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V O L . X X V I I N O. I V F E B R UA R Y 2 2 , 2 0 2 1 10 W E A LT H M A N A G E M E N T / R E T I R E M E N T R etired teachers John McIlvain and his wife, Elizabeth Sky-McIlvain, acquired their first sculpture about 20 years ago — an abstract stone and wood creation called "Little Buddha" by Herb Ferris they placed in their Georgetown garden. Currently covered in snow, it sits in a circular raised garden on grounds they normally open to visitors every spring when there's not a pandemic. "We love the idea that people can see these things, and with some luck might also go and buy some [for themselves] because it's nice to support the art- ists who do wonderful things, many of whom are from Maine," McIlvain says. e couple discovered Herb Ferris and his work through Pownal-based dealer and consultant June LaCombe and have been buying sculpture ever since. ey now have around 30 pieces, including a number of works by Maine- based artists. Despite a challenging time for art galleries worldwide during the pandemic, devoted collectors like the McIlvains are keeping Maine dealers — and artists — busy. at's creat- ing excitement in the art world about a pivotal moment in Maine, akin to New York in the 1950s or California in the 1970s and 1980s. "e people who bought California art at that time are million- aires now, but you have to be brave and commit," says Susan Larsen, executive director of the Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation, an artist-endowed charitable foundation based in Portland. "ose who spend the time and make the effort will be rewarded financially as well as aes- thetically." She adds that "downtown Portland has a very fertile art scene right now, and it doesn't take a large budget to fill your apartment or your home with first-rate stuff." F O C U S June LaCombe, a Pownal-based arts consultant specializing in sculpture, says she sold more than 100 pieces in 2020. She stands next to 'Venere,' a granite sculpture by Gary Haven Smith. P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY ART SPENDING BY HIGH NET WORTH COLLECTORS, 2020 Q1–Q2 INTEREST OF HIGH NET WORTH COLLECTORS DURING COVID Under $50K ...................................24% $50K–$100K .................................20% $100K–$250K ...............................21% $250K–$1M ..................................19% Over $1M ......................................16% More interested in collecting ..........59% No effect .......................................27% Less interested in collecting ...........14% N O T E : Results based on survey of 360 high-net worth collectors in the United States, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. S O U R C E : Art Basel and UBS, "The Impact of COVID-19 on the Gallery Sector." 59% 27% 14% 24% 20% 21% 19% 16% Picture this Art collectors keep Maine artists, dealers busy during pandemic B y R e n e e C o r d e s

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