Painter Exhibiting in Maine: Meet Karen BlairWhile drawing on historical ways of painting, Blair’s work explores the landscape in varying degrees of abstraction. As a gardener and student of garden design, she is fascinated with the idea of viewing the landscape from a high, sweeping vantage point. The marks on the paintings become a shorthand for the experience of being in the landscape. Along with plants, the sky, mountains, and water, the artist is recording the time of day and season of the year.
Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, desi...2022-07-1031 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleThe Maine Life and Career of Maine Health Pulmonologist Dr. Jen PalminteriMaine native Dr. Jennifer Palminteri, a pulmonologist with MaineHealth in South Portland, recently discovered the joy of bringing original art into her home. Jen is no stranger to creativity, having–like most of her medical colleagues–engaged in this extensively while responding to the rapidly evolving virus that precipitated a global pandemic. She offers a balanced and reassuring perspective from the front line of medicine. Jen’s ability to engage in uncertainty enabled her to fully embrace the art buying process, despite having no background in this area, demonstrating the transferability of skills and mindset that artists in all fields...2022-07-0336 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleYou’ve Been Framed: Tony Cox of Casco Bay Frames on Owning a Framing Business in MaineTony Cox is a fixture in the southern Maine art community. He and his wife Heather have owned and operated Casco Bay Frames and Gallery in Portland for nearly two decades. Tony has combined an educational background in psychology and studio art with practical, hands-on experience working in human resources at LL Bean to create success for their Back Cove area business. Tony enjoys working with his staff – all artists – and with clients nationwide. Learn more about Tony Cox and what brought him back to his home state in this episode of Radio Maine.
Every week, Dr. Lisa...2022-06-2634 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleSmall Business Spotlight: Ashley Tucci on Aristelle, a Beloved Lingerie Boutique in Portland, MaineThe daughter of a small business owner, Ashley Tucci has long had an enterprising spirit. Even while fully engaged in her successful corporate career, she was considering how she could build a business for herself. She imagined focusing her considerable talents in sales and brand building in a way that would satisfy her entrepreneurial calling and sustain her young family. Ashley found this opportunity with a small lingerie store in Portland, Maine, and took the leap not long before the global pandemic turned the world upside down. She has worked through the challenges, and sees the future as bright...2022-06-1941 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleThe Celebrity Makeup Artist Who Left NYC for the Quiet Life in Maine: Meet Nikki FontainePreviously a celebrity and on-air makeup artist in New York City, COVID caused Nikki Fontaine to seek refuge in the quiet coastal Maine town of Damariscotta. No stranger to New England, Nikki grew up in a creative family in rural Massachusetts. Influenced by their filmmaker father, she and her brother (a fellow makeup artist who specializes in ‘monster’ effects) followed the bright lights to NYC. When their industry shut down in the midst of a global pandemic, Nikki remained connected to the city–and her ongoing interest in visual arts– through virtual classes offered by the Art Students League of New Y...2022-06-1538 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleDr. Lisa Belisle Reflects on 60 Interviews with Maine ArtistsTraveling can create space, enlarge perspective and enrich the soul. In this episode of Radio Maine, our host, Dr. Lisa Belisle, records a brief podcast from her recent trip to the Grenadine Islands where she had the space to consider the art and the artists she’s spoken with in dozens of episodes since early 2021. “Art is interesting because you have the opportunity to see where an artist was at that moment and in that period of time in their life,” she observes. “Artists leave a trail of breadcrumbs from the present to the past.”
Every week, Dr. Lisa Beli...2022-06-1205 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleLead Singer, Sailing Captain, and Acclaimed Landscape Painter: Meet Maine Artist Joanne ParentJoanne Parent embodies creative energy. Her widely varied background includes many years as a musician–she has been the lead singer in nearly 20 bands—and an early career as a charter sailing captain. This latter experience proved beneficial to her work in visual art. When the responsibilities of her young family necessitated a return to land, Joanne brought the light-filled sea vistas to her canvases. Her work continues to reflect her effervescent personality. Join our conversation with Joanne Parent today on Radio Maine.
Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s comm...2022-06-0547 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleThe Artist and the Sea: Painter Whitney Heavey’s Fascination with the Sea Goes Back GenerationsWhitney Heavey’s family has an intergenerational appreciation of the ocean. Her grandfather was the captain of the (then) fastest transatlantic ocean liner, the SS United States, before air travel became widespread; her father was a navigator for the Navy’s first nuclear submarine. The sea features prominently in Whitney’s work as an artist, and has helped her heal after a series of recent hardships. She is deeply appreciative of her life, and the lessons she has learned by working through challenges. Join our conversation with Whitney Heavey on today’s episode of Radio Maine.
Every...2022-05-2938 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleDr. Lisa Belisle Reflects on the Collaborative Effort Behind Radio Maine PodcastIn this week’s episode, our host, Dr. Lisa Belisle, reflects on the collaborative effort that makes Radio Maine possible. Beginning in the midst of a global pandemic as a primarily distance-based project, the show has evolved to include in-person interviews, and now has more than 60 episodes. A lover of books, art, people and their stories, Lisa continues to see her work with the Portland Art Gallery as a means of exploring shared humanity. Thank you for taking a moment to pause and ponder this concept with us this week, and every week, on Radio Maine.
