When Gross, a cartographer and artist, moved to Maine in 2010, the state was a foreign land to him and ripe for exploration. Like early explorers searching to fill in the gaps of geographical knowledge of the region then called Norumbega, Gross began exploring his new home. As an artist working in block print, ink illustration and watercolor, Gross has created a collection of the many small wonders he has found exploring this state.

What draws us to maps? A map implies a place where someone has gone before. We can, therefore, explore with knowledge of the terrain. We are free to take off in a direction with confidence. Early map makers, because of generalization, omissions or commissions, created maps that were little more than an abstraction of reality. In other words, art from a different perspective.

Monkitree is a fine art and craft gallery located at 263 Water Street in historic downtown Gardiner.