Matthew Russ Braves the Elements to Plein Air Paint in Maine

I have with me, Matt Russ artist, and also a longtime friend and colleague of mine. It's really a pleasure to have you here with me today. Thank you so much, Lisa. It's a great pleasure to be here and to see you again. I really enjoy, um, well, every time I see you actually, but the, the fact that you and I now have known each other for, oh, you know, seven years, something like that. Yeah. Somewhere in that neighborhood. Yeah. So there, I've actually interviewed you a few different times for various reasons. Right? So it's kind of a, it's a strange strangely public continual iteration of our own knowing friendship relationship with one another. Yes. That not everybody has that kind of back and forth the way that you and I have had. Right. Right. I feel like, uh, over the years, Lisa we've, we've met, um, you know, for, for formal conversations like these, but also, um, uh, at various art related events, usually in, in, in various venues. So, um, truly it's, it's, uh, it's, it's great to, to continue this, this conversation. So one of the things that, um, I think about with you actually has more to do with your wife and, um, the first time I think it was probably the first time you and I actually interacted also, but I had written a story about Lifelight for a local publication. Um, and your wife, Casey played a prominent role in the story. And today I happened to see a helicopter flying overhead, and I, I thought about her and you and how this all had started. And it really was a very kind of traumatic and difficult time in both of your lives. Yes. Uh, Lisa, um, I, in, in 2011, um, my wife was in a very serious accident. Um, she was in a plane crash in fact, um, flying in a small plane, um, from Matus island, which, uh, for those who aren't familiar with is an island about 20 miles off the coast of, of may. Um, she was out there visiting a friend and, and, um, was flying back to the mainland in a small plane that, um, crashed into the ocean. And, um, it's quite an amazing story in that, uh, all four individuals who were on the plane are vibed not only the crash, but everything that, that happened in the, the hours following. And, um, there were many different individuals who were, um, heroes that day in, in, in saving, uh, my wife Casey's life, um, and also the others on board. Um, but one of the prominent players was, uh, life flight of Maine, which, uh, for those who aren't familiar with life flight is, uh, helicopter. Now also airplane, uh, based, um, a emergency medical transport service that, that covers the entire state of Maine. And, uh, Casey was, um, ultimately transported from, uh, Penn bay hospital in, in Rockland, um, to central Maine medical center in Lewiston, um, where she, uh, underwent, uh, um, lifesaving surgeries. And, um, as you say, it was, it was quite a traumatic time for the both of us, but, um, as, as the years have, have gone by, we've been able to reflect upon, um, the positive aspects of, of, of that, that experience, um, in the sense that, uh, we learn much more about life flight of Maine and what, what that service does for countless people, um, throughout the state, uh, over the years. So we've both become, um, quite active in, in, um, fundraising for life flight. And, um, we've gotten to know not only the, the, the pilots and the, the, the flight paramedics who were on Casey's actual flight. And I believe when you interviewed Casey for that story, uh, they were also there for the conversation, uh, incredible individuals, but also the entire organization and, and what the I do. Um, so, uh, you know, obviously if we could go back in time, we would not have gone through that experience, but we did. And, um, it's a happy ending For me. I, you know, whenever I think whenever I see a life flight helicopter go overhead, I think of this idea that these were people who literally in Casey's example, that literally fell out of the sky into the ocean. And also, um, this, this sort of interim piece that I believe that there are many local people who got on their boats, saw this happen and went rushing out to the scene to try to help with this, um, really was a catastrophe mm-hmm . Um, and again, the fact that there was a happy ending has everything to do with people's willingness to move towards something that other people wouldn't other people would freeze. Other people wouldn't know what to do. I think that speaks so strongly of what we have here in Maine, the sense of community, the sense of willingness to help our neighbors and kind of step toward challenges rather than just let people deal with their things on their own. Has that been your experience living Here? Absolutely. Lisa, um, I was born in Maine and, and, and, and grew up, um, not far from where the studio is, uh, in, in Cape Elizabeth. Um, but I've traveled all over the state in my, in my life. Um, and I think there is this great sense of, of community as if Maine is a small town. Um, I'm sure I'm not the first to, to use that analogy, but, um, uh, that particular accident was, was a case in point where, um, as you mentioned, the local people of Nick asylum, uh, lobstermen in fact were the first on the scene. And, and when the call went out, um, after the, the plane had gone down, um, the fleet of, of lobster boats, um, as I understand it tore out across the bay and, and, um, directly into the, into the, um, into the fray as it were. And if it wasn't for good people like that, um, things could have, could have taken a different turn. So, yes, indeed. I, I, I feel it every day, um, as I, as I travel throughout Maine, um, uh, a great sense of, um, community and, and, um, general respect for, for, for one another, Your pieces also reflect your love of Maine and, and that's literally a situation where you step into what you are trying to, um, capture, because you will put your equipment on your back and hike for quite a ways to set yourself up in a place where you can fully experience what you're trying to capture. Tell me about that. I'd be happy to, uh, Lisa in fact, uh, this painting, uh, that hangs, um, behind us is, is a, is a, a perfect example of, um, what you're referring to. And, uh, I'll talk more about it specifically, um, in, in a, in a minute, but, um, generally speaking, my, my mode of, of working has always been, um, to work directly in the field. Um, I do have, uh, an art studio, uh, in Waterville where I live. Um, but I do very little actual painting in that space. It's really sort of a, um, a staging area for the painting excursions that I take, uh, all throughout the state. Um, my true studio is, uh, really a, a frame pack that I carry on back, um, that carries my, um, foldable French easel as it's called and all of the gear that I would need for, for a day of painting. And as you say, I, I take that, that pack with me, um, into my painting location. And, uh, in some cases it does involve, um, a considerable hike. Um, and that's where this, uh, particular painting comes in, for instance, um, this, this is a painting called V mountain road, uh, number one in, and, um, the town of via, and indeed it is pronounced via here in Maine, as you know, um, place names in Maine sometimes are pronounced differently than you might expect. Um, V is, uh, in the bell grade lakes area, which, which is in central Maine. Um, and it's a favorite at place of mine. I've, I've explored, um, this area on CrossCountry skis and snow shoes and, um, mountain bike and and on foot in the summer. Um, and, uh, this particular, uh, painting was done in the month of February. Um, I carried my, my gear in, uh, probably about a mile from, from where I had parked my car, um, and set up my, my, my remote studio as it were, uh, for the entire day, uh, uh, to capture, um, this scene as it UN unfolded in, in front of my eyes. And, um, for me being in the landscape, um, is the greatest source of inspiration. Um, and that's why I, I refuse to take a photograph and then go back to my I studio and, and, and try to recapture that sense of inspiration that I feel in the actual place. Um, for me, it's, it's the, the, the, the sight and the sounds that, that I experience, um, over the course of hours that inform my decisions in terms of, um, what my composition will be and, and, um, how the painting will unfold in real time. And I have with me, um, also another via mountain piece, yes, that actually belongs to me. So if you, if anybody's looking at it and they really like it, you cannot have this one , um, this was actually given to us as a gift, uh, to my husband and I, um, for our wedding, um, and it ACOM, and it went very nicely with another piece that we own of yours that, um, for me, both of the pieces really capture something about, um, the stillness, the quiet to, um, the, the sense that Maine is a place of, um, peace. Really, if you, if you are able to be in the right place at the right time. Absolutely. Lisa, um, I would, I would, uh, add, uh, if I may, that, that, um, that nature generally, but for me specifically, um, uh, uh, main, the main environment, um, is not only, uh, a place of peace, but can also be, um, uh, a place of healing. Um, if I may, I'd like to share with you, um, an experience I had as a, as a young person, um, uh, back in 1987, I guess it was, I was in seventh grade. Um, I underwent, uh, surgery for scoliosis, which is a, a congenital, uh, curve of the spine. Um, something that I, I was born with and, and had been monitored as I, as I was growing. Um, and in that year, um, I under underwent, uh, what's called a spinal fusion, um, which is a surgery to essentially arrest the continuing curvature of, of the spine. And, uh, it took place in, in Boston children's hospital, but my recuperation of course, happened back at home. And part of my recuperation was to go for as, as, as early as I could get on my and go walking, um, was to go for walks, uh, in the, in the woods nearby, uh, my home in Cape Elizabeth. And I wasn't aware of it at the time. Uh, this is only retrospectively that I've, that I've considered this, um, and thought about it. But, um, those, those, those hours spent walking through the woods by myself, um, were, were incredibly, uh, healing, um, to be in nature, um, with no other distractions, no other people, um, and, uh, to just let nature us over you, um, really was a, was an important experience for me. And, um, I think that as I, as I got older, I, I started to realize that, um, whatever it was, I, I was going through, it didn't have to be a, a major trauma, like, like I'm referring to, but any sort of problem that I was facing or puzzle I was trying to solve, um, could always be solved more easily, um, by walking in, into the, into the outdoors as it were . And, um, as an artist, I, I, um, I tap that same, that same vein. Um, I, I, I go to the, to nature, to, to, to find something, um, whether it's to, to find, uh, mental clarity, um, or, um, just a St a sense