This spring, PMAC welcomes Southern Maine artist Kristy Cavaretta for Relief: Woodblocks and Their Prints, an exhibition that invites viewers to slow down and look more closely.
Featuring woodcut prints displayed alongside their original carved blocks, the exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the artistic process. It showcases not only the finished works but also the marks, decisions, and time involved in bringing each piece to life.
For Kristy, that process is the purpose itself.
“I am so excited to have my work displayed at PMAC,” she says. “I love that the people who regularly occupy this space are creative learners, and I was truly inspired to showcase more of my processes in this show as a treat for those who will experience the work with that inherent mindset. It’s not just about the end product but also the process. I believe the act of making is just as important as the result, and I hope that resonates here.”
Kristy’s excitement for and connection with PMAC began before this exhibition. In 2019, some of her earliest prints were displayed and sold at a PMAC auction.
“It was an act of bravery for me to share my work for the first time,” she says. “I’m so grateful to PMAC and Forrest Elliott, who invited me to exhibit my work, for giving me the encouragement and the opportunity to do so. I’ve come a long way since then, but it was truly an impactful moment in my career.”
A Practice Shaped by Curiosity
Kristy’s journey into printmaking was not linear. She grew up in a town with limited resources but found support from teachers who fostered creativity.
“I had a science teacher who blacked out his windows and taught me how to develop photos after school, and an art teacher who allowed me endless independent studies to learn art skills that were not provided to me.”
Years later, she discovered printmaking through classes at Chase’s Garage in York, Maine.
“I went in knowing nothing,” she says. “Now, a decade later, I practically live there!”
Kristy pays forward the gift she received from her childhood art teachers by serving as an instructor at Chase’s Garage. She hopes to inspire people to be brave beginners, try something new, and perhaps even make some new friends along the way.
Her early experiences continue to shape how she approaches both creating and teaching art. “For me, arts education has meant community, self-expression, and emotional regulation. We are so lucky to have places like PMAC and other arts education resources in our community, enriching the Seacoast region.”
Finding Meaning in the Everyday
Much of Kristy’s work focuses on domestic life and the natural world, often exploring the tension between them. This exploration grew out of a major shift in her life.
“I went from being an independent woman working in a design studio, taking art classes, and meeting people to having three kids in just over two years,” she says. “The transition to being home almost all the time was fast and extreme, and I found myself constantly inspired by and aware of my domestic position.”
In Relief, that experience takes visual form. A series of circular prints layered with barnacles, seaweed, and mushrooms acts as a metaphor for early motherhood, capturing both the pride of the role and the physical and emotional strain it can bring. This beautiful tension is displayed throughout the exhibit.
Influence of Design and Film
Kristy’s background in graphic design and film continues to influence how she approaches her work today, particularly in the way ideas unfold over time.
“My background in graphic design shows up in the way I naturally work in series. After years of building campaigns to tell a story, it has become second nature for me to approach projects this way. I am always trying to show how ideas relate to each other or increase their impact when viewed as a group, while also ensuring each idea is strong and simple enough to stand on its own.”
More recently, she’s been reconnecting with her roots in film and exploring how motion and time intersect with printmaking.
“I don’t think the leap from printmaking to filmmaking is that far,” she explains. “I’ve started experimenting with animation through flip books, and I’m really drawn to the idea that the work can expand in that direction and tell a deeper story through change over time.”
That exploration is also a personal journey: “Thinking about time in this way connects to watching children grow. Time feels elastic when measured through children rather than adults, and I’m interested in how that sense of change can be reflected in the work.”
The Rhythm of Making
Kristy’s process is slow, detailed, and deeply physical. Each woodblock is hand-carved over the course of hours, days, or sometimes even longer.
“When my kids were young, I loved having a big, tedious project that I could return to in small pockets of time. I didn’t have to do the larger mental work of deciding the overall ‘what’ to create each day; instead, I could focus on which section to work on carving out next.”
