PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A local woman has her eyes fixed on turning part of the former Key Bank building on Main Street into a spot for local artists to share their work and learn new techniques.
According to artist Lin Trombley, the third floor of the Key Bank building will become home to her first business, Anomic Chameleon Creatives, a casual setting for artists to relax and create. The space may be a little bare at the moment, but she said she’s hard at work handcrafting tables and easels and the space will be open for an exhibit later this fall.
The idea to help the Star City’s growing art community has been kicking around in Trombley’s head for several years and recently she’s tested the waters looking for interested artists to join in her cause. So far, she has more than 20 artists lined up to be involved with the new space.
“Change starts when you’re able to get your work in front of people and show your message and make them think and start conversations,” Trombley said. “I think starting those conversations in the community is imperative because that’s where it starts, in small communities, and then branches out so it can spread. Then I would hope to have the potential to reach other communities and create change through this in the future.”
Trombley has created a network of artists via social media and word of mouth, and she’s also started the legwork on securing grants to help get things started.
“I’ve applied for four grants, so far, including the Pollock-Krasner Foundation and the Awesome Foundation,” Trombley said.
She wants to provide a more “affordable” option for artists to come and learn in a more casual setting, she added. She plans to use grant funds to help with start up costs, but she said she will charge $300 per individual per month to use the space.
Though Trombley said her target audience isn’t children, so as to not compete with the Wintergreen Arts Center, the space is open to all artists, involved in any medium, college aged and up.
“Lin has been a featured artist at Wintergreen and I think this is great,” said Dottie Hutchins, the executive director at Wintergreen. “She’s very talented and is always trying to help other artists find their voice.”
The space’s first art exhibit is expected to run 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 6 as part of the First Friday Artwalk. The public is welcome to attend and enjoy art by Trombley, Caitlin Sanipass, Ryan Scully, Tori Drost and Filomena Irving.
Artists involved in any medium looking for a space to create are free to contact Trombley at anomic.chameleon.creatives@gmail.com.
