The Frances Perkins Center and Heart of Ellsworth are co-hosting an Americans Who Tell the Truth (AWTT) exhibit, Twelve Maine Women, from August 6 through September 25, 2026, at the Heart of Ellsworth Makerspace, 16 State Street, Ellsworth, Maine.

The portraits include the first female member of the U.S. Cabinet, Frances Perkins; ten-year-old peacemaker Samantha Smith; historian Heather Cox Richardson; indigenous leader Sherri Mitchell, Weh’na Ha’mu Kwasset; Somali American state legislator Deqa Dhalac; and U.S. Senator Margaret Chase Smith.

Gallery hours:

• Wednesdays: 10 am – 2 pm
• Fridays: 3 – 6 pm 
• Saturdays: 10 am – 2 pm 

The show will open with a free public reception at The Heart of Ellsworth on State Street, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 6.

Additional events in conjunction with the exhibit include:

August 11, 5:30-8:00 p.m. – Special portrait viewing, 5:30-6:00, followed by panel discussion “From Grassroots to Governance: How Maine Women Shape Policy and Community,” 6:00-8:00. More details here

September 15, 6 – 8 p.m. – Panel discussion: “Art as the New Deal: How the vision of Frances Perkins and the WPA extended relief to the human spirit, supporting the creative arts.” More details

September 19, 1 – 3 p.m. – Intergenerational Workshop (Check back for more details)

The Frances Perkins Center is a nationally recognized cultural institution and the official philanthropic partner of the new Frances Perkins National Monument in Newcastle, Maine. Their mission is to inspire current and future generations to understand and uphold the government’s role in providing social justice and economic security for all.

Heart of Ellsworth, a Main Street America Community, is dedicated to supporting downtown Ellsworth’s economic and cultural vitality through concentrated efforts in the areas of design, organization, promotion, and economic revitalization while protecting the city’s unique and historic character.