Barn paintings

This still-life series preserves the quiet legacy of Esther Closson, a Brooklin, Maine, resident. When our family purchased the abandoned Closson farmhouse in 2021, we inherited the contents of its leaning barn, untouched for 20 years. Inside, we found Esther’s textile work, including 13 quilts, tatting, and crochet, along with 85 pieces of Rowantrees pottery, and hundreds of keepsakes—humble objects imbued with care and attention.

Among them were calling cards from neighboring families, mapping the close-knit rural community of early 20th century Blue Hill Peninsula. Through the paintings, I hope to honor Esther’s legacy while exploring memory and preservation. These small, unassuming artifacts hold the weight of a life lived, inviting reflection on the stories we inherit from the spaces we inhabit.