Ashton F. LeCraw, “Liquid Breath”
paintings

Opening Reception:
May 29th 5:30-7 PM
Exhibit: May 29th-July 6th

The Rangeley Friends of the Arts will host an Artist Reception celebrating the work of Ashton F. LeCraw, entitled, “Liquid Breath” at the Lakeside Contemporary Art Gallery, located in the lobby of the RFA Lakeside Theater 2493 Main Street in Rangeley, on Friday May 29th, 2026 from 5:30-7 PM.

Come on out to meet the artist, enjoy light refreshments & concessions w/ a beer/wine cash bar. The Exhibit continues through July 6th, 2026. Gallery hours are Tues-Saturday 10am to 2pm.

Liquid Breath

This new body of work explores the profound duality of water—the interplay between its liquid embrace and the airy freedom above. Mist, breath, H₂O; the tension between flight and the plunge into depth, where surface life is left behind.

In moments of overwhelm, we may feel ourselves drowning in anxiety or fear. Yet what if we could breathe underwater, drawing calm breaths amid the flood? To dive eagerly into a lake’s depths and discover stillness there, like the kingfisher slicing through air and water, mermaids gliding between realms, or Homer’s sirens luring with song from the boundary.

Here, I examine beings that inhabit both water and air at once, seeking refuge across these elements. Water lilies bloom toward sunlight above while their roots anchor and lily pads float below. Seabirds “fly” beneath the waves to hunt, then soar high over oceans and lakes before roosting in trees and cliffs.

We humans, composed of roughly 70% water, move gracefully through its currents and crave its presence as our essential elixir of life. Yet our lungs yearn equally for air, oxygenating blood through delicate alveoli. This collection invites viewers to linger in that liminal space—between submersion and ascent, turbulence and tranquility.

Ashton Fairbanks LeCraw holds a Bachelor of Science in Fine Art with Departmental Honors and minors in Art History and Business from Skidmore College, where she graduated cum laude.

Her work is available online at www.ashtonlecraw.com. In addition to her painting practice, she designs and produces bespoke, one-of-a-kind hand-painted garments through her label at www.ashtonfairbankslecraw.com. She also contributes as a writer to several Maine publications, including The Maine Monitor and The Daily Bulldog.

For inquiries, please contact her at ashton.lecraw@gmail.com. Follow her latest work on Instagram at @ashtonlecraw.

For the RFA’s complete schedule of events and programs, visit rangeleyarts.org.