The Portland Phoenix names the opening of The St. Lawrence Arts and Community Center as one of the five most significant Art Events in the past five years!
Posted Friday October 15, 2004
By Sam Pfeifle, Editor The Portland Phoenix

The Birth of the St. Lawrence Arts and Community Center:

Deirdre Nice may be the queen of Portland rebirths, as she resurrected what was a blight of an abandoned church on Munjoy Hill into one of the most diverse arts venues in Maine, opening in June of 2001.

When one place can play host to both painter Robert Shetterly and musician Eggbot, Good Theater and new-age pianist Rebecca Wing, you know it takes inclusiveness seriously. And Nice has almost (almost) made people forget about another loss I could mention, the closing of Oak Street theater in July of 2000.

The St. Lawrence can take some credit for the birth and maturation of Charlie Gaylord's Greetings From Area Code 207 series, which is a fundraiser for the St. Lawrence, and has already contributed some $60,000.