First Look: Rebel Yells
A private evening of art & giving at The Cumberland Club.
On Thursday, October 15th, I've been invited to a private First Look & Fundraiser at The Cumberland Club, hosted by Ken Gordon in support of artist Jess Lauren Lipton. I've also been given a small number of seats to share with The Atrium. I’m thrilled to have a select few Atrium friends join me at this event!
The Art
Jess is a Portland artist who makes large textile relief sculptures. Her body of work is called Pop Killed Culture, and it uses exaggerated scale and familiar symbols to push back on a world that's increasingly lived through screens. She describes the work as soft objects for hard times.
Her newest project, Rebel Yells: A Visual History of American Outrage, opens in Spring 2027 at the Portland Public Library. It's a series of quilts that trace the American photographic record of outrage, from local to national, arriving at the country's 250th anniversary. Each quilt is shaped into a silhouette borrowed from pop culture and clip art, and QR codes let viewers dig into the history behind every image.
You'll see it months before the public does, and you'll hear about it from the artist herself.
The Giving
Not only does your ticket reserve your spot, but 100% of it also goes directly toward bringing Rebel Yells to the Portland Public Library. The exhibition is fiscally sponsored by the Union of Maine Visual Artists, and your ticket is a starting donation. If you care to donate further to this project, you’ll have the opportunity at the event.
Together, we’ll help fund free art in public spaces.
The Evening
Arrive at The Cumberland Club, one of Portland's private clubs and a room most of us don't usually get to walk into. Get a first look at the work. Meet Jess. Meet the people who show up for local art, and spend two hours in good company, in a beautiful room, for a good reason.
Continue (Optional)
If you're not ready to call it a night, those who wish will head out for a bite afterward. Come along and keep the conversation going.
Who this is for
This evening is for people who value access and know how to honor it. It's for anyone who wants to support a local artist in a way that actually moves her work forward. And it's for people who'd rather have one real conversation in a room like this than collect fifty business cards somewhere else.
The Details
When: Thursday, October 15, 5:30–7:30 PM
Where: The Cumberland Club (must be on the list to attend)
Ticket: $25, benefiting Rebel Yells through the fiscal sponsor, Union of Maine Visual Artists
Seats: 6 max reserved for Atrium guests
After: optional dinner nearby; pay for your own