LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-April 2010 by Susan Grisanti Kelley Photography François Gagné

Every month, when the work is done and the new issue arrives from the printer, it becomes our favorite. Everyone crowds around, and we go through each page together with pride and excitement.

Admittedly, we are fickle. Each new edition of MH+D becomes our most loved. This reminds me of how my grandfather would, with a twinkle in his eye and out of earshot of anyone else, whisper to each of his granddaughters, “You are my favorite.” It’s actually just like that, because each issue really is treasured for its distinct strengths and loveliness.

To that end, there is just something extra special about this art issue, our third annual. We love being able to share with you all this beauty and meaning while—what is truly indicative of our mission at MH+D—featuring local but world-class talents who choose to live and work in Maine.

This task of creating an annual art issue is daunting. In featuring more than 110 artists in this issue, we are able to cover only a tiny portion of the Maine art scene. We chose to select all the art we can possibly fit into one issue—and hope that you will continue the search on your own. Throughout the state we are blessed with monthly art walks, countless galleries, and the finest museums, with regularly rotating shows—much of which we tell you about every month in MH+D, Maine magazine, and now on our Art Maine page on Facebook.

Throughout the year we continue to cover the arts with former Farnsworth curator Suzette McAvoy. A debt of gratitude is owed to Suzette for her constant support and guidance in all our art coverage—most especially in this issue. Special thanks are also due to Bruce Brown, Sharon Corwin, Susan Danly, Elizabeth Finch, George Kinghorn, Nat May, Sam Mitchell, and Polly Saltonstall, for their valuable input—as well to all the artists and galleries represented on our pages.

I am thrilled to be sharing so many fabulous artists with you this month, and hope that it inspires you to add some of their work to your homes—in Maine and beyond.

Susan Grisanti Kelley
Editor-in-Chief