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Biddeford, Maine

SWAGƵ Campus Center displays mother-son exhibit, “Collaboration + Connection”

A composite image of seaside photos and paintings by mother and son Wendy and Nathaniel Kaye
A collection of works from "Collaboration + Connection," featuring photographs by Nathaniel Kaye and accompanying paintings by mother Wendy Kaye (descriptions below).

What started as a way for a mother and son to stay connected during the 2021 pandemic restrictions has turned into a transformative artistic experience. Unable to travel across state lines to see each other, Wendy and Nathaniel Kaye used their art to connect.

Nathaniel’s hand-panned, abstracted photographic images of Maine’s seascapes inspired his mother to interpret and paint those same scenes at a time when she was creatively stuck. And so, this project — which began as a one-time inspiration for a painting — has turned into their joint creative endeavor over the last 18 months.

Now, visitors to SWAGƵ’s Campus Center, located in Biddeford, can see the joint project in person, with Nathaniel’s and Wendy’s creations displayed side by side.

The duo’s love of the outdoors and Maine is evident in their art. Nathaniel, who is the photographer for Sugarloaf Mountain, specializes in photographing people interacting with the environment.

“Growing up in the heavily photographed area of coastal Maine has taught me to always look for new perspectives that best share the feelings that made me press the shutter,” he reflected.

Wendy is a painter who works out of her North Dam Mill studio in Biddeford.

“Art, in its many forms, has been central to me throughout my life,” she remarked. “Creating is a way to express myself and make sense of the world and my personal experiences.”

The mother-son exhibit “Collaboration + Connection” will be on display at the Campus Center through Dec. 1. An opening reception will be held Saturday, Nov. 5, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Campus Center.

The Campus Center is located at 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, Maine. Hours for the academic year are Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Masks are optional indoors for visitors to SWAGƵ’s campuses.

Header images, from left: “Maine No. 1638” by Nathaniel Kaye, Giclee on Archival Paper, 20” x 30” (detail); “Intuiting Maine No. 1638” by Wendy VE Kaye, Oil + Cold Wax on Cradled Panel, 24” x 30” (detail); “Hawaii No. 318” by Nathaniel Kaye, Giclee on Archival Paper, 24” x 36” (detail); and “Evoking Hawaii No. 318” by Wendy VE Kaye, Oil + Cold Wax on Cradled Panel, 20” x 28” (detail).

A photo and painting of seaside Maine by mother and son duo Wendy and Nathaniel Kaye

"Maine No. 523" and "Noticing Maine No. 523"

A photo and painting of seaside Maine by mother and son duo Wendy and Nathaniel Kaye

"Maine No. 1638" and "Intuiting Maine No. 1638"

A sunset photo and painting of Hawaii by mother-son duo Wendy and Nathaniel Kaye

"Hawaii No. 318" and "Evoking Hawaii No. 318"

SWAGƵ the SWAGƵ

The SWAGƵ is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.