The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Reed Fine Art Gallery will present the exhibition The Art of Tim Finnemore from March 7 through April 9, providing an up-close look at the paintings and drawings of the northern Maine-based artist.

Tim Finnemore (1951-2001) was born and raised in Aroostook County, growing up on a potato farm in Limestone, Maine. His love of art came early – he drew since childhood – and stayed with him throughout his life. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Art from the University of Maine at Presque Isle in 1973.

After graduation, Finnemore worked in Massachusetts for Polaroid. He returned to northern Maine in 1976, taught art courses for young people at UMPI and found a job at the Northern Maine Regional Planning Commission, (now known as Northern Maine Development Commission), as a draftsman. His duties there grew to include management of their graphic arts department. He worked with computer aided graphics and design. He also had his own part-time home business doing graphic design. He did a significant amount of work for Cary Medical Center, for example, designing the signage for the new hospital and the graphics for their annual report for several years.

Throughout his life, Finnemore devoted himself to painting and drawing. While Finnemore’s professional work consisted of Design and Graphic Art, it was the painting and drawing of the people, places and things that were deeply inspirational to the artist and remained his passion. His private hideaway on a lake was where he produced an ongoing body of work: the seasonally changing perspective, the changes in light, reflections, shadows and the spirit of his emotional connection becomes tangible in many of these paintings. The light reflecting from the water, onto the duck and back to the viewer is caught in Finnemore’s energetic and considered brush strokes.

Tim Finnemore explored a variety of media with painting occupying much of his focus. He also worked in the sculptural world, producing organically shaped figures carved from wood. Much of his early work involved highly detailed and intricate painting on wood panels which connected his focus of the natural world and art.

“Finnemore’s great love of nature and the natural beauty of Aroostook County inspired his vast body of creative work,” Sandra Huck, Reed Art Gallery Director, said. “He created precise wildlife drawings, vivid landscapes in acrylics, portraits in watercolor, as well as exploring a variety of other mediums. We’re very pleased to offer an exhibition filled with the work of one of the University’s alumni.”

A reception will be held in the Reed Fine Art Gallery on Sunday, March 7 from 3-6 p.m. with the family of Mr. Finnemore. The public is invited to attend. There is no charge and light refreshments will be served.

The Reed Fine Art Gallery is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gallery is closed Sundays and university holidays. For more information about this event, please contact Huck at 768-9611.