The Bass Harbor Memorial Library will be featuring an exhibit of the work of poet, photographer, year-round swimmer, and native daughter of Stonington, Deer Isle, Kristie Billings. This show coincides with the celebration of the release of Kristie’s book ‘Sea Witch: Photographs, Poems and Forget-Me-Nots from a Mainer Growing Up’, published by Seapoint Books and Media LLC of Brooklin.
A wearer of many hats, Kristie is a long-time DJ for ‘Daydream Nation’ on the Community Radio WERU 89.9 FM in Orland, Maine. From small-town grocery clerk to working the fish market, owning her own shoe store, being an Arts Educator at a local theater, a lobster fisher, and an antiques seller, Kristie has done it all.
Most of all, Kristie is a collector. Of stories, of emotions, of dolls, of feelings, wigs, mannequin parts, record albums, memories, beauty, laughter, vintage clothing, scallop shells, barnacles, and hermit crabs. She is an observer, as well. She has been writing poetry since childhood, and taking pictures forever with her old Nikon and other cameras she’s amassed over the years.
“Kristie Billings’ depth and breadth are impressive. Her images range from the sad and sexy to pretty friggin’ creepy. She brings us to a shadowy world inhabited by freaks, critters and humanity. Lucky for us, her eye and lens expose a hauntingly real Maine that only she can see.” — Crash Barry, author and filmmaker ‘Tough Island’ and ‘Sex, Drugs and Blueberries’.
A community Opening Reception & Book Signing for Kristie Billings’ SEA WITCH will be held on Thursday, November 16 from 5:30-7:30 PM at the Bass Harbor Memorial Library. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.