Every wee...2022-05-2209 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleSunil Malhotra, Cardiac Surgeon at Maine Medical Center, Balances an Intense Work Life with ArtFor Dr. Sunil Malhotra, being surrounded by art that evokes a certain emotional response helps him “right the ship.” As a practicing surgeon and the director of the newly created Congenital Cardiac Surgery program at Maine Medical Center in Portland, his work life has a high level of intensity. Fortunately he was able to draw on the experience of multiple physician family members, including his father, grandfathers and sister, when he chose this path. He reflects on his chosen profession, and the balance that art provides, on today’s episode of Radio Maine.
Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle...2022-05-0840 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleWallpaper Designer Brings Passion for Patterns to her Paintings: Meet Maine Artist Sarah IngrahamNewly graduated from the University of Vermont in Burlington, Sarah Ingraham took a calculated risk and moved to Brooklyn, New York to pursue a career in art. After working briefly in the wallpaper business, then as an artist’s assistant, she decided to hone her own craft full-time. The Maine native now paints in a 10 x 10 foot space in her apartment, and receives regular support from friends from her home state, including fellow Portland Art Gallery artist Page Eastburn O’Rourke. Learn more about talented emerging artist Sarah Ingraham on today’s episode of Radio Maine.
Every week...2022-05-0236 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleThis Sculptor was the Second Highest-Ranking Woman in the US Government: Meet Paula SternPaula Stern kept her passion for sculpting hidden from her family, friends and colleagues for many years–at one point even her husband was unaware. With a masters degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University in Boston, and a PhD in International Studies from the Fletcher School at Tufts University in Medford, Mass, her professional career had been more globally oriented. After time spent as a journalist in the Middle East, writing for the New Republic and the Atlantic, she and her husband, Paul London, settled down in Washington, DC to pursue a career in government. This culminated in...2022-04-2436 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleFrom Construction to Artist: Maine Artist Allen Bunker Reflects on a Life Full of Unexpected TurnsAllen Bunker turned to art as a counterbalance to his fast-paced career in residential construction. Through experimentation and persistence, Allen developed a unique artistic approach. He soon left construction behind to open an art gallery in the coastal town of Boothbay Harbor, Maine. He learned much over the years that the gallery was open, including the fact that collectors loved the art he created. When Allen reentered the construction business, he did so under his own terms. His alignment with the Portland Art Gallery has been well-received by the many collectors who value his work. Join our conversation with Al...2022-04-1734 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleChristina Thwaites: an English Artist in Portland, MaineOriginally from England, artist Christina Thwaites has lived around the world, enjoying time in such far flung locales as Scotland, France, Spain, Italy, Indonesia, Netherlands and Australia. Painting has long provided a means of finding home wherever she lands. Now living in one of Maine’s university towns, Christina has recently been inspired by the rugged coastline of the Pine Tree State. She notes an interesting narrative intersection between geography and the old photos that often provide a starting place for her work. Join our conversation with one of the Portland Art Gallery’s newest artists, Christina Thwaites, on toda...2022-04-1032 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleOvercoming a Rock Climbing Accident to Get Back to Art: The Inspiring Story of James BonnerGrowing up in the land of the Razorbacks, it is perhaps not surprising that James Bonner is a former football player and sports enthusiast. More intriguing is the longstanding attraction that this Little Rock, Arkansas native has felt toward Maine art and artists. This first manifested as an attraction to the work of the Wyeth family. Drawn to Andrew Wyeth in particular, James began a decades-long love affair with Maine, traveling frequently to the state’s Mid-coast region to immerse himself in the environment that has inspired countless creative spirits. James has become known for his attention to detail, us...2022-04-0336 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleSmall Business Spotlight: Emma Wilson on Pivoting an Art Gallery During a Global PandemicEmma Wilson has become intimately familiar with the challenges of managing an art gallery during a pandemic, including the potential impact on the livelihoods of artists. With a roster of over 55 Maine-centric artists, the importance of continuing to meet high standards at the Portland Art Gallery cannot be overstated. As the director, Emma worked with her team to meet and exceed these standards, in part by finding new ways to connect with art lovers around the world. Please join our conversation with Emma Wilson on the first episode of season two of Radio Maine.
