Yesterday I attended the Wynwood Graffiti by Bike Tour through Miami and was amazed at how much really great public art is taking place in downtown Miami. The event was a collaboration of a few groups and individuals, specifically Emerge Miami (an activist network group) and Miami Open Streets (a bicycle advocacy group) and Meetup Critical Mass.

And the tour was led by the extremely knowledgeable event creators, Olga Cano and Dario Gonzalez. Dario and Olga took turns guiding our group (110 people showed up for this on a hot and humid Saturday morning) as we proceeded to bike 9 miles through the streets of Miami. They had previously chosen some of the best graffiti art and created a route and map and as we biked the route Dario and Olga would describe some of the work and the artists.

I’ve included 45 images but this is just a tiny sampling of what is downtown–I doubt I photographed even 1% of what we saw. And if you are wondering about the legality of the art, it was explained that all the art we were viewing was legal and the building owners had “donated” the space for the artists to do their work. I was very impressed with the organization of the public art and the bike tour itself. I learned more about the public art scene in Miami in 4 hours than I had in the last 6 weeks.

One of the highlights of the tour was a planned stop to meet and listen to graffiti artist DEXOS a.k.a Alexis Samaniego while he worked on his current commission, a great rendition of Jim Morrison.

Just a sampling of the artwork that we viewed yesterday was created by: Phetus, Tristan Eaton, SEVER,  El Mac, Retna, SAND, Aiko, BOOKS, Barry McGee.

We concluded the bike tour at one of the most popular public art spaces in Miami, the Wynwood Walls which is a collaboration by Goldman Properties and Deitch Projects. If you want to choose just one public art wall to view graffiti art, this is the one. I was pleased to see some great work by Shepard Fairey (I had seen his excellent exhibit this past summer at the ICA in Boston).  Beautiful work and well maintained.  And a final mention to Primary Flight , an organization that has served as the main outdoor art curator for Wynwood since 2007.

I highly recommend checking out the Miami public art scene!

(These are all low-resolution images for quick uploading and viewing)

Boston, MA
I have to admit that social media is pretty cool.  Recently I received a LinkedIn invitation from Boston artist Seth Minkin.  I knew that I had heard that name before and sure enough, he had been profiled on CBS Sunday Morning and I remember seeing that particular episode.  Anyway, after some back-and-forth email, Seth agreed to have me do his portrait at his studio which I plan on using in one of my upcoming exhibits.  Well, Seth’s studio is rather unique – it’s in the middle of a word-of-mouth marketing company  called BzzAgent.

I arrive at the agency and sure enough, Seth’s “studio” is in a big, open area nestled between offices and cubes–so that everyone at the firm walks by him as he paints.  Different, huh?

Also different was how Seth and I were connected.  It turns out he is good friends with my cousins in Hull, MA and had heard about me through my uncle Walter.

Seth’s work is colorful, unique and quite impressive and I photographed him as he was working on a piece for his upcoming show at the Liberty Hotel on Tuesday, May 18th at 6pm.  Check it out.

Stonington, ME

This winter I had the pleasure and fortune to photograph Maine lobsterman Ted Ames who was named a MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Fellow.  Ted has agreed to be in my upcoming portrait photography exhibit entitled: “Mainiacs – Portraits of Prominent Mainers”

So, one day Ted received a phone call from the MacArthur foundation informing him that he had been anonymously nominated and had been named a MacArthur fellow.  What does that mean?  It meant that Ted would receive $500,000.00 with no strings attached over a five-year period.  His selection was based on the remarkable research he has conducted on the fishing industry in the Gulf of Maine.

To read about the MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Fellow, click here.

Ted used the money to further his research on fishing in the Gulf of Maine by creating the Penobscot East Resource Center.

From the moment I met Ted, it was obvious that he is a man of very high intelligence.  Just his gaze–extremely penetrating–demonstrated his intense level of focus.  And his appearance is completely disarming, as he showed up for our portrait session in his regular work day clothes (which is what I asked him to do): Carhart jacket, Bean boots, denim jeans and red flannel shirt.

To start the portrait session, I told Ted I’d like to photograph him as he conducts a normal work day.  He said in his educated Maine accent, “Well, if you had arrived two hours earlier, you could have photographed me chopping the fire wood.  You know, I do that every day first thing.  But since you’re here now, I was planning on going down to shovel off the Mary Elizabeth.  She’s in dry dock at the boatyard.”  So I said, “Great.  Let’s go.”  And that’s how I came to photograph a genius shoveling snow.

When I asked Ted, “What’s it like being a genius?”  He replied, “Mistakes happen!”  Ted was one of the most interesting and entertaining of my subjects so far this year.  My favorite photo is of him driving us back to the office.

