Francis Hamabe exhibit opens in Castine

CHS retrospective, dedicated to ‘joyful’ local artist, is first of its kind

Francis Hamabe’s biggest painting, The Flying Wallendas, is on loan to CHS from the Blue Hill Public Library. Photo courtesy of the Castine Historical Society.

May 26, 2026

By Emily Baer

CASTINE—Castine Historical Society’s summer season started on a bright, joyful note with the opening of its 2026-2027 exhibit, ‘Francis Hamabe’s Maine: A Life in Art’ on May 23.

The exhibit is the first career retrospective dedicated to Hamabe’s work. The artist worked across various mediums — painting, printmaking, puppetry, illustration, and more — and was a highly influential figure in Maine’s art scene for over five decades. He was a founding member of the artist collective that evolved into the Maine Center for Contemporary Art and served as the first graphic designer for Down East Magazine.

“His artwork and style continue to really have an impact today. If you look at his legacy, you can see many examples of where people are still pulling from his original artistic guidance,” said Executive Director Kate McMahon, who celebrates one year at CHS in June. McMahon led the effort to bring the show to life, but inherited the idea from her predecessor, Lisa Simpson Lutts. Art critic and author Carl Little curated the exhibit along with McMahon.

Executive director Kate McMahon says the show is testament to ‘creativity and community.’ Photo by Emily Baer.

Little published a book about Hamabe’s work in 2012 and was familiar with much of the artist’s work. But he and McMahon also knew there were likely dozens of paintings, prints, and puppets in private collections across the peninsula.

After putting a call out to the community, McMahon received over 100 submissions of artwork from local families. Ultimately, she and Little selected 39 pieces for the initial display.

“Part of what makes this all so fun is that it really brought together so many people,” McMahon said. “Once the community learned we were putting together the show, I had people coming out of the woodwork [with art and stories].”

McMahon said that the show is a testament not only to Hamabe’s work, but to the community in which he worked for over 50 years. As an active commercial artist and a passionate educator, he taught art to hundreds of children and adults. In addition to designing promotional materials for local fairs and businesses, he created a mobile puppet show, performing locally on WABI and Maine Public Broadcasting.

The exhibit includes examples of Hamabe’s well known print work alongside lesser known examples of ceramics he decorated for Rowantrees Pottery, design notes he kept as part of his commercial work, and drawings and letters from his personal life.

McMahon points to three student paintings along the back wall of the gallery as evidence of his impact.

“We didn’t know these existed,” she said of the paintings created locally by individuals who took classes with Hamabe. “And maybe we never would have without people telling us about Hamabe and the [local] students who took art classes with him”

Hamabe’s personal records include notes from commercial assignments and family correspondence. Photo by Emily Baer.

Next year, she plans to rotate in some of the other 60 or so pieces that were submitted for consideration but didn’t fit in this year’s layout. The Blue Hill Public Library will also host a complementary show this August. BHPL houses Hamabe’s archives and has been an enthusiastic partner in this year’s show.

“We’re indebted to the library,” McMahon said. “They were so helpful and so generous with what they have.”

Most notably, the BHPL loaned CHS The Flying Wallendas, a massive four-by-eight-foot circus painting. The piece is the largest in the show and exemplary of his overall style: carefully considered but joyful and energetic.

As both an artist and a resident, Hamabe was adored. Having spent so much time in his archives while curating the show, McMahon said she understands why. 

“You can see how much joy he had as a person and how funny he was,” she said. “This show, his work, is really a love letter to Maine.”

The exhibit, ‘Francis Hamabe’s Maine: A Life in Art,’ is on display through October. CHS will host a family-friendly printmaking workshop inspired by Hamabe’s work on June 6.  The 13th Annual Deborah Pulliam Memorial Lecture will feature Carl Little on August 13 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., and will focus on the exhibit. For more information or to register, please visit https://www.castinehistoricalsociety.org/.