by Julie Cawley
June 15 several members of Maine Media Workshops + College’s “Tripod Society” made a special “Photography Field Trip” to Jamie Wyeth’s private home on Southern Island. After a morning of spectacular photography, Jamie’s personal tour and history of the Tenant’s Harbor lighthouse, and a gourmet picnic lunch the group motored to Betsy and Andrew’s private island, Allen Island. In 1934, Tenant’s Harbor Light, on Southern Island, was one of a group of Maine lighthouses discontinued by the government and sold. Since 1978, the Wyeth family has spent much of their time on both Southern and Allen Islands.
As a group, we were totally surrounded by dozens of scenes from Andrew and Jamie’s paintings. The Tenant’s Harbor lighthouse has appeared in several Wyeth paintings, including “Fog Bell” and “Signal Flags” by Andrew Wyeth. Other lighthouse images by Jamie Wyeth are “Iris At Sea”, “Lighthouse Dandelions”, “The Gaggle” and “Southern Island Sunset”.
As Southern Island and Allen Island were perfect inspirations for so many Wyeth paintings, the islands inspired our Tripod group with fabulous memories and photographs of a truly spectacular day on Maine’s beautiful coast. Thank you to Jamie and Phyllis Wyeth for being such gracious hosts! And, thanks to Peter Ralston and Phil Lewis for motoring us to the islands on Peter’s “RAVEN” and Phil’s “Pipe Dreams”. Also, thanks to Amy and David Morey for sharing some interesting history of Allen Island with us.
Members of the Tripod Society make an annual contribution to MMW+C to provide critical financial aid, support state-of-the-art technology and keep programs at the forefront of creativity. YOUR MEMBERSHIP IS MOST WELCOME! As a special “thank-you”, members are invited to special outings/events/lectures/field trips featuring noted artists, filmmakers, and photographers. For more information about joining the Tripod Society of MMW+C, please contact Meg Weston, President of MMW+C at president@mainemedia.edu