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Artist Kate Shooltz, known as Kate the Earthling, has unveiled “Ecotones,” an eight-piece collection inspired by Maine’s rugged coastline, at Harpswell Collective, a waterfront creative community, gallery and gathering space in South Harpswell.
The collection debuted during an Aug. 20 artist showcase that drew an enthusiastic crowd. Before the evening was over, the exhibition also had its first collector: Harpswell resident Mike Boisvert purchased “Acadia Gate,” a 36-by-36-inch work created from reclaimed wood, preserved moss, ferns, amaranths and rocks.
For Shooltz, “Ecotones” represents a deeply personal exploration of the Maine coast.
An ecotone is a transitional area where adjoining natural habitats meet. Along Maine’s coastline, forests give way to rocky shorelines, fresh water encounters salt water, and terrestrial and marine ecosystems exist side by side.
“In my new collection, ‘Ecotones,’ I draw inspiration from the coast of Maine, where life on land is closely integrated with the sea,” Shooltz said. “With these rocky, lush and sparkling pieces, I invite viewers to recall their own moments on the coast — the sights, sounds and smells of life on the edge.”
Shooltz drew inspiration from her own experiences throughout Maine, including hikes on the Bold Coast, quiet evenings in Acadia, slow days on Monhegan Island and explorations along the Midcoast.
Working with layers of preserved mosses, plants, rocks and glass mosaic, Shooltz transformed those memories into dimensional landscapes. Her signature glass mosaic is incorporated to mimic the movement of water and dancing light.
The resulting collection includes eight original works: “Acadia Gate,” “Moonrise over Jordan Pond,” “Manana from Monhegan,” “A Foggy Night at Quoddy Head,” “Boot Head Plank Walk,” “Bold Coast,” “Dawn at Burnt Head,” and the 6-foot-by-6-foot “Midcoast.”
The exhibition has found a fitting home at Harpswell Collective, which sits directly on the water on Harpswell Neck, surrounded by the convergence of forest, rock and sea that inspired the collection.
“Kate created something that feels completely at home here,” said Liz Ziegler, founder of Harpswell Collective. “People wanted to get closer, understand how it was made and talk about the Maine places that inspired it. That curiosity and connection is exactly what we want the Collective to create.”
Shooltz is a Philadelphia-based artist who has worked with preserved moss and plants for eight years. Her preserved botanical works require no water or sunlight while retaining their color and softness for years, allowing elements of the natural world to be incorporated into a wide variety of interior environments.
Since launching Kate the Earthling in 2018, Shooltz has created one-of-a-kind works for public and private spaces throughout the United States. Her work for Olympic National Park’s Terminus glacier memorial project was featured on the cover of National Parks magazine in spring 2024.
Her work has also appeared in various publications and has been featured on television, including Bravo TV and Philadelphia Fox and NBC stations.
“Ecotones” is currently on view at the Harpswell Collective, 1906 Harpswell Neck Road, Harpswell.
