Jean McGinnis of the Maine Center for Creativity, Mark Bessire of the Portland Museum of Art, and Willa Wirth, Silver Designer, give us insights into the creative brain and help us understand the importance of having a healthy mind as we strive to lead healthy lives.
Guests
Jean McGinnis
Jean McGinnis is the founder and Executive Director of the Maine Center for Creativity. Jean has spent the past 5 years advocating for the support and stimulation of Maine’s creative industries by working collaboratively with business leaders through the 501 (c) 3 organization she founded. Her organization created Art All Around, an international design competition that received 560 proposals from 80 countries to paint art on the above ground storage tanks owned by Sprague in the Port of Portland. The goal of Art All Around is to put Maine on the map for creativity and innovation. She has raised $600,000 toward the completion of this arts and industry collaboration.
Jean’s professional experience includes working for WGBH, Boston’s public television and radio stations as well as Development and Membership work for both the Portland Museum of Art and the Children’s Museum of Maine. Jean graduated from Boston College cum laude with a degree in Communications and concentration in organizational development.
Willa Wirth
Willa Wirth, Silver Designer creates custom handmade silver jewelry designs inspired by nature, life, and the inspired heart beat of the universe.
Her studio storefront is located at the top of Munjoy Hill. 99 Congress St. Open Tuesday -Saturday 12-6. Experience an artist loving what she does…. in action!
Mark Bessire
Mark H. C. Bessire became Director of the Portland Museum of Art in 2009. Previously, Mark was the Director of the Bates College Museum of Art in Lewiston, Maine. Mark holds a M.B.A. from Columbia University, a M.A. in art history from Hunter College, and a B.A. from New York University. Mark has published widely, including three books with MIT Press, has organized numerous traveling exhibitions, and has participated on national art juries. He is active in local, community, and national public art programs and also lectures on museum studies.
Mark is a founding board member of the non-profit organization Africa Schoolhouse, which is dedicated to building schools in rural Africa. He is a member of the Maine Arts Commission, the Board of Advisors at SPACE Gallery, and the University of Southern Maine Board of Visitors. He resides with his family in Portland, Maine.
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