From the Library: Clean Maine air fosters literary, artistic treasures

Whenever I go over the Piscataquis Bridge from New Hampshire to Maine everyone in the car with me must open their windows and let the “clean Maine air” fill the car no matter what time of the year. Then I wave my arms out the window and yell, “Yippee, I am in Maine!”

I always wonder what the people think in the cars behind us. My family smiles and humors me. Now I have my library friends doing the same thing!

I love Maine. Most of you head to Cape Cod and, yes, it is a shorter drive, it is nice off season, and the water is warmer, but the rocky coast of Maine is beautiful; and there are a multitude of unexplored places to enjoy down many of the peninsulas.

Maine’s most celebrated artist, Andrew Wyeth, died this year. If you want to see “A Tribute to Andrew Wyeth,” head straight for the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland, about four hours from Boston. Not only will you see Andrew’s works, but in the Wyeth Center, a building that looks like a church, is the work of his father, N.C. Wyeth, noted for his excellent book illustrations of many classics such as “Treasure Island,” “Kidnapped,” and “Robinson Crusoe.”

On the second floor is a spectacular and unusual exhibit by Andrew’s son Jamie called “The Seven Deadly Sins” (sloth, greed, lust, gluttony, wrath, envy, and pride) as portrayed by the actions of seagulls. As Jamie says, seagulls are not nice creatures! He has observed and painted these seabirds for years from his homes on several Maine islands. The paintings are overwhelming and dramatic with marvelous explanations both religious and artistic.

Come to the library and check out some books on N.C., Andrew, and Jamie – a very unusual talented family of artists who have contributed much to America’s art scene. Begin by reading “N.C. Wyeth – A Biography” by David Michaelis, in which the first chapter begins with Newell’s birth and early childhood in Needham. The book “Maine and its Role in American Art, 1740-1963” (709.73 Wilder) is an excellent historical overview of artists such as Winslow Homer and Rockwell Kent who have celebrated the diversity and magic of Maine.

How about some authors? Stephen King has been an unbelievable Maine author. “Pet Semetary” and “Dolores Claiborne” are two of my favorites.

I confess I still have on my “to read” list “The Country of the Pointed Firs” by Sarah Orne Jewett but I loved her short story “The White Heron.”

How we must thank Rachel Carson for “Silent Spring.” Go to Wells, Maine and walk in the Rachel Carson wildlife preserve.

Tess Gerritsen is a heavy favorite with medical mystery readers with “Bloodstream,” “Harvest,” “Surgeon,” and others. A fun mystery writer is Donna Andrews; “Murder with Puffins” takes place on a Maine island.

I loved the family saga story “Colony” by Anne Rivers Siddons (yes, she is not living in Maine) – about a South Carolina woman who returns to her Maine “retreat” each summer and deals with her strange family. Elizabeth Ogilvie is another prolific Maine writer with her Bennett’s Island saga and others.

Kenneth Roberts is a classic New England author most noted for “Northwest Passage.” Camden’s Richard Russo won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for fiction with “Empire Falls.”

This is just a sampling of the authors that come to mind quickly. I know there are many more.

Come to the library to check out artists and novelists from anywhere! But for me, Maine is the best. We have lots of travel guides in the 917.41 section to help you explore my favorite state.

Maybe someone will write about Cape Cod and its authors and artists!

Margot Sullivan, a retired Adult Services librarian, a part time reference librarian, and a book discussion leader, is filling in this week for the ‘From the Library’ column usually written by Charlotte Canelli, library director of Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood.