Reflections on Juneteenth

Bryan Stevenson Awtt Portrait

How we remember our history matters. As the nation observes Juneteenth – this date in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Texas, informing slaves that the Confederacy had lost the war and that they were free under the Emancipation Proclamation – the Equal Justice Initiative reminds us to remember this historical event in context – […]

Pride Month: News Updates

Bayard Rustin Awtt Portrait

As Pride Month rolls around again, we spotlight those from the AWTT portrait gallery who continue to stand up and advocate for all human beings to be valued for who they are and to be recognized for their significant contributions to our society. Nicole Maines Maines continues to pursue, and flourish in, her career as […]

Robert Shetterly Receives Award from Maine Education Association

Mea Award Shetterly

AWTT artist Robert Shetterly was pleased to receive the Ashley Bryan Arts and Humanities Award last weekend during the Maine Education Association’s 95th Representative Assembly in South Portland. The annual Ashley Bryan award “honor(s) an individual in the fields of the arts and the humanities for their commitment to education and their work and advocacy […]

Samantha Smith Challenge students impress AWTT with their art and passions

Samantha Smith Challenge Awtt Portrait

With nine schools and 250 students participating in this year’s Samantha Smith Challenge (SSC), Robert Shetterly and Connie Carter have gained an inspirational window into the thinking and amazing work of middle and high school students.  Beginning with Troy Howard Middle School (Maine), they heard about the students’ research on the Declaration of Human Rights […]

Reflections on the Life of Rob McCall

Rob Mccall Awtt Portrait

Rob McCall died this morning – not unexpectedly. He had been failing for some time. His passing is a great loss to his community in Blue Hill, Maine. Also to the world. I painted his portrait five years ago, and at the unveiling of it in the Blue Hill library, with Rob there, I said,  […]

AWTT on Maine Calling

Robert Shetterly

Maine Calling host Jennifer Rooks interviewed AWTT artist Robert Shetterly and education director Connie Carter on March 25, 2023. If you missed the show, it is archived here on the Maine Public site. Maine Calling Highlights: A new film, Truth Tellers, documents the work of Maine artist/activist Robert Shetterly. Shetterly has painted portraits of more than […]

March 2023 Letter from Daniel Ellsberg

Daniel Ellsberg Awtt Portrait

Dear friends and supporters, I have difficult news to impart. On February 17, without much warning, I was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer on the basis of a CT scan and an MRI. (As is usual with pancreatic cancer–which has no early symptoms–it was found while looking for something else, relatively minor). I’m sorry to […]

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