The Portland Logbook #6

This Week in Portland Maine

Jake Newman
March 11, 2025

Artist Spotlight: Two Maine Artists Who Changed How I See Art

Recently, I’ve spent time at MECA’s ICA and met a few local artists whose work has revolutionized the way I appreciate art. They’ve made me think differently about process, materials, and the energy that a piece can hold. This week, I’m featuring two artists whose work has pushed me to see beyond my own practice and appreciate art in a whole new way.

This week, I’m featuring two artists who’ve rattled the way I see art—pushed me past my own habits, my own medium, and made me pay attention in a different way. Maybe they’ll do the same for you. Maybe they’ll get you to pick up a brush, a lump of clay, or whatever it is you’ve been putting off. Or maybe they’ll just be the reason you finally walk into The ICA Gallery instead of walking past it. Either way, they’re worth knowing.

Artist Spotlight: Jenna T. Girolamo – Stitching the Universe Back Together

((intention)) by Jenna T. Girolamo

Jenna T. Girolamo doesn’t just paint—she dissects, rebuilds, and stitches her canvases back together, like she’s mapping out something we can’t see yet. Her work isn’t about clean lines and perfect shapes—it’s about process, energy, and what happens when you let materials lead the way.

She landed in Portland, Maine, to get her MFA at MECA&D, but her work feels like it belongs here anyway—earthy, deliberate, and stitched together with an almost obsessive level of care. She cuts and folds her canvases, dyes them with natural colorants like walnut, logwood, cutch, and fustic, then hand-sews them back together. The result? Something that feels both ancient and totally new at the same time.

Her latest series, ((intention)), is rooted in rhythm—each piece represents a season, using repetitive geometric structures that mirror the cycles of the Earth. Some patterns are small studies, others are expansive, reworked canvases sewn back together with careful precision. She describes it as listening deeply, letting the materials guide her, and embracing the unexpected.

Process & Inspiration

Jenna’s approach isn’t just about making—it’s about understanding. She describes her folding and cutting process as working with pieces of a whole, trusting that everything already has what it needs to find balance. The stitching? That’s her meditative, grounding moment, the thing that holds everything together—both the work and herself.

Dyeing with plants is another experiment in controlled chaos. She’s constantly surprised by the results, but a recent favorite? A deep, forest green from black bean water over weld. The catch? Black bean dye isn’t lightfast, so it faded quickly, but the discovery itself was enough to keep her coming back for more.

Her biggest influence? Nature, movement, and deep listening. She’s drawn to architecture, spatial energy, and the way spaces hold power. And, of course, she keeps a photo of Helen Frankenthaler in her studio—watching, cigarette in hand, drink nearby, mid-process. A reminder to keep going.

Where to Find Her Work

Her MFA thesis exhibition opens April 18th at MECA’s ICA (5-8 PM), and if you want to see how color, structure, and energy collide in a way that sticks with you—this is your chance. The show runs until April 26th. Don’t just scroll past, go see it in person.

📍 Currently pursuing her MFA at MECA&D
🎨 See more at: jgartbuzz.com
📸 Follow along on Instagram: @jgartbuzz

Oh, and if you’re looking for her favorite spot to eat in Portland? It’s Saeng Thai House—cozy, comforting, and full of flavor. Kind of like her work.

Artist Spotlight: Olivia Propeck – Preserving Queer Life in Clay

𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘙𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘸𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭, 2025 by Olivia Propeck

Some artists paint, some sculpt, and then there’s Olivia Propeck, who treats clay like a time capsule—capturing everyday queer life in a way that feels both deeply personal and meant to last. Their work isn’t loud. It’s not trying to make a statement. It just exists, calmly, fully, and unapologetically.

Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Olivia moved to Portland, Maine, earning their BFA in Ceramics at MECA (Class of 2024). Growing up, they didn’t see many examples of what a queer home could look like—so now, they’re making them themself. Their ceramic vases and pottery capture the small details of sapphic domestic life—a couch, a laundry room, the way a home is built with the objects and people that fill it. Some pieces are quiet and elegant, others carry inside jokes only a sapphic household would recognize—U-Haul logos, oat milk cartons, carabiners. If you know, you know.

Turning Portland’s Queer Homes Into Art

Right now, Olivia is deep into a new project—documenting queer homes around Portland through ceramics as part of her residency at Running With Scissors Art Studios. She’s looking for local LGBTQ+ folks willing to let her immortalize their spaces in clay, creating something tangible out of the details most people overlook. The kind of work that will make someone, years from now, hold a piece and wonder, “Who lived here? What was their story?”

Desert Hearts by Olivia Propeck

Where to Find Their Work

Currently On Exhibit at the Institute of Contemporary Art Gallery attached to MECA on Congress Street.

🏺 See More at: oliviapropeckceramics.shop
📸 Follow along on Instagram: @oliviapropeck

Zu Bakery: The James Beard-Worthy Spot You Need to Know About 🥇

Not much needs to be said here—just look at it. Some things speak for themselves, and Zu Bakery’s pastries are one of them.

Ham And Cheese Croissant, Almond Croissant

The ham and cheese croissant is what you wish every bakery case version could be—flaky, deeply golden, the kind that shatters when you bite into it, leaving a mess you don’t even care about cleaning up. The almond croissant? Dense but not too heavy, layered with just the right amount of frangipane, the kind of thing that makes you consider canceling the rest of your day.

Just go. Go early, or don’t bother—because it will sell out, and you’ll be left staring at an empty tray, regretting your life choices.

Industry Recommended: You Choose My Fate—Where Should I Go Next?

Last time, Wayside Tavern sent me on a mission with four must-visit spots. I made it to Zu Bakery, obviously, and now I need your help deciding which of the remaining three I should hit next.