She says, “It is a flow state, much like working on a puzzle, where I can focus on the immediate decision in front of me from moment to moment. There is a peacefulness in that kind of presence.”
Her choice of materials and techniques emerged from that same season of life. Block printing, direct object printing, and collagraphy allowed her to work flexibly, often using simple or found materials.
“Collagraphs can be made quickly using materials readily available around the house, such as raisin boxes or Mac n Cheese boxes–items that supported the themes of domestic life I was exploring and also living.”
“That has shifted somewhat as my children have grown and started school, giving me more time. However, I sometimes miss having those constraints in place to inspire problem-solving and creativity.”
Embracing Imperfection
Printmaking, especially with wood, doesn’t always go as planned.
“It can splinter at the worst time. You can slip when you aren’t fully paying attention, and it breaks your heart in the moment, but in the end, it is what creates the most beautiful work.”
That perspective feels particularly relevant now: “In this era of increased digital and artificial art, seeing the human hand matters. It’s what elevates our voice and makes the most sophisticated and rich pieces,” she says. “I will never be a tidy or perfectionist printmaker. My work feels more like—well, we tried; this is what we’ve got, and I’m putting it out there anyway.”
In the end, that willingness to let go, embrace imperfection, and share the work anyway reflects the same tension we navigate in everyday life.
Seeing the Full Story
With Relief, Kristy brings this philosophy into the gallery by displaying both the carved blocks and the final prints together for the first time.
“I think PMAC is the perfect place to showcase this process,” she says. “It’s an arts learning environment. I hope it inspires people to pause and reflect on the time and care behind each piece, rather than just focusing on the final result.”
The exhibition spans several years of her work, providing an opportunity to observe the evolution of her visual language.
“I hope people notice the decision-making, the marks, and maybe even the shift in voice from one series to another,” she says.
One series, in particular, holds deep personal significance.
“The Blue Bird series was created after my mother passed away,” she shares. “This series, which I call The Bird Messenger series, will always be dear to me, and it is something I am still building on. It was the first series I spent a lot of time on that moved my ideas beyond domestic life and into something more about the human experience.”
Art as Connection & Exploring Curiosity
For Kristy, spaces like PMAC play a vital role not only for artists but also for the broader community.
“I think more and more people are looking to connect and grow with others beyond their day jobs, where many spend long periods isolated behind a computer. Being out and among each other is so important for mutual understanding, community support, and mental well-being.”
Her advice for anyone curious about printmaking is simple, “Take a class!”
“Being a beginner is so valuable. You never know what learning a new skill can do to change your life. I started printmaking by taking a two-day workshop, and it has impacted me in ways I could never have predicted.”
“Now that I teach, I love getting students new to printmaking hooked. It’s such an accessible medium that can be easily scaled to do at home, and I find it incredibly satisfying.”
“I love spreading the printmaking love!”
Looking Ahead
Following Relief, Kristy is already preparing for her next exhibition at 3S Artspace this December, in collaboration with painter Alicia Ethridge.
“We’re excited to have a full year to develop the work and experiment,” she says. “We’re also planning a collaborative community mural as part of the exhibition, so we hope people will come out and be part of it.”
“It’s been really great to have a full year of lead time to prepare for this exhibition and to have the opportunity to experiment and collaborate with my friend in ways we haven’t before.”
“We have also designed a collaborative community mural as part of the exhibition. We hope that people will come out, participate, and help make it great… and maybe catch the printmaking bug while they’re at it!”
Explore the exhibition
Relief: Woodblocks and Their Prints is on view from March 30, 2026–May 30, 2026.
Haas Family Gallery Hours
- Monday: 12–5pm
- Tuesday–Thursday: By Appointment
- Friday: 12:30–7pm
- Saturday: 12:30pm–3pm
- Closed Sundays
Meet Kristy at the Artist Reception on Friday, April 24 at 5:30 PM
Follow Kristy’s work
Instagram: @kristy.cavaretta
Website: kristycavaretta.com
