me arts ed

Dreams come true

During the pandemic I found myself making more art than any other time in my life (other than during my four years in undergraduate school). When a long time poet friend asked about working on a collaborative project, I didn’t hesitate. One thing led to another and before we knew it over the next almost two years our collaboration has turned into a book. I loved the process and now I’m very excited about the results. And, now the book is available for you to purchase! It’s called Catching Fireflies and contains 20 poems and 20 images. In the beginning of the process I started illustrating her poems. That felt too much like ‘frosting on the cake’ to me so we switched and she started responding to my images with a poem. The last one we actually did simultaneously about ‘being grateful’. We are both in touch with the changing of the seasons and the outdoors so the book contains five poems and five images for each session. Below is the press release; you can purchase it at THIS LINK.

MAINE WOMEN COLLABORATE ON BOOK OF POETRY AND ART

Chasing Fireflies was released on September 1st, printed by Downeast Graphics.

UNION, ME, September 3, 2023─ Jean Anne Feldeisen and Argy Nestor are excited to announce the release of their joint work, Chasing Fireflies. Readers will find images and poetry capturing unique snapshots of the seasons: the elusive color of the Maine sky in winter, the unsullied beauty of Pemaquid Point, the quirky way Spring begins before it really begins in Maine, and the creep of a harsh November cutting into the beauty of October. Says Jean, “Fireflies is a product of our long friendship, our love of Maine and the changing seasons here, and a desire to do something unique together. I think this book has fulfilled our dream.” Says Argy, “I think the results are magical. Chasing Fireflies exemplifies collaboration– Jean and I taking turns creating and responding to each other’s work.” 

Artist Natasha Mayers says, “Argy’s artwork is rich and experiential, the images look concentrated and elegantly framed, all perfectly lovely and inviting.”

Argy Nestor has dedicated her life to education. She taught middle school in the mid-coast for 32 years and worked at two state agencies advocating for excellent visual and performing arts education and access to it for all learners. She is Maine’s 1995 Teacher of the Year, participated in the Japanese Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher’s program, and has received awards for her commitment to education. Her art-making has been integrated throughout her work and exhibited in multiple shows. Find her blog at meartsed.wordpress.com.

Jean Anne Feldeisen is a practicing psychotherapist, a grandmother, and a writer.  She has written for “Next Avenue,” ” Chicken Soup for the Soul,” and is a host for the Crows Feet: Life As We Age Podcast.  Her poetry has been published in “Thimble Literary Magazine,” “The Raven’s Perch,” “The Hopper,” and “Spank the Carp.”  Main Street Rag Publishing Company released her first poetry chapbook, “Not All Are Weeping,” in May 2023. Follow her at jeanfeldeisen.com.