Every week, Dr. L...2022-03-2731 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleAcrylic Flow Painting with Maine Artist Scott BoweArtist Scott Bowe has long been inspired by the ocean. He spent his formative years enjoying summers at the coastal Maine property his great grandfather acquired. As a college student, he participated in the Semester at Sea program, where he expanded his senses as he traveled around the world. It wasn’t until he was pursuing an acting career in Los Angeles that Scott began to experiment with art. He adopted a method of painting first created by Mexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros, who developed a process called acrylic flow painting, or acrylic pour painting, in the 1930’s. This techn...2022-03-2035 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleBe Inspired by Laurie Fisher as She Describes How She Found Confidence in Her ArtWith her graduate degree in clinical psychology, artist Laurie Fisher has been trained to look for, and understand, the factors that fundamentally make us who we are, and who we might be. She has used these in her own creative development, as both a writer and an artist. Laurie speaks eloquently about her creative path, the uncertainties that plague most artists, and the joy of meeting advocates and supporters who have furthered her career and contributed to her artistic confidence. A relatively new addition to the artist roster at Portland Art Gallery, Laurie has had notable national art representation...2022-03-1333 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleHome Is Where The Heart Is: An Interview with Acclaimed Vermont Artist, Sage Tucker-KetchamBy the time Sage Tucker Ketcham entered high school in Burlington, Vermont, she and her mother had moved over 20 times. Their travels took them throughout the U.S. and Europe, with memorable stays in England and Italy. Sage’s mother, herself an artist and musician, made sure that art played an important part in their experience. Sage went on to obtain a more formal art education from the Maine College of Art in Portland, before eventually returning to Vermont, where she now lives with her husband and son. Her paintings suggest an interesting blend of stasis and movement, likely inf...2022-03-0633 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleMatthew Barter Is Leading the Way for the Next Generation of Maine Folk ArtistsMatthew Barter has always approached his artistic training, and his life, in a unique manner. Homeschooled in rural Downeast Maine, his parents exposed him to art, art galleries and the working waterfront from a young age. His father, himself an artist and fisherman, served as one of his early role models. Over time, Matt moved from working construction jobs to becoming a full-time artist and sculptor. His dedication to both persistence and play has put him on track to be one of Maine’s iconic artists. Join our conversation with Matt Barter on this week’s episode of Radio Maine...2022-02-2830 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleEd Wintner, a Former Biochemist, Applies a Scientific and Methodical Approach to ArtEd Wintner had more than a fleeting passion for art while in high school, and took his studies seriously at the Philadelphia College of Art (now part of the University of the Arts) during those years. His career would, however, take a very different path. After earning a PhD in organic chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, he joined the fast-paced biotechnology world, on the front line of drug discovery. After successfully launching two biotech start-ups, Ed made the decision not to remain in that field, instead returning to his early love and devoting himself full-time t...2022-02-2036 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleThis Maine Artist Creates Dramatic, Abstract Seascapes That Will Blow You Away: Meet MJ BensonArtist MJ Benson loves swimming in the ocean, and the accompanying profound, visceral sense of the balance between breathing and not. What she experiences so deeply in that realm is reflected in the play between light and dark in her abstract landscapes. MJ is highly attuned to emotional contrasts: her sorrow over her brother’s death from cancer in the midst of COVID generated a renewed appreciation for her family, her friends and her life in Maine. Over the past two years, MJ poured this appreciation into her art, and her paintings soared as a result. Today’s conversation with MJ...2022-02-2039 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleA Reluctant CEO Navigates Her Grief and Continues to Create Her Art: Meet Anne HeywoodAnne Heywood was an accomplished full-time artist and gallery owner when, in February 2020, her husband of thirty years passed away suddenly. Still navigating her grief, she assumed the role of CEO of her late husband’s engineering firm as a global pandemic unfolded. Her resilience and fortitude kept the business moving forward, enabling The Thompson & Lichtner Co., Inc. to celebrate its 125th year that October. Two years later, Anne is still running the Canton, Massachusetts-based company, while once again finding time to visit her beloved home in Waldoboro, Maine and resume painting the Maine scenes that bring her peace.
2022-02-0635 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleArtist Dan Daly on Sketchbooking, His Various Careers, and Volunteering at Maine State PrisonWhen Maine artist Dan Daly leaves his house, he checks off the essentials: keys, wallet, sketchbook. Over the past several decades, he has filled hundreds of sketchbooks with ideas and inspiration from his day-to-day travels. It’s not only images that capture his attention--Dan is equally drawn to people and their stories. He easily relates to people from a broad range of backgrounds, from the janitorial crew he worked with to make money so he could go back to college, to the inmates with whom he volunteered at the Maine State Prison. His sketchbooks, and his stories, reflect deep bon...2022-01-2433 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleA Model Boat Builder Paints Breathtaking, Realist Maritime Landscapes: Meet Artist Steve RogersSteve Rogers has an appreciation for history, tradition, and service. This, in addition to his lifelong fascination with the ocean, boatbuilders and, (as he refers to them) “watermen,” has resulted in an almost documentary feel to many of his works: his attention to detail related to the working waterfront is unparalleled. On today’s episode of Radio Maine, Steve talks about his rare, but much anticipated, childhood trips to the Jersey Shore where he first fell in love to access to the water, his time teaching model boat building at the legendary Wooden Boat School in Brooklin Maine, and his pe...2022-01-1732 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleWilla Vennema’s Path to Becoming an Established Encaustic Artist Will Inspire YouWilla Vennema’s life is as wonderfully layered as the encaustic pieces she creates. Raised by art-loving parents in New York City, she became a talented flautist, attending what is now called the LaGuardia High School of Music & Performing Arts—the school that inspired the ‘80 film, television series, and musical, “Fame.” She also began a decades-long relationship with Swan’s Island, a remote enclave in Hancock County, Maine, that claims its musical connection through the 32-year-old Sweet Chariot Music Festival. While studying at Oberlin College and Conservatory in Ohio, Willa realized a newfound passion for the visual arts, spurred on by course...2022-01-0936 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleDavid Moser of Maine’s Thomas Moser Furniture Family Discusses his Enduring Passion for SculptureSculptor David Moser has creativity woven into his DNA. A member of the Maine family known for the Thos Moser furniture company, David learned much from its entrepreneurial founder–his father, Tom. The wisdom that he gained, alongside his three brothers, would influence an early interest in business and economics. His comfort in working with his hands would eventually lend itself to the craft of sculpting, an artistic endeavor that he now pursues full-time. In this first Radio Maine episode of the New Year, David willingly explores the emotional depths, and vulnerabilities, inherent in this choice. Thank you for jo...2022-01-0245 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleDoug Caves on the Artist’s Search for PurposeArtist Doug Caves has an affinity for the natural space afforded by rural New England. “It understands me and I understand it,” he says. Doug translates the energy he feels from the environment onto his paintings. Whether teaching artists, or pursuing his own art, Doug believes in taking a deliberate approach to exploration, discovery, and invention. His own explorations have led him to consider conflicting family guidance, a search for meaning, and whether his work “matters.” He suggests that the journey of discovery, as it relates both to knowing one’s own self and the external space one inhabits, is its own re...2021-12-2647 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleFrom Hawaii to Maine, Artist Julie Houck Travels Coast to Coast for InspirationJulie Houck began life as a traveler, moving several times for her father’s career. This pattern repeated itself in her later years. After attending art school, she became a highly sought-after commercial photographer who traversed the globe shooting for corporations, as well as publications such as Business Week, Newsweek, Forbes, The New Yorker, and U.S. News & World Report. The accumulated miles, and the transition of photography from film to digital, motivated her to change her professional course after 20 years, and seek additional training in San Francisco and Paris. The worldwide landscape continues to inspire Julie’s art, altho...2021-12-1931 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleAn Artist Struggling with MS Is Committed to Living in the Present: Be Inspired by Carol BassCarol Bass approaches life with an innate empathy, compassion and joy. A love for people and adventure brought her to Maine after college, and she stayed to raise a family, develop her art career and start a successful business. She moved to South Carolina after her children had grown, with the idea of reconnecting with family, but the draw to Maine was too strong. After a decade, she and her husband moved back. Now, you can find Carol living quietly in Pownal Maine, painting incessantly, and loving life despite challenges caused by multiple sclerosis. Carol talks passionately about living, a...2021-12-1242 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleKim Case of Cape Elizabeth, Maine Reflects on Her Winding Path to a Fruitful Art CareerKim Case began her creative journey as a photojournalist. After growing up in central New Hampshire, she trained in art history and photojournalism at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University in Boston. Finding the field of photojournalism difficult to break into, she went on to photograph weddings, using images to create narratives of a couple’s special day. She eventually became editor of the first home and design magazine in New England. Her paintings often reflect a storytelling approach, whether depicting a farmhouse swing framed by the White Mountains, or a fisherman’s shack on Ca...2021-12-0544 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleSheep Farming, Equine Therapy and Photography in Hollis Maine: Meet Nina FullerInspired by Scott and Helen Nearing’s classic “back-to-the-land” book, Living the Good Life, Nina Fuller first came to Maine in 1972. Being close to nature had taken root in her psyche from early days spent on her parent’s farm in Connecticut, and she sought this same agricultural connection for her own family. When her Maine dreams imploded with a series of life transitions, Nina knew she would someday return to the bucolic tranquility she had previously found. After raising her children and building a successful career as a commercial photographer, Nina reestablished herself on her very own sheep farm in H...2021-11-2836 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleMaine Arts and Culture: Interview with Landscape Oil Painter Holly SmithHolly L. Smith’s New England connections run deep: she can trace her family lineage back to the Mayflower. Her great-grandfather, Captain George Lane, used to sail from Rockport, Maine to the West Indies, carrying lime and lumber. Maine has been home her entire life, and she has taken full advantage of access to its islands, including Eagle, Monhegan, and Vinalhaven. With loving encouragement from both her mother and father, she immersed herself in art from a young age, attended the Portland-Gorham area teacher's college that would eventually become the University of Southern Maine, and spent 31 years teaching art and...2021-11-2129 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleFall in Love with the Charming Interiors and Still Lifes by Artist Martha Burkert of Maine and TexasMartha Burkert’s successful career as a photography stylist taught her much about perspective, subtracting from a scene, and proper lighting--each of which has been important to her art. Martha attended the Maine College of Art in Portland later in life, at the suggestion of several artist friends. One of her early influences was artist and author Alfred “Chip” Chadbourn, with whom she shares a connection to Yarmouth, Maine. She brings her knowledge of photography and art forward into her pieces, many of which incorporate elements that are reminiscent of home life, including ceramics and garden flowers. Martha currently divides...2021-11-1432 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleAfter Earning an MBA and a Career in Banking, Dick Alden Chucked it All and Became a SculptorAn undergraduate finance major at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Dick Alden did not anticipate that he would enjoy his ceramics class as much as he did. In contrast to work he did in his other classes, he found that the process of doing something “not exact” was very appealing. Putting his interest in art on hold, he went on to pursue a career with State Street Bank in Boston, while raising a family and studying for a master’s in business administration over many nights and weekends. Then, after taking a wood carving course in his mid-forties, Dick be...2021-11-0739 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleOne to Watch: J. Rodney Dennis, a Contemporary Painter Making Waves in Classical Realism Rodney Dennis is committed to his craft. For months, he took a late flight out of Washington DC bound for Boston every Thursday night after his compressed 4-day work week had ended. He did this so that he could spend weekends attending the Academy of Realist Art. As a result of his continuing commitment to serious academic pursuit, and countless hours of painting, his pieces display a level of precision that appears almost photographic in quality. After sharing Academy classes with him, artist and Portland Art Gallery staff member Missy Dunaway was so impressed with his talent and work...2021-10-3136 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleA Candid