Strengthening Community: Forging Connections Through Art

Sunday, October 4th, 2026 from 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Meet the Artists!

Lizabeth Cutler, “The Ancient Art of Candle-Dipping”

Primarily a plein air oil painter, I make an experience visual, then move it through a variety of media. Often, I revisit and re-present the constant shifts of the coast.—a particular place, at a particular moment. Felting wisps of wool, coaxing small bits of stained glass into place, and mono printing offer me ways to refresh and reimagine my experience of a specific place. My studies have included the School of the Worcester Art Museum, Antioch College, and Swain School of Design (BFA), followed by Heartwood College (MA). I am the Founder of ArtWaves Community Art Center in Bar Harbor, Maine.

Liz will lead a candle-dipping adventure on October 4th using beeswax, and simple invitations to conversation. As participants walk, dip, and build their candles - layer by layer, the warm aroma and repetitive rhythm of dipping will create a calming, welcoming space for conversation - perhaps about our layers. Participants will be invited to make two candles—keeping one and giving one away. This ancient craft helps participants discover commonalities, discovering the layers of our stories and offering a small gesture of connection within our community. 

Liz Shares Her Thoughts about her art and how it helps forge connection: Candle-making is like building connection. The process of applying to a simple wick layer after layer of clean wax, warmed to the right temperature, is similar to the process of making a warm and sustainable connection. With us humans, bringing a lively curiosity and a bit of compassion to the encounter are like bringing a strong clean wick – they are foundational to forging connection. And then the patience of building layer upon layer.

As a landscape painter, I find the most satisfaction in that feeling of “being there.” I want to capture that  moment and then share my love of these special places. Additionally, I get the delicious pleasure of hanging my creations, so I can return to these scenes at will until I can return in person. My joy in my still-life work comes from collecting and capturing the everyday belongings of my family members who have already left us. In preparing to paint, I construct an arrangement of their keepsakes, while in my mind the image becomes an assembly of departed family members. The resulting paintings capture the sweet moments with these dear ones. It’s as if the painting experience and the resulting canvases heal whatever ruptures may have existed while these folks were living. It is a very lively and restorative endeavor for me.

I think that creating art in all its expressions is a way for people to express themselves beyond words and gives us all  the power to muster through difficult times. Part of the creative process is in our capacity to create human connection. We aren’t meant to be solitary, but do we have the curiosity and patience for the layers of effort to make connection?

Molly Dillon, “Mask & Trust”

Molly invites community members to let go of their individual selves and work hand in hand with another person, who may be a stranger. The activity that will be taught is called “mask work”, built off a technique created by Jacques Copeau in the early 20th century. What folks will do is wear masks that cover their whole face, if they are comfortable doing so, and stand facing another person. Molly will call out different ideas like “orange”, “elephant,” or “dishes”, and each pair will take turns interpreting these ideas with their body in whichever ways feel right to them. This activity focuses on partner work, engagement with another, and understanding and trusting another person. This sort of acting work is something that anyone from any background, age, or theatre experience can do. It is a great way to ‘dip toes’ into the world of improvisation and theatre.

Molly Shares Her Thoughts about her art and how it helps forge connections:

My workshop is an exploration of our humanness. The masks remove our indicators for making assessments about each other and allow us to explore the strangeness of being freed from those judgements. In that exploration we learn to enjoy freedom and find community. We discover that there is  value in not knowing lots about the stranger both in front of us and inside us.

What I find most satisfying in my development as an actor is the conviction that each audience member, and even each cast member, has their own interpretation and conclusions about their performance experience. For me this reinforces my sense of freedom; I am not trying to control the audience. I can immerse myself in my own interpretation and performative experience. When I am acting, I am doing what brings me joy and liberation.

I feel strongly that art heals us by offering a way to process our feelings – whether that is through a performance or an image viewed or something that we create. For example, during this forum we will have opportunities to focus our attention in many ways. In sharing these different experiences together we will create community and built strength to weather the difficulties we are living through.

Stay tuned for more profiles!