ROCKLAND — AIO has opened its call for artists for the 3rd annual ArtFeeds: Artists in Action Against Food Insecurity. AIO is accepting entries now through April 26, 2024, with results announced on May 6. 

Interested artists should submit their entry here. This year's Jurors will choose 40 artists based on the quality and creativity of their work, and their connection to the community. 

ArtFeeds is a first-of-its-kind collaboration formed in partnership with Camden-based Page Gallery and the Maine State Correctional Facility. Launched in 2022, the fundraiser brings together the creativity of the Midcoast’s vibrant artist community, the talents of the Maine State Prison’s woodworking program, and the vision of Page Gallery to raise funds for AIO’s Food and Energy Assistance programs.

“I am frequently asked, ‘how can I help?’ and ArtFeeds demonstrates that there are so many ways we can each, in our unique ways, help out,” said Alan Kearl, new AIO Executive Director, in a news release. “When creativity, passion and compassion combine, it’s a beautiful result!”

In 2023, thirty-six well-known local artists – including Page Gallery founder Colin Page, Alan Magee, Eric Hopkins, Sal Taylor Kydd, Simon van der ven, Margaret Rizzio, Greta Van Campen, Hélène Farrar and Richard Chalmers – created their own bowl or worked with a wooden bowl carved and donated by residents of the Maine State Correctional Facility’s woodworking program. The only creative direction given to the artists was to create something that represents the community taking care of one another with food.

The collection of finished bowls are part of a one week exhibition at Page Gallery in Camden, culminating in a silent auction raising funds to benefit AIO’s programs. In the first two years of ArtFeeds the event has raised 

“Each year I enjoy seeing how the creativity and resourcefulness of artists comes together in the form of these beautiful bowls,” said artist Colin Page. “The artists enjoy the challenge of thinking outside the box and knowing their efforts are in support of all that AIO does, from the food pantry to their help in providing energy security in our area.”.

The finished bowls for this year’s participants will be on display at Page Gallery September 19-28, 2024. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, September 19, at Page Gallery in concert with Camden’s Art Walk. A silent auction of the bowls will run from September 19 to 28, with a closing reception at Page Gallery on Saturday, September 28.  

To read about the ArtFeeds visit www.aiofoodpantry.org/artfeeds.