Jessica is director of communications for the Maine College of Art, and will soon morph that into a new position geared towards preparing students not just to create, but how to succeed once they leave college.

Jessica association with the arts in Maine goes back to the 90s, when she helped establish the Dead Space Gallery on Congress Street.   What distinguishes her since is her drive to promote and help develop the arts community here and her particular skill set, which involves community building and constructing systems.

The shot I eventually used is one that reveals a bit of Jessica’s personality—expressed in part by the colorful outfit of the type she’s known for.   When Jessica came to Portland the arts community as we now know it didn’t exist.  For me, the large empty space, right in the middle of Portland, is the perfect metaphor for how far the arts community has come and the many possibilities that lie ahead.

The most revealing moment of our shoot was before it actually began.  As she entered the studio space we were using for our shoot, Jessica noticed that the floor was strewn with some small peices of trash and detritus from an earlier arts class.   I wasn’t too concerned since I knew that anything on the floor would be dark and hidden in the final shot, but before I could say anything, Jessica appeared with a pushbroom and began to sweep as Charlie Widdis, my assistant, stood in for a last series of test shots.

If you’re a community organizer you want to make a positive difference in your environment, you’ve got many tools from which to choose. Sometimes all that’s needed is for someone to pick up a broom.