Rockland, ME, December 4, 2020 – The public is invited to join the Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA) for a Sunday Salon with Biennial artist Tom Jessen on Sunday, December 13 at 3pm. The talk will be held on Zoom and Facebook Live. To register in advance for this free-of-charge presentation visit cmcanow.org.

Artist Tom Jessen of Temple, Maine, will discuss his works in the 2020 Biennial and the role that chance and game-theory play in his creative process. The livestream will continue as he plays a game he’s invented to rearrange the parts to his multimedia work “Thomas.”

Made of plastic toy tracks and acrylic paint, the piece is an interactive game where the form is determined by the roll of dice.

Jessen’s work features everyday discarded objects that have a personal connection to his life and environment. Though his use of recycled and repurposed materials is tied to environmental concerns, they also act as an invitation to experience playfulness, humor, and irreverence. He finds a connection between the process of making art and game theory as a means to keep the creative experience mysterious and engaging.

Tom Jessen received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Iowa and a Master of Fine Arts from Vermont College of Fine Art. His work is in university and private collections and has been shown nationally. His work is on view at the CMCA through spring 2020.

The 2020 edition of the CMCA Biennial is sponsored by The VIA Agency of Portland and features the work of 34 artists from 17 Maine communities. 

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ABOUT CMCA

CMCA is a contemporary arts institution presenting year-round exhibitions, engaging events, and educational programs for all ages on site and online.

Location: 21 Winter Street, Rockland, Maine. Hours: November through May, Wednesday – Saturday, 11am to 5pm, Sunday, 12 to 5pm. Closed Federal holidays. Admission: $5 (through December 2020); children under 18 free; CMCA members free.

Below: 
Event image, Sunday Salon | Tom Jessen
Tom Jessen, Thomas, 2020, plastic toy tracks and acrylic paint