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(Kennebunk, ME) Cookie Davis, a beloved local artist and laborer, is featured in the Brick Store Museum‘s current exhibition, “Bold Visions: The Folk Art of Collyer Bowen and Cookie Davis.” Born Coleman Davis before her transition to Dominique London in later life – nicknamed “Cookie” by friends and neighbors – she was well-known in the Kennebunks, and particularly in Cape Porpoise.
“Wayfarer” by Cookie Davis
Over 30 pieces are on display in the first curated exhibit of Davis’ work. In addition to being a lobster sternman and a laborer, Davis painted murals and landscapes of southern Maine. Davis grew up in the small fishing town of Cape Porpoise and transitioned to female in the 1990s, before gender fluidity was embraced; yet she was beloved by the local community. All pieces in the exhibit are on loan from private owners, most of whom received the work directly from Cookie when it was painted. The exhibition also includes a short documentary about Cookie, in which visitors can hear Cookie describe herself and her life. In conjunction with the exhibition, the Museum unveiled an outdoor mural paying tribute to Cookie’s love of creating public art. It will be on display in the Museum’s courtyard through August.
The mural itself was created in four panels by four different artists, each invited to create a piece inspired by Cookie and her life. The four brightly-colored and surprising panels were painted by Kristin Fuhrmann-Simmons, Leah Bares, Ben Spalding, and KJ Shows. The panels were put together to appear like barn doors, which emulate the barn doors in Cape Porpoise on which Cookie once painted a mural. Crowdfunded by generous donors to the mural project, these panels stand at more than 13 feet high.
The artists each picked a different part of Cookie’s story from which to draw inspiration. For instance, KJ Shows imagined if Cookie could be painted by Andy Warhol, “I think she’d like that,” KJ said. Artist Ben Spalding, now based in Portland, created neon-colored 3D birds wearing white GoGo boots – something that Cookie was often seen wearing around the Kennebunks when she was alive. This project was also supported by BBsquared and Cape Porpoise Carpentry. The mural was unveiled to a gathered crowd at the Museum’s Annual Meeting on June 26; both the mural and the exhibition of Cookie’s paintings will be on view through September 1.
About the Brick Store Museum
The Brick Store Museum is an active, community museum focusing on local history, art and cultures of the Kennebunks and its surrounding communities. The Museum’s collections hold over 70,000 artifacts relating to regional history. The Brick Store Museum is open year-round to offer rotating exhibitions, monthly educational programs and tours, historic preservation and archaeology projects, and community events. The Museum is located at 117 Main Street in Kennebunk. For more information, including hours and upcoming events, please call (207) 985-4802 or visit brickstoremuseum.org.
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