Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation

There is a singular kind of joy in expanding a library, particularly created by and for arts writers. Our library is a testament to the generosity of spirit we find in our community – and another reason to visit us in Portland, Maine. 

We love adding books to our shelves and inscribing each book with the names of the writers who nominated the titles. Here are a few recent additions… 

On a recent rainy evening, we shared our backstory publicly for the first time in our hometown. Susan C. Larsen, our founding and emeritus executive director, introduced her dear friends Dorothea and Leo Rabkin to a packed room at Mechanics’ Hall. The lecture was both scholarly and deeply personal. We learned about an enduring love story of more than 50 years, a landmark collection of folk art, and of course, Leo’s inspired and experimental art practice. To mark the occasion, we gathered in our gallery for a reception where Edgar Beem, our board member in Maine, gave a wonderful toast. Thank you to all who joined us. We are grateful to be building community around our work and couldn’t do it without you. 

Our headquarters in Portland, Maine, is home to a destination gallery for the work of Leo Rabkin, one of the best American artists you’ve never heard of. Please come visit. 

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