Library exhibit flexes lots of mussels

A mussel painted by Carolyn Butera, one of several artistic works now on display. Photo by Steele Hays.

Feb. 10, 2026

BLUE HILL—Who hasn’t had the experience of picking up a mussel shell on the shore, studying it closely and being awed by the colors and patterns, the deep blues and iridescence?  

Local artist Carolyn Butera had that experience five years ago and has been focused ever since on capturing the beauty of Mytilus edulis in her creations, using watercolor paints, seawater and pigment made from ground mussel shells. 

Her work is now on display through February 27th at the Blue Hill Public Library, in the Howard Room and adjacent Britton Gallery.  Selected paintings and prints are available for purchase.  

“With each… portrait, I strive to capture the quiet resilience and beauty I see in nature,” Butera says on her website.

—Steele Hays

The Rising Tide welcomes artistic endeavors from our community, and showcases them here in our “Create” section. If you have something you’d like to submit—a poem, a picture of a painting, a photograph, a music recording—send it to info@risingtide.media. We’d love to publish it and give you an audience for your creativity.