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The Dorothea & Leo Rabkin Foundation

What does it mean for an artist to be seen, deeply seen, by a writer?



This is a question that drives the mission of a small, little known but mighty foundation, located on a quiet, side street in downtown Portland, around the corner from many of our city’s most important cultural institutions. The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation, a mystery to many locals, is known nationally for the Rabkin Prize, which celebrates the creative and intellectual contributions of today’s arts writers.



That question also animated the thinking of the foundation’s namesake, Leo Rabkin, who created a rich life and home full of art-making, discussion, curiosity, and friendship. Influenced by the ideas of French philosopher Gaston Bachelard, Leo believed art was meant to evoke an immediacy of experience, that it was inexplicable, perhaps beyond words. He also questioned how hard art making should be, always seeking ways to liberate his process.



The results of Leo’s life and explorations are more than 50 years of art, most of which, by his own design, must be experienced intimately or, even, held. Most of his works – luminous acrylic sculptures, sumptuous watercolors, and playful box constructions – are in the foundation’s destination gallery.



Come and hear the inspiring and little known backstory of a gem in Portland’s cultural landscape. Come and discover the story of a remarkable artist who, because of the nature of his work, and despite a long exhibition record and presence in many American museums, is not well known today.



No one knows Leo’s story better than Susan C. Larsen, who will give this lecture. Susan is the Founding and Emeritus Executive Director of the foundation. She met Dorothea and Leo in 1972. For decades, she enjoyed regular Sunday phone chats with Leo, and her close friendship with the Rabkins persisted throughout their lives.



Doors open at 6:15 PM, and the event begins at 6:45 PM, approximately one-hour. Free to the public, registration is required.

More about Susan C. Larsen: Susan was a professor of art history at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles from 1975 to 1996, and she was the curator of the permanent collection at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York from 1988 to 1991. Susan moved to Maine with her husband, Lauri Robert Martin, in 1996, and she served as the chief curator of the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland. She also worked as a regional collector of documents for the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Art. Susan is the author of many articles, museum catalogues and books, and she has been a frequent lecturer at museums and universities across the country and abroad. Susan currently lives in South Portland. She created the Rabkin Prize, which gives an unrestricted award of $50,000 to arts writers across the U.S. every year.



PARKING & TRANSPORTATION

Mechanics’ Hall is located at 519 Congress Street. Our main entrance is between Loquat Shop and the Art Mart. The Greater Portland Metro’s Congress & Casco Street Stop is directly in front of our building, served by routes 1, 7, 8, and 9B.

Parking is available at the Arts District Garage, which has entrances on Casco and Brown Street, with a rate of $5 per hour. Metered street parking is available on Congress, Casco, Cumberland, Free Street, and other nearby streets. Free hourly street parking is available between Parris and Alder Street.



ACCESSIBILITY

To enter our building, patrons will need to navigate a single step. There is a wheelchair-accessible elevator and a ramp available upon request.

If you have a wheelchair or need accessibility accommodations/questions please contact us at programming@mainemechanics.org or 207-773-8396.

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Visual Arts

The backstory of a small, but mighty foundation and gallery in Portland, a special lecture by Susan C. Larsen

Who was Leo Rabkin?

Mechanics' Hall

Who was Leo Rabkin?

The backstory of a small, but mighty foundation and gallery in Portland, a special lecture by Susan C. Larsen

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