Dark the Night and Bright the Stars
On View: July 9 – October 12, 2025
WATERVILLE, Maine — Waterville Creates and Ticonic Gallery + Studios are proud to present Dark the Night and Bright the Stars, a powerful new exhibition curated by Lights Out Gallery, which explores the theme of ancestry through visual art, sculpture, textiles, and traditional craft. The exhibition will be on view from July 9 through October 12, 2025, with a robust lineup of associated programming that will explore cultural heritage, ancestry, and personal storytelling. The public is invited to an opening reception on Wednesday, July 9 from 5-7pm.
With Dark the Night and Bright the Stars, each artist shares a unique approach to honoring and communicating with ancestral memory, offering deeply personal interpretations rooted in cultural heritage.
Gabriel Frey (Orono, ME) is a Passamaquoddy artist; Gabriel embraces a hybrid approach to basketing making, balancing function and form equally. His baskets connect past, present and future into beautiful functional works of art. Raphael Gribetz (Presque Isle, ME) is a sculptor and musician who draws on Jewish spiritual and artistic traditions to explore family, faith, and culture through religious iconography and metaphor. Sarah Haskell (York, ME) is a weaver and educator; Haskell creates contemplative works about memory and the spirit world, frequently engaging communities in collaborative textile installations,
Daniel Minter (Portland, ME) is known for powerful imagery exploring Black identity, diaspora, and spirituality; Minter uses his art as a conduit for ancestral communication and cultural preservation. David Lone Bear Sanipass (Monmouth, ME) is a jeweler, storyteller, and painter; his paintings, jewelry, and oral storytelling offer cautionary tales, history, and wisdom for future generations. Avis Turner (Rockland, ME) using wax, bronze, and clay, Turner sculpts ethereal winged beings that reflect her interest in reincarnation, nature spirits, and ancient Celtic myth. Maria Wolff (Portland, ME) is a metalsmith inspired by her Danish/Germanic heritage; Wolff’s work reimagines Scandinavian craft traditions, focusing on historical techniques and festive customs.
Together the work created by these artists reflects a broad spectrum of traditions—Passamaquoddy, Mi’kmaq, Jewish, Afro-Atlantic, Scandinavian, and Celtic—each illuminating history, identity, and intergenerational connection.
“We’ve been collaborating over the past two years on this show and are thrilled to partner with Waterville Creates to bring this vision to life,” said Karlë Woods, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Lights Out Gallery. “This exhibition honors the stories and histories that live within us—those passed down through generations, felt in our DNA, and newly uncovered by our creative practice. Through our interview series, we discovered a powerful thread connecting these seven artists who each engage with their ancestry in deeply intentional ways through their work.”
Marie Sugden, Exhibitions Coordinator at Waterville Creates, emphasized the importance of the collaboration:“We are deeply honored to collaborate with Lights Out Gallery and to be the first gallery in central Maine to present one of their acclaimed exhibitions. As someone with a profound appreciation for craft, I’m thrilled by the opportunity to celebrate Maine’s rich legacy of craft and traditional makers in our space.”
Associated Programs
- Community Weaving with Sarah Haskell
Friday, September 5, 5–7pm
- Join artist Sarah Haskell to create a communal weaving highlighting ancestry, belonging, and community.
- Wabanaki Stories
Thursday, September 19 | Waterville Opera House
The land and waters known as Maine have been home to Wabanaki People for over 12,000 years. This vibrant production of Wabanaki stories and music spotlights five Wabanaki artists coming from several different nations and traditions. (Co-commissioned by Portland Ovations and Akomawt Educational Initiative).
- Sukkot: Jewish Harvest Festival
October 6 – 13 | Castonguay Square
Sukkot is one of the most joyful festivals in Judaism, meant to bring families, friends, and communities together. Sukkot, the plural of sukkah, means “booths” or “huts” in Hebrew. Waterville will have a sukkah or open-air tent in Castonguay Square to celebrate from October 6- October 13, with a community dinner open to all on Monday, October 6 from 5:30–8:30 PM.
- Wabanaki Artisan Celebration
Sunday, October 12, 11am–6:30pm
Featuring storytelling and flute music with David Lonebear Sanipass
Lights Out staff conducted interviews with each exhibiting artist which offered meaningful insight into how lineage and cultural memory shape their creative practice. Across all seven conversations, a shared theme emerged: the powerful presence of ancestral influence in their work.
“The very first time I made a basket, just by touching the ash and working with it, my hands automatically knew what to do. It was like experiencing cellular memory. There is something inherent within this material that resonates very strongly with who I am as a person.” – Gabriel Frey
“When I join the ancestors, you know, I will have contributed something that has something that is older than I am, and something that can project into the future possibly.” – Daniel Minter
Exhibition Sponsors
This exhibition is generously sponsored by: Allen Insurance, Kennebec Savings Bank, the City of Waterville, Central Maine Newspapers, and PRO Moving Services.
Gallery Hours
Ticonic Gallery is open daily from 11am to 7pm, closed on Tuesdays and federal holidays.
Learn More: watervillecreates.org/shows/dark-the-night
About Lights Out Gallery
Lights Out Gallery is a nonprofit arts hub based in Norway, Maine, founded by three Mainers who believe in the transformative power of Maine art. Dedicated to amplifying local voices, the gallery connects artists and communities across generations and geographies.
About Ticonic Gallery + Studios
Located in the Paul J. Schupf Art Center, Ticonic Gallery + Studios offers year-round exhibitions and inclusive educational programs for artists of all ages and experience levels. Through dynamic collaborations and community engagement, Ticonic fosters creativity, reflection, and cultural exchange in Waterville and beyond.
Website: watervillecreates.org/ticonic
Social: @ticonicgalleryandstudios on Facebook and Instagram