ArtWaves Welcomes Artist Mariah Reading as New Visual Arts Instructor
Press release
BAR HARBOR—ArtWaves MDI is excited to announce that Mariah Reading, a distinguished eco-artist and advocate for environmental preservation, has joined our staff as a visual arts instructor starting this May.
Mariah, a Bangor native, returns to Maine after seven years of travel across the country. Her deep-rooted connection to Mount Desert Island has profoundly influenced her artistic journey. In 2019, Mariah served as an Artist-in-Residence at Acadia National Park, collaborating with ArtWaves during her tenure. The following year, she contributed as an interpretive park ranger, further solidifying her bond with the local community
Mariah's innovative approach to art addresses the environmental impact of traditional artistic practices. Classically trained as a landscape painter, she transitioned to eco-art upon recognizing the waste generated in conventional art forms. She has since developed a zero-waste practice, crafting canvases from debris collected during her travels through National Parks and protected landscapes. These pieces are painted on one side, leaving the reverse untouched to highlight the original material, and are then photographed within their natural settings to both obscure and emphasize the discarded objects.
As an advocate for the existence, preservation, and accessibility of National Parks, Mariah has participated in residencies at Denali, Zion, Acadia, and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks. She has also collaborated with institutions such as the University of California Santa Barbara to develop K-12 STREAM curricula and has organized conservation workshops with the Channel Islands National Park.
Mariah expressed her enthusiasm about joining ArtWaves MDI: "To work at ArtWaves MDI is truly a dream come true! I am thrilled to be able to teach art for a community that has already given so much to me."
ArtWaves MDI is excited to have Mariah on board and looks forward to the unique perspective and environmental consciousness she brings to our visual arts programs. She’ll be teaching classes and workshops for both adults and children starting this summer so keep your eyes on our calendar as events are posted.
About ArtWaves MDI:
ArtWaves MDI is a community arts center located in Bar Harbor, Maine, dedicated to making art accessible to Mount Desert Island and surrounding communities. Through workshops, classes, and events, ArtWaves fosters creativity and collaboration among artists of all levels.