Page 18 - WCM 2019 Winter

ROAD TRIP!
Tube Socks and Top-Notch Hotspots By Kelsey Goldsmith
The first floor of UMF’s Art Gallery often greets with a multimedia exhibit, such as this one which included found wood and synchronized light, shadow,
sound, and projection.
“Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost.”
~ Erol Ozan
My husband, young daughters (ages two and five), and I love adventures -- especially spontaneous ones! Some of our favorite Western Maine pit stops can easily be accomplished in a few hours with littles in tow. So, throw your snowshoes (or x-c skis) on the roof, stock the diaper bag with tube socks, and follow our lead.
UMF Art Galleries
If there is anything more iconic than driving the countryside into Farming- ton, I’d be surprised. Deeply underrated, in my opinion, this village is the epitome of classic New England college towns, with hillside farm houses ushering the way to a picture perfect main street.
The University of Maine Farmington, a top-rated regional liberal arts col- lege, has two affiliated art museums: UMF Art Gallery and The Emery “Flex Space.” Both are worthy, with the former being a bit more avant-garde, and the latter part of a much bigger arts complex that “blurs the lines” between visual arts, theater, and dance.
Beware: both have funky hours, open mostly in the late afternoon, and changeable during college breaks, and for shows, openings, and other what- have-yous. Case in point: we were actually planning to stop at the Flex Space, but only the stand-alone gallery was open when we arrived in town.
Located “around the back” in a Greek Revival home converted into an aca- demic counseling center, with very little signage until you’re actually standing at the door, the interior of the UMF Art Gallery oozes with liberal arts street
Kelsey Goldsmith
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Arts, Entertainment, Adventure and More in Western Maine