of, uh, a sense of strength. Um, it's why I go out into the, the, the Kennebec Highlands, um, in VI. It's why I, I go to the top of Mount batty in Camden, um, the islands of Maine. Um, there's always something to be learned, um, in nature. And, uh, I, I think you've probably experienced SIM similar, similar things. I know you, you like go running and, and do long distance runs. Um, and, uh, I think you'll agree that that nature always has something to, to offer us Well, that's one of the things that I like about, about this piece behind us is this, this path that you've created, that's very lightly tread upon. Mm it's kind of suggested maybe it's just, you, maybe you were the one who, um, went into nature to set up your, um, your portable studio and, and capture this for other people so that you can almost, um, bring the space back to others that you could bring, um, by providing, you know, an image for someone on a canvas. You're actually, you're saying, here's this space, this I'm representing something that's available to you. You just need to step outside your door. And I think that for me, that's why your pieces are always kind of a touch point that I can, I can look at your pieces and I can go, oh, okay. There it is. It's always there because you're right. When I go running, um, I'm actively in the middle of it, but of course you can't run all the time. Mm-hmm so it's the ability to continually just stop and kind of take a minute and then kind of proceed on with your day. Yeah. You know, I, I was thinking, um, Lisa, about this, this, this series of paintings that I did, this is one of, of five in fact, um, from via mountain, but, um, I think you're right. Uh, you know, obviously this experience of painting in the field was, was very personal. Um, I was there alone, I going through, um, whatever thoughts I had in my own head, but in, in some ways this, this two dimensional surface, it's a, it's a, it's a fiction if you will. But, but, um, it's something that, that is an artifact from that experience from that moment that, that you bring back from that experience and, and hopefully share with others. That's always, that's always the hope. Um, I think most artists would, would agree that, um, you know, they want their work to be, to be seen and, and to, to be understood to a certain degree and, and hopefully to, to convey, um, uh, a particular message. And, and I'm glad to hear that, that maybe some of that, um, comes through, uh, to you and, and hopefully to, to others as well. You have a strong Ireland connection. You've spent time there in various ways. Why is it that Ireland has called you over and, um, caused you to want to partake of its, um, beauty and its people and its land? Well, my interest, uh, in Ireland, uh, Lisa began, um, through stories that my father told me, um, he spent, um, a summer in Dublin. I think he was, uh, 20 years old at the time. And, um, an opportunity had come way to, to work in Dublin for first summer. And, and, uh, his stories of the Irish people. Um, the Irish landscape, Irish culture, um, were always of interest to me. Um, and it was, and until, um, I was studying at Colby college that I had the opportunity to travel there myself, uh, at the time Colby had a, um, a program in cork Ireland and in cork city, um, which is on the Southern coast of, of Ireland. And, um, interestingly it was most popular. Uh, the program was most popular among pre-med students because it was one of the few, um, programs abroad that allowed students to keep up with their prerequisites for med school. Um, the university college cork, um, was a place where students could seamlessly keep up with their, their studies and, and, and not get off track somewhere along the line. Um, however, there, there was also a connection made through Colby, um, to a, a small art college in that same city, uh, called Crawford college of art. And in much the same way. Um, it became a popular program for art majors and students who were majoring in art at Colby could take a year abroad and still keep up with their requirements, whether they were art history courses or actual studio courses. And, um, when I discovered that that program existed and was, was, uh, was a possibility for me, um, I remembered those stories. My father had told me and thought, this is the time to, to see, see the place for myself. So indeed I spent my entire junior year, um, of college, uh, in cork, um, studying art. Um, but perhaps more importantly, um, expanding my, my horizons, um, Ireland is in AMA an amazing place. I don't know if you've ever been there. Um, but, um, the landscape is incredibly beautiful. Uh, there's some parallels to Maine, obviously, um, the coastline, it's one big coastline when you think about it. Um, but particularly the west coast is, is a very, very rugged and, and, um, and wild place that, that is sort of the mirror image of, um, mains coast. Um, but also, uh, I found the, the Irish people to be really, uh, incredibly warm and, and, and wonderful, um, very welcoming, of course, there's the connection, the, the historical connection between America and, and Ireland, but, um, the friends I made there, um, were just so special, also very, um, very musical, um, culture. And that was a huge part of my experience there as well. Um, one thing I, I love about Ireland is that music is everywhere and, and it can exist, um, in, in informal ways, um, wherever you go. So that for instance, um, walking into any pub in court, um, you were