Last month, there was an organ concert at the St. Athansius-St. John’s Church in Rumford with the music of Bach, Vivaldi and other composers. A cornetist, a violinist, two local organists and an organist from southern Maine participated in the concert organized by a parishioner of the church.

If you missed this fine concert, you missed two native Mainers who are our neighbors in this small town playing the great classical composers. Not bad for a community that has been labeled and written off many times as simply “blue collar.”

The Pennacook Art Center in Rumford has been showing many local and Maine artists in a very well-designed gallery that would surprise many. The gallery has done justice to artists in its fine exhibition space. And it also hosts readings and book signings.

Just across the river in the small town of Mexico, the public library is selling the books by Maine authors for Christmas giving.

I hope as we move forward with our support for the arts in Maine, we will recognize the local and native artists who live in our state with pride. We sometimes consider our own artists provincial and believe the Wall Street marketing of artists from away, which tells us that they will transform our low-key Maine lives beyond all our expectations.

When artists of reputation from away come here summer after summer to create, it is obvious that Maine is a special place.

Maine artists are special, too.

Tom Fallon, Rumford

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