About York Art

Our Mission

The York Art Association values, promotes, and supports the visual, performing, and literary arts by providing programs and events for the benefit of the community.

York Art – located in coastal York, Maine – is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization empowering people of all walks of life to create, learn, and connect with the belief that art inspires us all.

York Art offers

  • exhibitions showcasing the work of exhibiting member artists and invited guest artists
  • a gift shop with a wide variety of handcrafted and locally sourced arts and crafts
  • Artist Gallery Talks featuring artists’ journeys, inspirations, and techniques
  • Poetry Open Mic events and Literature Readings
  • the Letitia Moore Scholarship Program, awarding funds annually to a college student with active art pursuits
  • classes and workshops for all ages and abilities
  • the annual “For the Love of Student Art” exhibit, featuring works by York Public School students in grades K-12
  • the signature outdoor arts festival, Art in the Park, held every September at Moulton Park since 1996

Board

York Art is governed by a Board of Directors elected at the Annual Meeting in September, serving two-year renewable terms.
We are a “working” Board, each member involved in some capacity in the various functions of the Association. The Board’s efforts are engaged and cooperative on behalf of our commitment to building community through art.

All Board meetings are open to our members.

Maryse Newton

President

I have enjoyed creating since I was a young girl and continue to find it essential to live a balanced life. Painting is the way I process and express the beauty I am surrounded by daily while living along the Seacoast. I am a passionate supporter of the local arts and I have been a member of the York Art Association since returning to New England in 2014. My work is also exhibited at a handful of small galleries along the Seacoast and on Instagram at @maryse.newton.

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ANNE BANCROFT

Vice-President

Though not an artist myself, I have a background in design and have long enjoyed the arts of all kinds – visual, musical, theatrical, you name it. I love the idea of encouraging, sharing, and supporting all of it on the local level, bringing our gifts to each other right where we live.

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Steve Litwin

Treasurer

As a retired entrepreneur with a newfound love of painting, I love how art can dazzle and inspire everyone. My goal is to try and bring (the joy of) art to the York community at large via the wonderful York Art Association. With a degree in Creative Writing from UC Berkeley and an MBA from NYU, I hope my creative side and my business experience can help add value. After living in Italy for a few years as a young man and admiring renaissance art and architecture, and then living in New York City after we raised our 3 kids and numerous dogs, my wife & muse Barbara and I fell in love with the natural beauty of the Maine coast and settled in York. Self taught, I love experimenting with colors & compositions that begin to tell a story, while leaving the ending to the imagination of the viewer.
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Taryn Myers

Secretary | Summer Camp Chair

Part nerd, part artist, and a lot of weird, Taryn Myers is a creative thinker who doesn’t let herself get boxed into traditional thinking. Whether navigating marketing solutions for her clients or creating a new art piece, Taryn is fluent in the languages of words, numbers, and pictures. Taryn’s art challenges the viewer to see things from different and new perspectives. When not creating her own artwork or marketing maps for clients, Taryn can be found molding youth artist minds.

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Laurie Chapman

Education Committee Chair

Laurie Chapman, a University of North Florida graduate, holds a BFA in Ceramics and a minor in Drawing and Painting. Her roots in the Seacoast area, combined with 30 years in York, form the backdrop for her creative journey. Alongside her husband Greg, she parents a blended family of six children.

Laurie’s diverse experience includes teaching art in private schools, fostering art education among children through self-employment, and a special Ed Ed tech, in York, at VES. Recently retired from the York school district, Laurie embraces a new chapter, fully dedicating herself to her art. Her journey is one of dedication to education, family, and her undeniable passion for artistic expression.
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Barbara Chase

Having moved to York as a retired educator, I am constantly inspired by the close community and natural beauty surrounding us in this magical place. Art and craft making have always been part of my life. I have always loved personal adornment and have made jewelry for some time. Now, I fashion pieces using wooden beads and pendants painted and decoupaged with pressed flowers and leaves. Having served on several educational and community boards over the years (most recently, that of the York Public Library) I am delighted to have joined the York Art Association Board, as I have always been impressed with the Association’s impact on our community. Now, with a beautiful and more functional home, I believe we are poised to step into an even more vital role.
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