THE STORY OF MAIE

I met Maie last summer and was struck by the deep wisdom in her face. After taking her photograph, I created this portrait with spray paint and acrylic and framed it with recycled wood.  To me, she represented so many of the immigrants who have passed through the Rust Belt. Maie’s daughter, Eva Ruutopold told me a bit of her mother’s history:

"Maie’s world was turned upside down when WWII came into her fishing village on an island in the Baltic Sea. She was only thirteen-years-old when she left her home with her parents and siblings. Huddling together in a small boat, their only thought was to escape the brutal fighting that was taking over their country. Maie spent the next 6 years as a refugee in Displaced Persons (DP) camps in Germany. Even when the war ended, their country’s border was closed. They could not return to their home. In 1949, she was given the opportunity to immigrate to the United States. American companies were offering jobs to many of the displaced persons. She landed first in New Jersey, then in 1954 she moved to Buffalo. She lived on Maryland Street as a young bride and then as a young mother. She did not make it back to visit that small fishing village until 1990 when Estonia finally gained its independence again. Western New York was her home until 2011".

Maie’s portrait is part of the Buffalo Society of Artists Exhibition opening on March 28 in the Buffalo Arts Studio. The opening, part of the M&T Fourth Friday series, will be from 5 to 8 pm. Buffalo Arts Studio is located on the fifth floor of the TriMain Center at 2495 Main Street in Buffalo. Parking and admission are always free.  Come visit Maie and see the work of over 30 other artists.