Raffle of Don Justin Meserve sculptures under way
Don Justin Meserve’s widow Juanita Dugdale said Aug. 4, through the sculptor’s fellow artists who were his colleagues, “He’s still with us in spirit.”
Two of Meserve’s works are prizes in a raffle at this month’s Maine Coast Stone Symposium. Organizers said half the proceeds will go to the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium and the other half to Boothbay Railway Village to support the Maine Coast Stone Symposium.
The raffle features two of Meserve’s granite pieces, “Toucan” in Chelmsford granite and “Hook Form” in Impala granite, said Dick Alden, one of the Maine Coast Stone Symposium’s organizers. Both works are on view at BRV’s Freeport Station. Raffle tickets are $10 each or three for $25, according to railwayvillage.org
“As personal representative of his estate, it’s gratifying to know the sales are helping artists and that people are still enjoying his work,” Dugdale said.
Other works have been donated since Meserve died in 2010 following an illness. Dugdale, his wife of nearly 30 years, is pleased these two are being raffled off in the Midcoast. Meserve had a studio complex at the couple’s Round Pond home; he knew and influenced several Midcoast artists, and Gleason Fine Art in Boothbay Harbor was one of his major supporters, Dugdale said in a phone interview from Round Pond, where she lives seasonally.
Meserve was a longtime member of the Maine Stone Workers Guild, according to information Dugdale provided via email. He taught at Rhode Island School of Design and dedicated his career to art education; following his death, his estate donated 56 works to support teaching programs, the email states.
Alden said Aug. 5, he is delighted to be raffling off two of Meserve’s works. Alden recalled Meserve as a wonderful teacher and person. Alden came to sculpting after a long career in banking and finance. He said Meserve was a patient teacher with a great sense of humor.
“He was responsible for inviting me to the first J.C. Stone Symposium in 2010” in Jefferson, Alden added. “It was an artistic and sculpting leap for me. I remain forever grateful for all that he gave me as an artist and a friend.”
If you cannot get to Freeport Station but want in on the raffle, Alden said to call BRV at 633-4727. The winners will be drawn Aug. 21 at the symposium’s gala.
