Gleason Fine Art opens its September exhibition Michael Vermette: The Monhegan Series on Friday, with the show running through Oct. 27. A reception for the artist will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. that evening, followed by a three‑day painting and art‑history workshop on Monhegan Island for Vermette and his students.

The exhibition celebrates Monhegan Island, often called “the artists’ island,” a short ferry ride from Boothbay Harbor that has drawn the likes of Andrew and Jamie Wyeth, Edward Redfield and George Bellows. Vermette’s work captures the island’s craggy cliffs, bright white buildings, intense blue skies and ever‑changing seas, echoing the legacy of past masters such as Robert Henri and James Fitzgerald.

Vermette balances a dual career as a full‑time painter and a part‑time educator. After earning degrees in painting and education in the 1980s, he became the inaugural arts teacher at the Indian Island School, a post he held until 2018. He lives on the Penobscot‑owned Indian Island reservation with his wife, a member of the tribe.

Beyond his prolific studio practice, Vermette has led dozens of workshops, earned numerous awards, and been juried into prestigious competitions across Maine. He regards artist residencies as career highlights, having worked in Acadia National Park, Monhegan Island, and most recently receiving the inaugural residency at the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, a distinction he describes as a profound surprise.

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