Augusta, ME

Maine Governor, John E. Baldacci, has agreed to participate in Liam’s next photography exhibit: “Mainiacs: Portraits of Prominent Maine Leaders and why they love our State.” Baldacci recently sat for a portrait with Liam at the State Capitol. Liam photographed the Governor in the Cabinet Room directly adjacent to the Governor’s office. Photographer Liam Crotty is in the process of shooting photographic portraits of over 30 prominent “Maineacs” for his upcoming exhibit. A skilled photographer and lover of his native Maine, Crotty’s exhibitions include “Finding Norman Rockwell’s Small Town America” and “Faces of the Kennebunks”. To stay updated on Liam’s upcoming exhibits either subsribe to this blog or send an email to: liamcrotty@aya.yale.edu

Bath, ME—Last week I had the pleasure of photographing artist John Gable at his studio in Bath.  I’ve wanted to meet Jack for literally 27 years.  Yeah, I know.  I’m a little slow but I do eventually meet my goals.  Jack used to live in Kennebunkport when I was growing up here as a kid.  And my first introduction to him was not his beautiful artwork….but his Shelby Cobra sports car.  I used to see him drive it around town (I was 14 at the time) and boy did I love that car.  It was only later on that I learned the owner was John Gable.  I’ve always loved his work and have three of his prints in my home.  My two favorite are Keith McClelland at Consolidated School and Emmy in front of Allison’s Restaurant.

John has a HUGE studio directly above Reny’s in Bath.  He explained, “I need a studio this large because of the murals he’s commissioned to do for clients.”  He showed me one that was 102′ long for a restaurant in Washington, DC.

I spent an hour and a half with Jack and we were both amazed to learn how many connections we had.  We both knew many of the same people, had some similar life experiences and even wear the same watch–how weird?

Jack has agreed to participate in my upcoming exhibit, Mainiacs, and I’m honored to have him as one of my subjects.  If you want to view some of his fantastic work click here.

U.S. Senator Susan Collins (1997-present) is no stranger to the power of the Internet and social networking. Even on a busy day attending a CLIMB (Christian Leaders in Maine Business) breakfast at the Marriott Sable Oaks in South Portland, and needing to rush back to Washington, she took time to check her Facebook account.

Inspired by the Senator’s understanding of the power of Internet communication, portrait photographer Liam Crotty photographed her at her computer for a fresh and lively slice of Senator Collins’ working day. Senator Collins uses social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as blogging to keep her constituents informed about the work she is doing for them in the nation’s capital and around the world. Her social networking accounts are packed with updates, videos of speeches and other information to interest the “Mainiacs” back home.

A born Maine native, Senator Collins graduated Phi Beta Kappa from St. Lawrence University, after which she went to work for Senator William Cohen. In 1987, she became the chair of the Maine commission on financial regulation and was the Republican gubernatorial candidate for Maine in 1994. In 1996, Senator Collins won her seat after a difficult three-way race. In choosing two words to describe working with Senator Collins, Liam Crotty picked “gracious” and “class”.

Photographer Liam Crotty is in the process of shooting portraits of over 30 prominent “Mainiacs” for his upcoming exhibit. A skilled photographer and lover of his native Maine, Crotty’s exhibitions include “Finding Norman Rockwell’s Small Town America” and “Faces of the Kennebunks”. For more information about the upcoming exhibit “Maineiacs – portraits of prominent Maine leaders and why they love our State” email liamcrotty@aya.yale.edu

Curtis now lives in Siesta Key, FL, but had traveled back to Maine where he is a He is currently a principal in the law firm of Curtis Thaxter Stevens Broder & Micoleau Limited Liability Company, P.A.. Crotty photographed Curtis in the Portland offices.

Between takes, Curtis found himself gazing over the Portland view from the conference room window and reminiscing about not only the many years he served in Maine, but his rather unique start in the business world. In 1956, his first summer after leaving law school, he and a friend had a money-making idea – to lease a donut shop in Wells on Route 1. Mrs. Curtis commented, “I will never forget that summer!  I would work all day at Sears, and then go to the donut shop and work all night. But let me tell you, Ken can make a great donut.” That so-called money maker turned out not to be, and Curtis realized he should stick to law and politics.

Born in Leeds, Maine, Kenneth M. Curtis has served in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, as Secretary of State of Maine from 1965-1966, then as the Governor of Maine from 1967-1975. A Democrat, he also served as the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1977-1978 before going on to become the US Ambassador to Canada from 1979-1981. More recently, Curtis served as the President of the Maine Maritime Academy, his Alma Mater.

Curtis is now semi-retired and is living a much more causal lifestyle than during his more active years of political service. During the portrait session, Curtis cautioned Crotty, “Now I want you to know.  This is only the 2nd time this year I’ve put on a coat and tie!  Down in Siesta Key, people don’t wear them!”

Photographer Liam Crotty is in the process of shooting portraits of over 20 prominent “Maineiacs” for his upcoming exhibit. A skilled photographer and lover of his native Maine, Crotty’s exhibitions include “Finding Norman Rockwell’s Small Town America” and “Faces of the Kennebunks”. For more information about the upcoming exhibit “Maineiacs – portraits of prominent Maine leaders and why they love our State” email liamcrotty@aya.yale.edu