likely to find a group of musicians casually gathered, um, playing traditional tunes, um, not amplified through microphones, but, but just in the corner of the room almost as a, as a backdrop to, to life. And, um, and also my friends, uh, all liked to sing. Um, it was not uncommon to go to a party in cork and at a certain point of the night, um, someone would turn the stereo off and people would actually sing songs that was something sort of new to me , but of course is not new to the, to the human, to the human race. So, um, I think you're very impressionable at that age as well, junior in college. So I, I absorb a lot of, of that and, and, um, try to carry it with me, um, when I return back to the states, um, just that sense of, of fun of, of music, um, of adventure. And, um, I've been back a number of times. I, I went back, um, after I graduated from, from Colby and, and, um, through a, a work visa program, uh, worked for an additional year back in cork city, which was, which was wonderful. Um, but I have not gone back in the, the guys, um, of an artist and I'd like very much to do that. I, I know that there are, um, art residencies in different parts of Ireland, and I think it would be really fun to, to go back and, and, um, perhaps interact with the Irish environment, um, as, as I have with the main environment for so many years, uh, through art. Do you have any Irish heritage? I do in fact, but, um, I, I, I always felt that I did because of that instant connection I felt when I was there. Um, we recently discovered that, that, um, my family, uh, has, uh, roots and Galway, um, in addition to, to other parts of the British aisle. So it was just nice to see it, uh, um, confirm. Um, and this was through the help of, uh, a cousin of mine who, who got, um, into ancestry as, as, um, people seem to, to do, um, more and more these days. So, um, and Galway's a very special place, um, as well, so glad that there's a little bit of Galway in my, in my blood, and They are also very much known for music internationally, really. That's right. Um, uh, wherever you turn in, in, in this, in the town of Galway, um, there's some sort of a, a music festival going on or, um, a session if you will. Um, so although I lived in cork, I, I made many trips up that way and, and, uh, really, really loved that place. I remember growing up my, um, my grandmother would always talk about county cork and about how her family was from county cork and her, her parents had come over during, I believe it was the second potato famine and, uh, come to Boston. And it wasn't until later that we realized that everybody's from county core because everybody, or most people kind of, that's where they got on the boats, that then went to other parts of the world when they were trying to really escape, famine and find new places for their families. And, and I, I think it's interesting because in this day and age, we think a lot about diaspora and we think a lot about people who aren't able to return or live in their homes of origin and what that, that means. Um, and we have a great example of this with Ireland kind of generationally you, you and I are both several generations, um, removed from people who needed to leave their own countries. Have, have you ever considered this idea that, you know, in some way you, you felt called to return to a place of your ancestors? You know, Lisa, I've never, I've never, um, I've never considered that question, but, um, uh, perhaps, um, that's one of the reasons I, I felt so drawn to that place. Um, um, you know, I, I, for me, uh, now that Maine is my my spiritual center, um, I S shutter to consider that I would ever have to, to leave to leave that place. Um, and of course, um, as you say, diaspora is, is, uh, an is a, an, uh, an ongoing phenomenon in this world. It's in, it's in the news every day. People having to leave a place that, that they love and, and, and they're connected to in a very, very deep sense. So, um, in that sense, I, I can, I can, I can only, uh, surmise how difficult that must be for, for someone to have to, to say goodbye, um, to a place that, that is essentially part of who they are. I think that, you know, when you, when you talk about a spiritual center, mm-hmm, the, the sense that I have had from talking to various people who have needed to leave their places, their homes of origin is, is this very, um, significant, the importance of, of actually having and maintaining a spiritual center, whatever that looks like. Um, and for many people that is the family, the family that they bring with them, the family that evolves wherever they end up. Um, and I know for you, your family, especially in this past year has enabled you to it's, it's provided several touch points that keep you grounded during all of the uncertainty and change Indeed. Um, Lisa, uh, the past year or so for me as, as, as for so many, um, have been immensely challenging. Um, obviously the pandemic being the unifying experience that, that we've all been through, um, coinciding with the, the, the pandemic. Um, we had some loss in my family, uh, um, my, uh, mother-in-law, uh, Mimi died in, in 2020, um, not COVID related, but, um, uh, she was, uh, for a period of time, uh, uh, in a nursing home recovering, uh, from a stroke. And, and thankfully we , um, my wife and I, and, and, and family, um, were able to, to get her out of the nursing home just before the pandemic really started. In fact, um, St Patrick's day is my touch point for