Maine
Portraits of Maine women in politics displayed at the State House
AUGUSTA, Maine (WABI) – Portraits of Maine women in politics were on display at the State House Monday.
Local painter Jerri Whitman displayed her paintings of 25 women in the Hall of Flags.
The project started when she was visiting the State House and noticed the lack of female representation on the walls.
The exhibit coincides with Women’s History Month.
Women have been serving in the state house since 1922.
Whitman says Margaret Chase Smith is the only woman whose portrait hangs on the walls.
”All the men had been done just about it that were elected the first 100 years, so why not the women? These are not official portraits. These are to bring attention to why there are not more women represented on the walls is to tell a story and detail the history of our state through the women who have served” Whitman says.
The paintings are set to be exhibited at the Margaret Chase Smith library in Skowhegan from May through November
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