Conversation with Musician and Painter Jodi Edwards, a Maine Artist with Many TalentsIn the field of computer science, abstraction refers to the process of taking away, or removing less relevant characteristics, in order to get to what is most essential. Using that definition, Jodi Edward’s life, like her art, has been a process of abstraction, leading to her current existence on a bucolic family farm in Surry, Maine. Jodi traces her journey from an education at the Parsons School of Design in New York City, across a trajectory of varied experiences, including waitressing, singing, teaching and posing as an art model. The energy of her courage, and willingness to engage and...2021-10-2435 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleMaine Artist Uses Recycled Acrylic Paint to Create Stunning Abstract Paintings: Meet Brenda CirioniFor Brenda Cirioni, art has provided an opportunity for both catharsis and joy. While attending a retreat as an adult, she reconnected with feelings around a fire that destroyed her family’s home when she was 16-years-old--an event that was found to have been caused by arson. This emotional touchpoint became the impetus for a body of work that spanned several years, and eventually provided her with a sense of closure around the tragedy. More recently, she countered the challenges of COVID by finding joyful inspiration in her gardens, creating a series of floral abstracts. Learn more about Brenda’s exp...2021-10-1737 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleFor the Love of Family and Food: North43 Restaurant Founder and Owner Stephanie BrownStephanie Brown understands that food and family are foundational elements of a life well-lived. Trained as a chef at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, her professional pursuits are the continuation of a personal legacy reflected in memories of homemade pasta drying in the bedroom of her grandparents’ four story walk-up in Boston’s North End. Her decades-long career encompasses a love for food and people that has most recently manifested in co-ownership of North 43 Bistro in South Portland, Maine. Stephanie is beloved for the joy she brings to catered events, from intimate weddings to corporate events--not to me...2021-10-1338 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleFred Williams Joins Two Diametric Interests --Finance and Art-- into One Fascinating LifeFred Williams traces his love for art back to his childhood, when he accompanied his parents on a visit to an artist’s studio located on Hancock Point in Downeast Maine. From a longstanding Maine family, his parents met at the University of Maine in Orono, and bought their first piece of art from one of their professors. Fred says that connecting with artists is something that he treasures to this day, as he continues to surround himself with art at his home in Portland, Maine. The founder of the well-respected investment management firm, Old Port Advisors in Portland, Fr...2021-10-0328 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleInterview with a Contemporary Impressionist Landscape Painter in Portland, Maine: Cooper DragonetteBy his own admission, Cooper Dragonette “could not tell the bow from the stern,” when first hired as a sailing instructor by Maine’s Hurricane Island Outward Bound School in Penobscot Bay. Raised in Easton, Connecticut, he spent several years in landlocked Arizona working toward a degree in education, and had come away longing for the coast. His unanticipated Hurricane Island experience initiated an interplay between art and the outdoors that continues in his life to this day. Now a resident of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Cooper balances raising his young children with plein air painting, and teaching workshops in this g...2021-09-2641 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleMaine Art and Culture: A Conversation with Artist Matt Chamberlain of PortlandArtist Matt Chamberlain has always felt an urge to paint. Although he pursued his passion at the Maine College of Art (MECA) in Portland, he initially felt uncertain about how to make a living through his art. With this in mind, he picked up a “real” job as a prep cook at Portland’s venerable farm-to-table restaurant, Fore Street. The experience, a total immersion into foodservice, set Matt on another creative path as a chef, which eventually led to his owning a Portland-based catering business. It wasn’t until years later, when the stress of operating a food business reached a...2021-09-1932 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleAnn Trainor Domingue’s Artwork Captures New England in a Patchwork of Color, Pattern, and StoryArtist Ann Trainor Domingue, and her eight siblings, grew up in the oceanside community of Barrington, Rhode Island. There is little doubt that her relationship with the coast and devotion to family have informed her artwork. Ann’s paintings are unmistakable, offering her own distinctive depiction of family and working life on the New England waterfront. In this free-ranging interview, we talk about her childhood camping trips, her husband’s childcare business--and the impact of COVID-19 on that business--and pay homage to children’s book authors Eric Carle and Tomie Paola, as well the poetry of Mary Oliver. You’ll learn...2021-09-1242 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleTyler School of Art Grad Joins Portland Art Gallery and Quickly Ascends to Gallery ManagerEmma McHold Burke started working with the Portland Art Gallery just as Covid was causing small businesses like the gallery to “shift direction.” She had recently graduated from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture in Pennsylvania after gaining an education in painting and art history, and had planned her next life steps around the Philadelphia community in which Tyler is located. With the uncertainty of the pandemic looming, Emma reluctantly gave up her post-college apartment and moved to her family home in Maine. Wanting to maintain her connection to the art world, Emma reached out to the gallery. When...2021-09-0546 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleMaine Community News: Artist Jean Jack Paints the Iconic Maine Barn in Bold, Minimalist PaintingsArtist Jean Jack has earned a reputation for her unique and now iconic rendition of New England-style farmhouses and barns. Although she had no personal experience growing up in or around these structures, she was mesmerized by a particular farmhouse in Connecticut while in the early stages of her artistic career. After surreptitiously photographing this structure, she painted her version and entered a competition at the famed Silvermine School of Art in New Canaan, Connecticut. Her competition win affirmed her passion for the subject matter. While subsequently living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, she continued to trek hours to...2021-08-2932 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleA Professional Hockey Player from Canada Becomes a Surgeon and Moves to Maine: Meet Jarrod DanielDr. Jarrod Daniel defies easy categorization. A former professional hockey player from Canada, his travels and educational path have taken him all over the world. Now a Portland-based surgeon, he has been married for more than two decades to a woman who grew up in Bangor, Maine and Paris, France. Jarrod and Frederique have chosen to raise their four children on a small Maine island, in a home filled with art from both in-state and away. Learn more about Dr. Jarrod Daniel and his global trajectory on this week’s episode of Radio Maine with Dr. Lisa Belisle.
