‘Hopeful offering to a world in pain’

“Purple Neighborhood Decoration’’ (oil on panel), by Nick Benfey, in his show “Neighborhood,’’ at Moss Galleries, Falmouth, Maine, through April 11.

The artist says:

“Before I could drive a car, when I was about 13 or 14, I’d often walk from my friend’s house across our small town back to mine. Instead of going inside, I’d walk behind our house and stand by the garage. About 8 p.m., the sky deep blue or black depending on the season, my parents would be inside, maybe with friends over, talking. I’d stand there in the dirt next to the garage for a while, looking at the orange windows, breathing and not talking, a feeling of peace overtaking me. It was my secret that I’d do this, every time I walked home at night.

“Eventually I’d go inside and things would resume, the feeling wouldn’t last, I’d have to talk, I’d feel insecure and embarrassed again.

“That feeling is tied to these paintings, and I’m still unsure how to think about it, how to write about it, without feeling in some way guilty about relishing those memories of happiness. I hear another voice, With all the suffering in the world, you’re thinking about these trivial nostalgic… etc. It’s true, these are not paintings of the world’s sufferings. These are about joy, and peace, and quiet beauty, my inner world at the best moments of my life, a hopeful offering for a world in pain."

–Nick Benfey

Performance anxiety

“Backstage” (oil on panel), by Jessica Gandolf, in her show “No Assembly Required,’’ at Moss Galleries, Falmouth, Maine, through April 5.

She says:

“Painting helps organize my thinking, my energy and my perceptions in a way that nothing else does. Seeing art has always made me want to make it. Creating art is a way of making sense of things, of saying something meaningful without words. Sometimes I seem to be calling attention to something at the edge of consciousness or dredging up something long buried. This can happen by making pictures or without using recognizable imagery. Sometimes it feels like magic is involved when uniting the physical presence of paint with the realm of the spirit -- magic born of some combination of anxiety and doggedness, open heartedness and luck.’’

Casco Bay from Falmouth in 191o.

Most appreciated in winter

“Ram Island Ledge’’(acrylic on linen), by Gail Spaien, in her show “Light in Every Room,’’ at Moss Galleries’ (in Maine) Portland gallery through Jan.4

—-Photo courtesy of Luc Demers

Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse, in Casco Bay

Fresh-air fiend

“Hiking Baxter’’ {State Park, in Maine} (oil on canvas), by Freeport, Maine-based painter Robert Wieferich, in his show “Deep in the Woods,’’ at Moss Galleries, Portland, Maine, through March 16.

Mt. Katahdin rises above Katahdin Stream Campground, in Baxter State Park.

Facade of McDonald' in Freeport . The restaurant was forced to maintain the pre-existing exterior of the house. Anything for quaintness!

— Photo by Bigmacthealmanac