The Northeast Harbor Library is pleased to welcome Jack Merrill to display his paintings in the Mellon room for the month of November.
Jack graduated from Antioch College in 1975, majoring in Biology and English. College internships had him working in a marina in South Lake Tahoe, CA, instructing at the Outward Bound School at Hurricane Island,ME and lobster fishing as a sternman on Little Cranberry Island, ME. After graduating, he returned to Little Cranberry and started lobstering out of his own 32’ wooden boat, “Kingpin”.
Married to Erica Thornmann in 1982, they started a family in 1985. At the time, Jack was coaching high school and American Legion baseball and began representing fishermen on the board of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA). Between baseball, basketball, and hockey he has coached over 70 youth sports teams. He still sits on the MLA board, has been a long-time advisor to the Lobster Institute at the University of Maine (UMO) and has been involved with the Cranberry Isles Fishermen’s Co-Op since its start. Jack’s lobster life has had him quoted and pictured in the Boston Globe and the Wall Street Journal. He was featured in a CNN show on lobstering and also appeared as a character in Trevor Corson’s book, “The Secret Life of Lobsters.”
Jack began drawing and painting when his two children were young, hoping to spark their interest. As his children grew and began chasing other pursuits, he stopped painting, but continued fishing, coaching and occasionally gave readings and published some of his poetry.
The urge to start painting again returned about 8 years ago. More recently, he started having his paintings displayed and sold at the Islesford Artists Gallery.
“I found a difficult medium, always fascinated by its complexity. Sometimes the paint takes you to unexpected places. As conflicting as it sounds, painting is both intense and relaxing at the same time. I thoroughly enjoy it and I hope you enjoy the results.”
Jack’s work will be on display in the Mellon room for the month of November during the library’s operating hours. The room is occasionally booked for private functions, if you are making a special trip to see the show, please call ahead to check availability at 207 276 3333. Contact Kate Young with questions at kyoung@nehlibrary.org.
