July 20, 2015
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Alex Fouliard
From the Courier – Gazette, Jul 19, 2015
ROCKPORT — Bay Chamber Concerts & Music School is the recipient of a gift of artwork from Maine Farmland Trust via the Falcon Foundation, a vehicle created by the estate of artist Joseph Fiore. During his lifetime, Fiore was a generous supporter of MFT. The work, “Handel,” is part of the Fiore Rock Series and hangs in the downtown offices at the Bay Chamber Music School.
“We are so pleased to be able to provide this gift to Bay Chamber because they clearly share Joe Fiore’s love of nature, and work to instill this same appreciation in the next generation,” said Maine Farmland Trust’s Anna Abaldo.
Contemporary of Lois Dodd and Alex Katz and a well-known avant-garde artist during the 1960s, Fiore divided his life between New York City and Jefferson. While he is most known for his abstract compositions, Fiore’s key inspiration was always the natural world. During his lifetime, he was an avid supporter of Maine Farmland Trust, a statewide membership organization that works to protect farmland, support farmers and advance the future of farming.
Fiore’s family created a foundation after the artist died and, due to the existing relationship with Maine Farmland Trust, the foundation gave a large collection of Fiore’s Rock paintings, also known as the Geological Works, to Maine Farmland Trust to re-distributed among organizations throughout Maine that appreciate Maine’s geology and natural environment.
Bay Chamber was selected as one of the first recipients and took possession of this gift last fall. For more information about Bay Chamber Concerts & Music School, or to come visit and view the painting, call 236-2823 or email info@baychamberconcerts.org.
Courier Publications’ A&E Editor Dagney C. Ernest can be reached at (207) 594-4401, ext. 115; or dernest@courierpublicationsllc.com.