For generations, fishermen have trawled for lobster and haddock in Maine’s waters, unloading their catch on wharves that line the harbors. Many who operate on the state’s working waterfront don’t own the docks they use, and those that do, faced headaches as they sought to rebuild after back-to-back January storms devastated Maine’s coast. In the wake of these storms, several Midcoast artists sought to highlight the grit and resilience of the commercial fishing industry rather than its picturesque, surface-level charm.
Painters and jewelers – including Matt Barter of Barter Art House Gallery and Skye Waterson of Salt and Sap – contributed their work to bolster the Maine Coast Fisherman Association (MCFA) Go! Fish Fund. The new rapid-relief initiative announced on Aug. 9 during MCFA’s Go Fish! Auction fundraiser in South Thomaston, aims to support local fishermen affected by the January storms and future severe weather.
The live auction featured fine art and jewelry by Barter and Waterson, among others. “We wish we could do even more,” said Monique Coombs, MCFA’s director of community programs. “These fishing businesses are integral to our local and state economy, bringing in the high-quality seafood we love in Maine.
Working waterfronts need to be protected and supported.” Barter, a fisherman and painter, has a deep family history on the waterfront. He grew up Downeast in Sullivan, where his father, who ran one of the first mussel harvesting companies i.