Monhegan island artist colony

DEFINITION

Monhegan Island, Maine, 12 miles off the mid-Maine coast and two miles long, has been an art colony since the mid 19th century. Natives were primarily tied to fishing and cattle grazing. Its bucolic charms attracted artists, the first documented one being Aaron Shattuck who arrived in 1858. From that time for the next 30 years, the island was an active artist colony with residents including Robert Henri, George Bellows, Rockwell Kent, Reuben Tam, Elena Jahn and Jamie Wyeth. Source: Edward L. Deci, "The Monhegan Island Art Colony, http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/6aa/6aa69.htm