An Eye and a Way Worth Keeping an Eye on

Sarah Butler, a 26-year-old native of Mt. Desert Island, returns to Northeast Harbor this summer after several years of school and travel "away" to present a powerful exhibition of her portraits of both summer and year-round residents of that town.

When I first viewed Sarah's portfolio I was struck by the intensity and intimacy of what she had accomplished. There is an obvious respect for and love of her home yet there is clearly more. In her own words, "I always felt separate from the local community as well as the summer community. I never qualified as either one. This was the place where this confusion was at its height on the island -- so this was the place to photograph."

Her photographs are bold and at the same time, caring. There is no apparent discomfort as the photographer peers into the lives of her neighbors, yet the subjects of her well crafted portraits obviously trust Butler and so, in turn, the viewer is fully at ease to pursue critical examination of the work. And yet there are overtones of the polarity the photographer recognizes in herself. It is that gentle friction which makes, at least to this viewer, for the real dynamic here.

The show of 36 framed black-and-white and color prints was curated under the discerning eye of Sabina A. Wood, a long-time summer resident of Northeast Harbor who has enjoyed a career with Christie's New York auction house, with prior training at Sotheby's in London. In Wood's words, "The photos are magical and sublime -- an important opportunity to document a community and its culture and architecture for current and future generations." Butler and Wood hope to produce a book from this exhibition and future work within this theme. Sarah Butler has an eye and a way worth keeping an eye on.

The show opens July 19 with a reception (5-8 p.m.) at Sabina Wood Art and Antiques, 102 Main St., Northeast Harbor. It continues through August 2, and photos will be available through Aug. 20. For information call (207) 276-9330.

Peter Ralston is Art Director of the Island Journal.