Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100immigrant integration. I want to embrace and promote cultural acceptance. WhatisCreativePortland’sroleinthecity? We’re offering a voice of solidarity, and in that process, we’ll find out if everybody wants to have concerts in the streets. If so, we’ll do that programming. If everybody just wants to play bocce ball on Tuesday morning, then I guess we will be the bocce capital. Whatwouldyoudoifitwereonlyuptoyou? What would I do if I were a dictator? (She laughs and turns to look out the window over- seeing Congress Square Park). I’d try to en- courage more sharing so that there is a more fluid artistic scene. When I worked at SNL, I remember regrouping on Mondays after the show before the host meeting with all the writers and cast. We’d talk about what the wa- ter cooler conversations were that morning. You want them talking about First Friday Art Walk with excitement, not just talking about a First Friday Art Walk that’s become such a ge- neric thing. Everywhere,simultaneously,peopleincitiesacrossthe countryarediscoveringtheircraftbrewsandotherdistinc- tivethings.Howwillyoucomeupwithanexclusivelan- guagethatonlysaysPortland,Maine? Portland is on the edge of being an extremely culturally rich and diverse city. That’s some- thing that’s new to Mainers and fairly new to Portland in the last two decades. Having that exposure is going to trigger all sorts of per- spectives and attitudes. The more we share, the more creative and productive we’ll be, and the more we’ll be invested in one another. –Olivia Gunn People from left: John Singer Sargent (United States (born (Italy), 1856–1925), Ellen Sears Amory Anderson Curtis (1868-1952) (Mrs. Charles Pelham Curtis), 1903, oil on canvas, 59 7/8 x 35 1/4 inches. Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Gift of Sally Cary Curtis Iselin in memory of Charles Pelham Curtis, 1982.275; courtesy photo; Shervin Lainez 28 p o r t l a n d monthly magazine The house of Minot Talk about a creative pedigree. The Minot clan is a Boston Brahmin family of writers and artists tinged by tragedy. Carrie Minot, mother to the seven Minot children, passed away in a car crash in 1979. Father George Minot followed in 1999 from cancer. The seven Minot kids have all pursued ca- reers in the fields of writing and the arts. Perhaps best known is the second oldest daughter, Susan Minot, whose 1986 debut novel–a minimalist semi-autobiographical account of their childhood entitled Mon- keys–propelled her into literary circles and won her the Prix Femina Étranger. Minot also wrote Stealing Beauty starring Maine’s Liv Tyler. Left: Dinah Minot’s great grandmother,Ellen Sears Amory Anderson Curtis (Mrs.Charles Pelham Cur- tis) of Boston,1868-1952, painted by John Singer Sargent in 1903.She was 35.This painting now hangs at the Portland Museum of Art.Ellen’s father, John F. Anderson, was a Briga- dier General for the Union Army in the Civil War, and her grandfather, Hugh J. Anderson, was Maine Gov- ernor from 1844-1847. Hutson, and Alec Baldwin, as well as produc- ing Wayne’s World 2. The New England na- tive has clearly proven that her business gears churn and turn, but it’s her creative heart that’s beating fast and loud. One of seven Mi- not siblings who seem to share a unique DNA strand of storytelling, Dinah grew up sum- mering on North Haven Island, an enclave of luminous entertainers. Is it something in the water? O ur first interview seems rushed, even unlucky, so I ask her for an- other. When we meet again in her office in the State Theatre building, she turns to me in bright blue glasses. “Don’t write about this place. It’s just where I am for the time being.” She goes on to de- scribe Creative Portland’s plans on open- ing a new space in the new year and how everyone will be invited. “I’m sorry about our first interview,” I say and take a seat. “Yeah, it felt like a panel discussion.” “Right. Well, I went home and com- plained to my boyfriend enough that he said I should email you.” “Hah! Sounds like my husband (actor Whip Hubley, Val Kilmer’s sidekick in Top Gun).” Propping her feet up, Minot opens a crate of blueberries and pops them in one by one with a smile. Showtime. Formanyyears,yourfamilyhasspent summersonNorth Haven,andyoucontinuethattraditiontoday.Whatabout theislandinspiresyoucreatively? NorthHavenisanidylliclocation.It’sthe creakingofthedocks,wedon’thaveTV,we arecookingandeatingandsingingtogether. It’sreallythewholefeelingofsharingandtra- ditionthat’sbeensodeepinmyheart.Ilove it.WhenI’dlandinBoston,itwaslikeabird cominghome.Youreturntoyourroots.I’ve discovereddeepancestralrootsinMaine. There’saportraitofmygreatgrandmother hanginginthePortlandMuseumofArtby JohnSingerSargent. HowdidyouendupinPortland? “My husband and I moved here almost a year ago last November. We came cross-country with our English Labrador, sold our house, put our stuff in storage, and drove straight back East to see family and friends in New York, Massachusetts, and Maine. We start- ed talking about where we were going to land. We really wanted to give Portland a try, and we know enough people here. I’m just a Mainer at heart. I love it here. Didyoueverfeel“fromaway?” I initially thought I’d miss the diversi- ty and culture in my hometown of Santa Monica, but when I got here, I was pleas- antly surprised to see there was certainly more diversity than some of my friends had told me about. I’m really excited by the fact that Portland is a destination for refugee settlement and there is a high im- migration influx. That’s something that makes me really excited in terms of arts and culture and world scene here. This town is going to change a lot in the next ten years, and I want to be a part of that Rooted in Portland “I’m from a family of artists and writers and musicians and songwriters.” Dinah with her son Ben Hubley at the 40thAnniversary Show of Saturday Night Live in 2015 at 30 Rock.