MONHEGAN MAINE ARTISTS
By Jeanette Hendler
Robert Henri came in 1902 and was followed by George Bellows, Rockwell Kent, Edward Hopper, Edward Willis Redfield, Frederick Judd Waugh, Andrew Dasburg, Maurice Sterne, along with many lesser known, but equally talented painters. Some of the not as well known painters were Aaron Berkman, Charles Ebert, Abraham Bogdanove, Michael Lowe, John Hultberg, Tom Boutis, Zero Mostel, Alex Minewski, Arlene Simon and Mo Oberman.
Since the mid 1800's, artists have been painting and living on Monhegan Island, Maine. It is located about ten miles from the coast of Maine and is about a mile in width and almost two miles in length. It is accessible only by boat and there are no cars or paved roads on the island. Many locals used golf carts as their means of transportation.
The island provides the perfect setting for artists to paint, draw and sculpt. It has many picturesque coves and wonderful majestic cliffs. There are fishing shacks, a virgin natural forest with paths called Cathedral Woods, fabulous views of Manana Island off its coast, the famous Fish Beach, the local inn called Trailing Ye, the swimming beach, and shipwrecks. The headlands area is where the cliffs can be seen. Seventeen miles of trails are found, including very steep and strenuous trails along with more moderate trails. Monhegan Island Museum and the lighthouse offer additional scenic views along with the famous images of the fog rolling in. Monhegan fog has been captured by many, many painters. Some locations found in paintings but which no longer exist include the grocery store.
The explorer John Smith visited Monhegan in 1614 and Native Americans were using it as a fishing area. Currently, fishing and lobstering are still important sources of income for the community. Artists are still Monhegan's biggest attraction, since for a very long time, it has been known as "the artist’s island".
Monhegan Images follow and information is available through Jeanette Hendler, a private dealer in
New York City, New York
1. 2.
Aaron Berkman: Artist
1. “Grocery Store, Monhegan Island”, oil on canvas, signed, 15 ½ “ X 23 ¾ “, 1944
2. “Monhegan Island”, oil on canvas, signed, 19” X 23”, 1943-45, (Fisherman’s House with Manana Island)
copyright 2004 Jeanette Hendler