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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 81 Fact Book / Doing Business in Maine P H OTO E S S AY Arts community in the making Monson's journey toward becoming an arts commu- nity was conceived of and funded by the Portland- based Libra Foundation, which was created by philanthropist Elizabeth Noyce. Libra has invested $10 million in the town of 654. A critical component would be the creation of an artist residency program. Today, Monson Arts bolsters an area that already had a number of notable artists. I rolled into Monson this July and was immediately struck by how pretty it looks. Much of what was dull is bright. New buildings, new artist studios, great galleries, fresh paint and a great looking Monson General Store, owned and funded by the Libra Foundation. ere were a few cool looking restaurants. ere were artists by the sidewalk outside the Monson Museum peddling attrac- tive barn quilt paintings and beautiful homemade hats. I met with Craig Denekas, the president and CEO of the Libra Foundation. "I believe we were the spark that helped start the change," Denekas told me. "e area is teeming with creative talent — the furniture and woodworkers, unbelievable slate workers, painters, potters, cabinet makers tucked in the woods, musicians, the food." Make Monson 'as bright as possible' Denekas and I went to meet John Tatko lll, president of Sheldon Slate Co. Inc., a fourth-generation family business. Tatko greeted Denekas with a handshake and a message: "ank you for saving us," he said. Tatko's slate company produces high end custom slate products. He explained how the seed for the eventual Monson project was sown. "[Libra Foundation Chairman] Owen Wells stopped by many years prior to the Monson project," Tatko recalls. Fast forward several years, he and Denekas "had a vision for Monson and wanted to visit and see what people thought. Monson had really deteriorated. It looked very run down. People had lost their pride and were just surviving. We had started to see a different, very rough crowd move in. As the new crowd got more brazen, you would see a lot of bad behavior, even drug deals, in broad daylight." He recalled that Wells asked his opinion about what could be done. "I told him to make Monson as bright as possible," Tatko says. "He looked at me funny and I told him, 'rats do not like light.' He chuckled. ey did just that." e investment made a difference. "Monson went from a drive-through town to a destination," Tatko says. "e Monson General Store has exceeded their expectations. People will drive here to lunch at the store. e quality of the products, selection and over- all coolness of the store is a hit. e Galley Store and Monson Scoops are also hits." Artists in residence Denekas took me to meet Chantal Harris, director of Monson Arts. She's proud of the organization's reach and programming. Since 2018, Monsoon Arts has hosted 585 artists in residence. "ey are mostly U.S.-based artists from Maine to California. We have also welcomed international artists. It is a wonderful opportunity for the artists Jemma Gascoine moved from London to be in Monson. She is owner of Monson Pottery/Jemma Gascoine Gallery and Studio. She leases space from Libra Foundation/August Corp. Downtown Monson was packed as Stephanie Dias, Piri Patrissi and Carl Dobruck, all of Manchester, Conn., enjoyed Monson Summerfest. They said the festival was the reason they came here. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » Independent artist, photographer and writer, Todd Watts moved from New York's SoHo arts district to the Monson area in 2000. He is Director of the Abbott-Watts Residency of Monson Arts. Behind him is his photographic montage entitled "Blackbird." "I think this is becoming the international art center of Maine," he says, adding: "You couldn't get me out of here with dynamite." Rob Bartlett of Greenville reached out to Lulu Ranta at her Monson restaurant as she made the rounds. "We've known Lulu for years, she's great," he says. In background is Dexter resident Annette Percival, who says, "I've been coming here for several years and she always comes out and speaks to my entire family. The food is incredible." Ranta is a 2023 James Beard award winner at her restaurant the Quarry.

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