...2021-08-2236 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleInterview with Beloved Maine Artist and Acclaimed Abstract Landscape Painter, Ann SklarArtist Ann Sklar was a printmaking major in college--not because she loved printmaking, but because of the charismatic female professor who led the program. From this professor, Ann learned much more about life and work than one might expect from a college course of study. The professor went on to become a provost at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Ann went on to co-found three art galleries. One of these is a Philadelphia-area female artist cooperative that still exists today. Ann brings a mindful and determined discipline to her work: a discipline she developed over years...2021-08-1534 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleVanessa Helmick: Creating a Life on Her TermsVanessa Helmick started her Maine interior design business, Fiore Interiors, using a unique approach: she ignored all of her well-intentioned advisors, and made decisions that were best for her. She avoided networking, she moved out of the city of Portland, and she chose clients that she liked and who liked her aesthetic. Vanessa’s aesthetic, one that she describes as “Scandi Beach,” is a combination of Scandanavian minimalism and a heavily textured coastal experience. With each of her projects, she incorporates art into her design and engages with her clients to choose signature pieces that will enhance their daily lives. ...2021-08-0828 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleAn Insightful Interview with Photographer, Painter, and Professor Bill CrosbyBill Crosby exemplifies the dualistic nature of many artists. He is both a photographer and a painter, who worked for decades as an art professor, while actively practicing his own craft. Bill reminds us that, as the poet Charles Baudelaire suggests, “An artist is only an artist on condition that he neglects no aspect of his dual nature…the power of being oneself and someone else at the same time.” Bill has enjoyed a longstanding personal and professional partnership with his wife, Pat. They divide their time between homes in Plattsburgh, New York and South Thomaston, Maine. Bill and Pat are...2021-08-0132 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleGet to Know Emma Wilson, Director of Portland Art Gallery in MaineThere is much about Portland Art Gallery director Emma Wilson that may surprise you. Emma has been a traveling military spouse (caring for three children while their father served in Iraq), spent time as a social worker, and has strong ties to the non-profit world. Her early love of art, growing up with access to New York’s renowned museums, stayed with her as she moved around the country. She realized quickly that art is a tie that binds, and sought out the company of like-minded art-loving souls wherever she went. Emma and her family eventually moved to Maine, re...2021-07-2536 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleA Young College Student Reflects on her First Year at Ringling College of Art During a PandemicAniella Salko’s career path seemed pre-ordained. The “family business” was medicine. For years she had imagined being a doctor, a surgeon, or maybe a scientist. At the same time, her sketch books and school art classes were an important part of her early years. As she progressed in high school, Aniella realized that she wanted to do something that she loved. After much consideration, and with the full support of her parents, Aniella chose to attend the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. Her first year of college was unusual and challenging due to the pandemic...2021-07-1832 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleThe Designer of the Trans Am Firebird Became an Artist. You’ll Love his Car and Sports IllustrationsJohn “Jack” Gable has been a full-time artist for more than four decades after an equally successful career in automobile design. Jack trained to work for his initial profession at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California. While there he explored artistic creation in various forms, affording him the opportunity to transition between watercolors, oils, acrylics and other mediums. In 1980, he left his original dream job as a designer for the Trans Am Firebird at General Motors in Detroit, Michigan, and moved his young family across the country to the small Maine enclave of Kennebunkport. Jack now lives in Woo...2021-07-1133 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleBe Inspired to Become a Painter by this Interview with Portland, Maine Artist Rick HamiltonRick Hamilton has had many careers, but he has always been an artist at heart. In addition to traveling the world while in the Navy, he has worked as a framer, a machinist and a salesperson. Throughout these adventures, Rick remained connected to a creative spirit that was reignited by a chance encounter with a young artist on the Eastern Prom in Portland. While he names Picasso, Modigliani, and Basquiat as influences, Rick is humble about his work and suggests that “anyone could do what I do.” Most people would respectfully disagree with his assertion. Rick, with his impressive work e...2021-07-0424 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelislePop Art + Folk Art = Paintings by Page Eastburn O’Rourke! An Interview with a Unique Maine ArtistPage Eastburn O’Rourke brings joy to people of all ages. A full-time artist and children’s book illustrator, she developed her artistic style at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where she was heavily influenced by the color work of Josef Albers, and then Parsons School of Design in New York City. Page is beloved in the Yarmouth Maine area, and her travels have allowed her to introduce what she describes as “pop folk art” to countless others around the state. Join us on Radio Maine as we explore Page’s personal journey and find out how it has influenced...2021-06-2733 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleThe Point of Change, Acupuncturist to Artist: Alexandra Strawbridge Maurer, Maine ArtistAlexandra Maurer is passionate about her work—both as an artist and an acupuncturist, two topics she is willing to explore deeply. In this episode of Radio Maine, she also touches upon the ideas of “fledging” one’s children, finding one’s voice, and embracing what Alexandra calls her maintenance phase. With her recent decision to join the Portland Art Gallery community, Alexandra has continued her commitment to creativity. Join us for Episode 16 of Radio Maine with Dr. Lisa Belisle.
Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, des...2021-06-2140 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleA Realtor in Southern Maine Describes the Current Real Estate Climate and MoreHeather Shields grew up on North Haven, a remote Maine island with a year-round population of 350. Reaching the mainland by ferry boat was a 75 minute commitment – one way. Join Dr. Lisa Belisle as she discusses Heather’s formative island years that led her to understand, profoundly, that we all must learn how to get along. Heather built upon the foundation of her childhood experiences when she became a single mom living in the greater Portland Maine area and entered the now frenzied world of Maine residential real estate. Heather also reflects on the work of Portland Art Gallery artist, and...2021-06-1326 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleA Professional Hockey Player from Canada Becomes a Surgeon and Moves to Maine: Meet Jarrod DanielArchitect Josh Lowe lives with his wife and daughter on a coastal Maine island—a decision that was as carefully considered as the process he uses for design creation. Less than three years ago, their young family was in San Francisco, with Josh working on residential and commercial projects coming out of the Bay Area tech boom. Many of their friends were transplants like themselves, who had moved to the area early in their careers in order to gain experience among their intellectual peers, and over time gradually moved away again. As their daughter got older, Josh and his wif...2021-06-0634 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleDr. Lisa Belisle is Taking Radio Maine Podcast on the Road! Tuning in from Fort LauderdaleIt is said that change is constant, and most people will agree this is true. Along with change, which may be symbolized by an external shift in circumstances such as a birthday or retirement, we transition to new roles by revising our internal perceptions of ourselves and our interaction with the world. This may also take place during travel, and through finding art where it may not have previously existed. Join Dr. Lisa Belisle on the road this week as she reflects on the topic of change for Radio Maine.
Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you...2021-05-2910 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleAs The World Reopens: Dr. Lisa Belisle Ruminates on Springtime and Moving ForwardAs the world reopens, there is a strange reawakening that we're all experiencing as the springtime has woken up the birds and the buds are on the trees. Some of us are planting our gardens. We are realizing that things that we thought we lost over the last year were there all along. Maybe that's what creativity is; the ability to have things continue on. Maybe despite us, while our focus is elsewhere, things could still be happening while dormant, lying in wait in the fallow field, ready to emerge when the time is right.
Every week...2021-05-2309 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleStew Henderson on his Dual Careers of Fine Artist and Senior Preparator for Art MuseumsHave you ever wondered about how priceless artwork gets moved from one location to another? Artist Stew Henderson has the answer. He recently retired after two decades working in Maine’s fine arts world: first with the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, and then as the senior preparator at the Colby College Museum of Art in Waterville. In this latest episode of Radio Maine, Stew talks to Dr. Lisa Belisle about this work, his experience acting as an art courier and his own unique artistic style.
Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a mem...2021-05-1630 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleStill Waters Run Deep: Plumbing the Depths of Helen Lewis’s Calming, Minimalist Encaustic PaintingsArtist Helen Lewis creates her pieces, in part, by adding layer upon layer of molten beeswax to a panel, and scraping it away. This process creates great depth and luminosity. This practice reflects her life’s work of finding meaning from what remains after loss. Helen’s mother died suddenly when she was five-years-old. Soon after, her father brought Helen and her brothers on a trip to New Orleans that was meant to be restorative. Things did not go as planned, nor did the remainder of Helen’s childhood years. Helen’s art is clearly informed by her early heartbre...2021-05-0930 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleA Conversation About Art with Hadley Powell of Powell Fine Art AdvisoryHadley Powell has spent a lifetime “training her eye” when it comes to art. Visits to art museums were an integral part of her childhood vacations and time at Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine expanded her view. She went on to complete formal educational programs in art at Union College and with Christie’s world-renowned art institute. Now, in tandem with nurturing her young family, Hadley is maturing her art consulting business, Powell Fine Art Advisory. Listen to this Farmington, Maine native talk about art, family, entrepreneurship, and her never-ending and always evolving love of art.