when that all happened. Uh, March 17th, I think we were able to, to get Mimi out of her nursing home and back into her beloved farmhouse in, uh, in the white mountains of New Hampshire, um, right around St Patrick's day, which is also right when, um, things changed drastically and places like nursing homes became, um, closed, so to speak. Um, IHU her to think of how difficult it might have been if had we not been able to, to be face to face with, with her in, in the, the final stages of her life. I know many people had to endure that sort of scenario. Um, um, so there was loss my, my, my mother-in-law, uh, died, um, in the summer of 2020, and it was, uh, it was a very difficult experie, but, um, close on the heels of, of that loss was, um, was a new arrival and my, my stepson, uh, and his wife, um, welcomed a baby boy into, into the world. Uh, my grandson Jack, and, um, I was reminded that, uh, even though life can, can hand you these seemingly unbearable, um, losses, um, life can also provide, um, new gifts. And, um, that whole cyclical nature was, was in, in very clear focus, um, uh, during that year. Um, uh, my stepdaughter also was just recently married, uh, in November, this past November. So again, um, a cause for, for celebration, but yes, uh, family, um, I think for me, but also for a lot of people, uh, took on a, a, a new, uh, importance and a new meaning during, during, during this time that we've been living through. And, uh, uh, certainly has brought, brought my family closer. Uh, and I've, I've learned a lot about, uh, about life this, this past year or so, Matt, my sense is that your family has really been very supportive of you in many ways, but particularly with regard to your art. I mean, I, I think I've had the opportunity to meet members of your family yes. Aside from Casey. And, um, I, I'm proud by that. Um, I think that to, to know that you have, it's not just you showing up at the canvas and being in the woods, it's you and all the people who, um, kind of are walking along with you in spirit. Did your parents ever, were they interested in art? Was art something that they Engaged in? Um, my parents, uh, have been really one of the great, uh, inspirations to me in, in my life, uh, in, in my life as an artist. Right, right. From the very beginning. Um, I can't say that that either of my parents were ever artists per se, but they were always very interested in, in, in the world of art. And from a very early age would bring my brother and, and me, um, to, to museums. Um, obviously the Portland museum of art was, was, um, easily accessible to us. Um, but also trips further field to the Boston museum of fine arts. And, and, um, and, and they always impressed upon us that, that, uh, art was, was something to be, to be celebrated and, and enjoyed. Um, for me, uh, the actual creation of art, um, was of great interest to me early on. It was, was a, a way of, uh, of, of playing and, and, um, and just putting my imagination to work. Um, and, and my parents, uh, to their credit, I think recognized that, and in subtle ways, um, provided me opportunities to explore that part of who I was. Um, sometimes, um, just the simple act of providing me materials. nothing fancy, but there was always a, a pad of paper available. There, there were always, um, markers, there were always crayons, there were always Hess. Um, and I think they saw what joy it brought me and, um, just wanted to make sure that, um, if it was something I wanted to continue with, they would always, um, support that. And sadly, uh, I've, I've met friends in my life who had similar impulses, um, whose families didn't necessarily support, um, that exploration. Um, I never had that, that barrier. Um, I always had the, I always had the support, the, the, the full support of, of, of my parents, um, even to this day, uh, the easel, the portable easel we referred to earlier in the conversation, um, that was a gift for my parents. I, it, it's probably, it's 25 years old now. Um, and at the time they gave it to me, um, I'm not sure they knew quite what an impact it would have, but, um, again, um, that ease sort of represents that, that, um, that support, that I've, that I've felt all along. And I'm very, very grateful for it. Um, my wife has always supported my, my, my pursuit of, um, of an art career. She knows how, um, how it's, it's, it's who I am. And, um, so to, to, to know that, um, there, there are those of me, uh, tho those out there who are , um, cheering me on, um, really, really, um, makes a huge, huge, uh, difference as I, as I continue to, to explore Matt, I learned something different about you every time we talk. So it's really been my pleasure to have the time to spend with you today and kind of catch up on this latest iteration of your, of your life. And, um, I appreciate your willingness to come in and, and talk with me today. Lisa, It's always a pleasure to talk with you and FA thank you. Can't wait to see you again. Absolutely. I've been speaking with artist, Matt Russ. You can see his work at the Portland art gallery and on the Portland art gallery website. I hope that you have a chance to interact with him at an upcoming, uh, art gallery opening, maybe, maybe post COVID when things open up a little, little bit more. He is, um, truly a wonderful human being and I'm, I have his pieces in my home and I, I am reminded of this on a regular basis, but today it's been my, my good fortune to have you in person. Thank you, Matt. Thank you, Lisa.