Art in an Age of Democratic Upheaval - Robert Shetterly

Schedule

Mon Jan 26 2026 at 06:00 pm to 07:15 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

UNE Center for Global Humanities | Portland, ME

Advertisement
Free and open to the public. There will be a reception with food and drinks at 5 P.M.
Lecture Description
Maine artist Robert Shetterly will tell the story of his Americans Who Tell the Truth portrait project, which endeavors to create a healing community of truth tellers who insist that the United States lives up to its ideals. Since it began two decades ago, the project has promoted positive citizenship in more than 40 US states, engaging viewers in contemplation of issues involving race, materialism, women’s rights, climate stewardship and environmental sustainability, disabilities, militarism, and more.
When he visits CGH, Shetterly will highlight portraits that explore the nature of power, the power of resistance, how people tend to emphasize the rule of law only when it’s convenient, how the ethics of capitalism have undermined the ethics of democracy, and how a political system beholden to financial interests is vulnerable to failure.
Shetterly will demonstrate the capacity of art as both medium and message in a talk framed around the inspiring stories of portrait subjects whose courage, perseverance, and love of justice light a way forward. Throughout the talk, he will project images of portraits while telling the stories of their subjects and investigating the issues that motivated them to embody true American patriotism.
Speaker Biography
While earning a degree in English from Harvard University, Robert Shetterly also took courses in drawing. After graduating and moving to Maine, he produced the editorial page drawings for The Maine Times and illustrated the National Society’s newspaper, Audubon Adventures, as well as approximately 30 books. He is also well known for his series of 70 painted etchings based on William Blake’s “Proverbs of Hell,” and for another series of 50 painted etchings reflecting on the metaphor of the Annunciation.
Over the past two decades, Shetterly has been painting a series of portraits titled Americans Who Tell the Truth and exhibiting them around the country, including showings at forums ranging from university museums to grade school libraries, sandwich shops, the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York City, and the Superior Court in San Francisco. To date, the exhibits have visited more than 40 states. He has also traveled to Rwanda to work in a village of survivors of the 1994 genocide and to Palestine twice for arts projects in refugee camps.
In 2007, Shetterly gave the commencement address at the University of New England which awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. He has also received an honorary degree from the University of Maine at Farmington and a Distinguished Achievement Award from the University of Southern Maine. And he has been named a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow, enabling him to serve week-long residencies at colleges around the country.
Richard Kane’s documentary film about Shetterly, Truth Tellers, premiered in the fall of 2021 and has been screened in theatres across the country and at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
After Dutton Books published an initial book comprising portraits from the Americans Who Tell the Truth project, New Village Press has published Portraits of Racial Justice (2021), Portraits of Earth Justice (2022), and Portraits of Peace Makers (2024).
716 Stevens Avenue
Portland, ME 04103
United States
https://www.une.edu/events/2026/art-age-democratic-upheaval
Advertisement

Where is it happening?

UNE Center for Global Humanities, 716 Stevens Ave,Portland, Maine, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

UNE Center for Global Humanities

Host or Publisher UNE Center for Global Humanities

It's more fun with friends. Share with friends

Discover More Events in Portland

Afternoon Bike Ride
Tue, 27 Jan at 07:30 pm Afternoon Bike Ride

SPACE

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Maine Celtics vs. Grand Rapids Gold
Wed, 28 Jan at 07:00 pm Maine Celtics vs. Grand Rapids Gold

Portland Exposition Building

Parking Grand Rapids Gold at Maine Celtics
Fri, 30 Jan at 12:00 am Parking Grand Rapids Gold at Maine Celtics

Portland Exposition Building

CONTESTS TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Grand Rapids Gold at Maine Celtics
Fri, 30 Jan at 12:00 am Grand Rapids Gold at Maine Celtics

Portland Exposition Building

Maine Celtics vs. Westchester Knicks
Fri, 30 Jan at 07:00 pm Maine Celtics vs. Westchester Knicks

Portland Exposition Building

SPORTS
Tuesday Tours with Ted
Tue, 19 Mar at 02:00 pm Tuesday Tours with Ted

Maine Jewish Museum

IAS Oktoberfest 2025
Thu, 02 Oct at 03:00 pm IAS Oktoberfest 2025

75 Industrial Way, Portland, ME, United States, Maine 04103

OKTOBERFEST BUSINESS
Book Binding + Printmaking at the KCCCBA
Fri, 03 Oct at 03:00 pm Book Binding + Printmaking at the KCCCBA

111 Bedford St, Portland, ME 04102-2896, United States

ART THEATRE
Broken Toyz In La La Land (Dolly Darko Solo Gallery Exhibit Opening)
Fri, 03 Oct at 03:00 pm Broken Toyz In La La Land (Dolly Darko Solo Gallery Exhibit Opening)

Oak Street Lofts Gallery

EXHIBITIONS
6x6 OPENING NIGHT - art by RWS artists at Belleflower Brewing
Fri, 03 Oct at 05:00 pm 6x6 OPENING NIGHT - art by RWS artists at Belleflower Brewing

Belleflower Brewing

ART EXHIBITIONS
Kindred Earth Art
Fri, 03 Oct at 05:00 pm Kindred Earth Art

Botanically Curious, 419 Congress St. Portland, ME

ART HEALTH-WELLNESS
BrickUniverse - Lego Fan Expo
Fri, 03 Oct at 07:00 pm BrickUniverse - Lego Fan Expo

Portland Exposition Building

BUSINESS EXHIBITIONS
2nd Annual Antique Car Show
Sat, 04 Oct at 09:00 am 2nd Annual Antique Car Show

Deering High School

CAR-SHOWS
BrickUniverse Portland, ME  LEGO\u00ae Fan Expo
Sat, 04 Oct at 10:00 am BrickUniverse Portland, ME LEGO® Fan Expo

James A Banks Sr Portland Exposition Building

BUSINESS EXHIBITIONS
OPEN STUDIOS at RWS for Maine Craft Weekend
Sat, 04 Oct at 12:00 pm OPEN STUDIOS at RWS for Maine Craft Weekend

250 Anderson St, Portland, ME 04101-2545, United States

ART
2025 Maine Family Business Awards Gala
Wed, 08 Oct at 05:30 pm 2025 Maine Family Business Awards Gala

Events at Thompson's Point

BUSINESS EXHIBITIONS
New England\u2019s Odd and Unusual Show 2025, Portland, ME
Sat, 11 Oct at 10:00 am New England’s Odd and Unusual Show 2025, Portland, ME

James A Banks Sr Portland Exposition Building, 239 Park Avenue, Portland, ME 04102

KIDS ART
Sat, 11 Oct at 10:00 am New England's Odd And Unusual Show Portland Maine 10/11 - 10/12

James A Banks Sr Portland Exposition Building

PERFORMANCES ART
Northeast Sports Card Expo: Portland, Maine
Sat, 18 Oct at 09:00 am Northeast Sports Card Expo: Portland, Maine

James A Banks Sr Exposition Building

SPORTS EXHIBITIONS

What's Happening Next in Portland?

Discover Portland Events