Every week, Dr...2021-05-0536 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleGet to Know Dr. Brooke Jackson, a Clinical Psychologist with Deep Ties to California and MaineDr. Brooke Jackson is a practicing clinical psychologist living in San Rafael, California. She is also a lover of art, lifelong learner and gardener. Join us for episode eight, as Brooke tells us about searching for, and finding, her genuine life path after a career trajectory that included jobs as a paralegal and educator, before returning to college later in life to earn her PhD in psychology. Feeling blessed that she could still work remotely as COVID lockdowns happened, Brooke made a determined decision to continue her support of independent booksellers, artists and her favorite non-profits. Her connection to...2021-05-0533 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleCarlos Gamez de Francisco Emigrated from Cuba to the US for Opportunity, Found it in the Art WorldCarlos Gamez de Francisco knew that he wanted to emigrate from Cuba to the United States when he was 14-years-old. According to Carlos, the generation before him had moved to Cuba for opportunity, and now his generation was leaving for opportunity. After early studies in dance, at age fifteen Carlos began devoting his time to studying and perfecting his art. He would eventually find his way to the U.S. where he took the first available job in a warehouse while continuing to create art. Within months, and after learning English by repeating 100 words 11 times each day, Carlos talked...2021-04-1831 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleImpressionist Painter Andrew Faulkner, Based in California, Now Exhibiting in Portland, MaineIn this episode, Lisa Belisle connects with California-based artist, Andrew Faulkner. Andrew has an unusually rich lineage of creativity. His great-grandfather was an accomplished professional artist who traveled regularly to Europe for inspiration before returning to Connecticut to paint. His grandfather, father and brother are architects. Andrew’s mother was an interior designer. However, Andrew entered Trinity College prepared to obtain a more practical education in English, or Psychology, before finishing with a degree in Fine Arts. After a successful 30 year career in graphic design, Andrew started his “real job” as a professional artist.
Every week, Dr. Lisa Beli...2021-04-1135 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleEncaustic Artist and Instructor Dietlind Vander Schaaf Talks About Her Career and InspirationsDietlind Vander Schaaf’s life, as Walt Whitman might suggest, “contains multitudes.” Not only is she an artist and teacher of art, she is also a writer and yoga teacher who has undergraduate and masters degrees in history (as well as a masters of fine art in writing!) Lisa Belisle’s interview with Dietlind explores her unique practice of creating encaustic art on wood panels: a laborious process of applying layer after layer of hot wax, paint and, in her case, 23-karat gold leaf. Hear about her artistic evolution, including four years spent working through perceived failure, and ultimate emergence...2021-04-0434 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleAn Intimate Conversation with Iconic Contemporary Maine Artist Jane DahmenHost, Dr. Lisa Belisle, connects with artist Jane Dahmen in her Newcastle, Maine home for Episode 4 of Radio Maine. Jane has created a well-established art practice over the course of 50+ years. She was first introduced to Maine as a student at Colby College in Waterville and, after vacationing here for several years, moved to Newcastle full time with her husband, Joe, in 2005. Jane talks about overcoming challenges, including Joe's diagnosis and eventual death due to Alzheimer's disease, by looking inward to find answers. Jane also speaks about her passion for interviewing artists and curators at her popular "Talking Art...2021-03-2826 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleGet to Know Dr. Lisa Belisle, Host of Radio Maine!Our host, Dr. Lisa Belisle, is one of ten siblings. Her father's 50-year career as a family physician led her toward a similar professional path adding studies in pubic health (MPH), acupuncture and business (MBA). While she's currently in a primary care leadership role for a Maine-based healthcare system, she has always continued a parallel path as an on-air interviewer, writer and presenter. Learn more about Lisa, as well as her appreciation for work by artist, Willa Vennema, in this episode.
Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, in...2021-03-2116 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleA Conversation with Artist Missy DunawayMissy Dunaway talks with host Dr. Lisa Belisle about realizing she was going to an artist from the age of 6, her wanderlust for world travel, a Fulbright Scholarship that took her to Turkey, her visual travel journals, and more. Missy is one of the featured artists in March 2021 at the Portland Art Gallery.
Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, designers, and more. Subscribe to Radio Maine on YouTube, so you never miss an episode.
Missy is represented by the Portland Art Gallery of Ma...2021-03-1430 minRadio Maine with Dr. Lisa BelisleWelcome to Radio Maine! Our First Interview Features Art Director Emma WilsonIn her inaugural episode of Radio Maine, Dr. Lisa has a conversation with Gallery Director, Emma Wilson. They talk about the past year of doing business during Covid and how the gallery, and artists, forged a path forward while taking care to provide needed connection, communication and compassion along the way. Hear about how the team at the Portland Art Gallery expanded their artist roster and available artwork to offer more creative space for their artists and more options for their loyal art buyers and collectors from Maine to Hong Kong.
Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings y...2021-03-1210h 54
Love Maine Radio with Dr. Lisa BelisleFour is a Magic NumberThis week, Dr. Lisa Belisle shakes things up with a return visit to the studios of WLOB in Portland, where she has a lively and candid conversation with well-known WLOB radio show host, Ray Richardson. Love Maine Radio first aired four years ago this weekend. In today’s show, Dr. Lisa gets personal, describing her Love Maine Radio experience and sharing her observations about medicine, parenting, and the fiercely beautiful world in which we live. https://www.themainemag.com/radio/2015/09/four-is-a-magic-number/2015-09-1800 minLove Maine Radio with Dr. Lisa BelisleIntentions #16Welcome to 2012! What are your intentions this year? We believe that creating intentions for our lives can have a significant impact on the way we approach our existence. It can also positively impact those around us.
This week's show includes an interview with Dr. Lisa Belisle, discussing her unique current medical practice and vision for the future of medicine, Leanne Ouimet and Courtney Ogden, who will discuss the charitable undertakings of Maine Magazine with a special "Intentions" audio montage created by our audio producer, John McCain.
https://www.themainemag.com/radio/2012/01/intentions-16/2012-01-0100 min