It was while attending an alternative high school in Worcester, MA that Liz Cutler first had the idea that she could do anything she wanted, even create her own classes. In that realization, the seed of what would one day become ArtWaves Community Arts Center was planted. ArtWaves, now located in Town Hill, is a unique community arts center that has become an incubator for artists to germinate the seeds of their own creative collaborations and inspire and educate others.
“There’s a lot of talent and excitement on this island, I meet incredible artists,” explains Liz. She feels that everyone can engage in art on some level, even as a patron or as a partner of someone involved. “Human beings by nature just want to create,” she says.
Born in New York and raised in Worcester, MA, Liz has been visiting Mount Desert Island since she was young. Her strong connection to the Island drew her to move here year-round after her children grew up.
Liz has been painting on MDI for many years. In an effort to raise awareness of the fine arts on the Island, she established ArtWaves in 2015. The mission of the arts center is to create a community of serious artists on MDI and to foster growth and collaboration in that community. Artwaves new space at 1345 A. Route 102 is located right next to the Town Hill Market.
When asked about her personal experience with MDI Hospital, Liz recounts a story that takes her back 25 years. One summer, while living in Castine when Liz’s daughter was two years old, her daughter was mauled by a dog that left her with severe wounds. There was no ambulance service at that time during the summer. Liz and her daughter were routed to MDI Hospital for surgical care. She recalls that once they arrived at MDI Hospital, it was Charlie Hendricks, MD who came in to treat her daughter. “By the time I got here, I didn’t want to let go of her, and the staff was really great. I said to them, ‘Have you ever seen anything like this?’ Dr. Hendricks replied, ‘yes I have.’ Everyone was very compassionate. I remember feeling well taken care of, I never had to wait for anything and they were right up front about everything.”
Knowing that MDI Hospital is here to take care of the needs of her community is very important to Liz, and as such, she was thrilled to join the Hospital’s newly formed Business Friends Society to show her support for the health of the unique and beautiful community that has helped ArtWaves Community Arts Center thrive.