Our summer exhibition, Graven Images, at the Monson Arts Gallery has already drawn considerable attention. The artist, Michael Rothschild, was born in Bangor and has lived most of his life on a 200-year-old farm in the hills of western Maine. This is his first exhibition in the United States, and it is no accident that Monson, home of the famous black slate, was chosen for this exhibition. Rothschild began carving with the black slate of Monson decades ago when he first visited Sheldon Slate owner, John Tatko. Michael has had a connection to the area long before Monson Arts was established. Having an exhibition of his work in the gallery is like a homecoming for the stones quarried here. The exhibition’s centerpiece is a 2,000-pound black slate relief carving of a halibut.
Michael Rothschild is the author of Wondermonger, an acclaimed collection of modern tales and folklore set in the woods of Maine. “I can think of no other writer who so captures the terror and grandeur of the North Woods,” wrote the Washington Post. “Mythmaking at its finest,” said The New York Times Book Review, “…the devotedly beating heart of one who has the careful ability to mold and chisel his stories into living, breathing, works of art.” It is no coincidence that his drawings, graphic work, and sculpture share the same vivid power. Sketches, linocuts, etchings on copper, and finally lead, stone, or wood, lead him to what he’s after.
In this exhibition, drawings and etchings that inspired larger linocuttings and sculptures are all on display. The human figure, often of motherhood, and the creatures of the sea, sky, rivers, and farms of rural Maine are the focus of his work. Michael’s devotion and love for these themes are apparent in his studied representations across every medium. While his work has been shared in lectures and displayed in Beijing, Xian, and Nanjing, China, and is in private collections in this country, as mentioned earlier, this is his first public exhibition in the United States.
The opening reception on June 20th was well attended. Doris Kearns Goodwin, who is a close friend and colleague of Michael’s, was at the opening to lend her support and introduce him for a reading. Doris is an American historian, biographer, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Janet Mills joined us, as well as Samantha Power, former USAID Administrator. It was a wonderful event that brought attention to Michael’s work and to the town of Monson.
The Boston Globe did a feature on Michal and the exhibition in June. The writer Sterling Davis says, “His art reflects his deep love for Maine’s nature, which stems from a childhood passion for animals. ‘They’re my fellow creatures,’ he said. ‘This isn’t a theory that I’m doing, and it’s not abstract. It’s my life, and it’s their lives, and it’s material.”
The exhibition runs from June 13th through October 12th, 2026.
Gallery hours:
Monday – Friday: 11:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm.
The gallery is located at 8 Greenville Rd, Monson, ME.
Call 207-997-3205 to reach the gallery store during open hours.
Monson Arts was founded in 2018. Our mission is to provide time and space for creative work through residencies, workshops, exhibitions, and educational partnerships. Email us at info@monsonarts.org to request more information about our programming.
Time and space to create.
Monson Arts is a new artists’ residency and arts center in Monson, Maine. Programs include residencies for artists and writers, intensive shorter workshops, and educational partnerships with area secondary schools.