Ellery Chalmers Joins WFA As Youth Program Manager

Waterfall Arts is thrilled to welcome Ellery Chalmers as our new Youth Program Manager!

A visual artist, educator, and lifelong participant in community arts programs, Ellery has deep roots in the Midcoast and a passion for making creative spaces accessible, affirming, and joyful for young people. We sat down with Ellery to learn more about her journey and what excites her most about joining the Waterfall Arts team.

Let’s start at the beginning. What was your early relationship with art like?
Art was always there. I grew up surrounded by artists and educators—both of my parents worked in art and education in different ways. My dad had this part of our house that never got fixed up, which he turned into his studio. I remember being covered in pastels and paint, surrounded by papers taped everywhere, just fully immersed in making. I’d come home and sit in that space, making books out of scrap paper, journals, sketchbooks—just playing.

My mom worked in education, and her office floor became another creative space for me. My sister, who’s eight years older, passed down books that really shaped my growing social justice values. I also remember stealing the family camcorder to make funny videos, and my dad would facilitate these playful projects like spin art. Creativity was something we did together.

How did growing up in Midcoast Maine shape you?
The community arts programs here sustained me. I took painting and drawing classes at the YMCA, participated in community theater programs and ceramics at the Lincoln Street Center, learned about photography, music, and color theory from different artists in the community. I went to Camden Hills High School, and later had the opportunity to attend the Cambridge School of Weston in Massachusetts—which was one of the most formative experiences of my life.

That school was deeply rooted in social justice, and it aligned with my growing awareness of the world around me. I explored new mediums like life drawing with models, collage and lighting design. It really solidified who I am and why I wanted to keep making art.

You went on to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. What was that experience like?
College was hard at times. I felt pretty depleted by the end. The social dynamics were challenging, as was the cost of traditional mediums like painting and sculpture. Thankfully I found the film department where I could engage in visual image making on a shoe-string budget. I started experimenting with 16mm film and I stayed in Chicago to work for professors as a camera operator or PA and learned what it’s actually like to be on film sets. Chicago the city ended up being my biggest inspiration and it holds a special place in my heart. Eventually, I felt called back home, which coincided with the beginning of COVID, and I wanted to be with my family. 

What did that reconnection look like?
During COVID, I worked on a flower farm in Camden and later received the Mary Lacy Women’s Scholarship for boatbuilding at the Apprenticeshop in Rockland. I applied because I was burned out on fine art and wanted to learn new skills like working with power tools, woodworking and construction techniques. João Bentes was a great champion of mine there, and encouraged me to work with the students who visited his Break the Anchor sardine vessel building project. They provided what I needed at the time: a communal, supportive and grounding environment during a tumultuous time in my life and the world.

During that time I also volunteered with mural artist, curator, teacher, and editor Alexis Iammarino on her community mural projects in Rockland. She was like a doorman gently beckoning me back into the art world, and gave me opportunities to work or assist with youth art programming in Rockland. She has continued to encourage and support me and I am extremely grateful (as I know many others are) for her presence in the community. I then began my journey to be a Maine certified K-12 Visual Arts teacher, working as an Ed Tech at Mid-Coast School of Technology and taking classes in Orono.

What drew you toward teaching and working with young people?
I kept asking myself, What do I do with this art degree if I’m not making art all the time? I realized I loved serving kids who didn’t fit into traditional school systems—because that was me in high school. I became a K–6 visual art teacher, and I really loved being able to teach skills over a sustained period, building those relationships, and seeing what had shifted in terms of public school art programming since I was a kid. 

Through teaching or facilitating workshops, I reintroduced myself to art. I became less jaded, and more inspired. I learned so much about psychology, communication, organization, and ability—largely from the kids themselves. They appreciate people for who they are, they don’t know how to gatekeep, and their worlds are boundless. 

What excites you most about joining Waterfall Arts?
As my artistic journey was shaped and sustained by community-based arts programs like Waterfall Arts. I grew up in a Midcoast community where artists, public institutions, and art centers made creative opportunities possible for young people like me. That early support changed the course of my life and many of my friends’ lives.

“I’m deeply honored and excited to pay it forward—continuing Waterfall Arts’ mission to build inclusive, varied, and exciting programming that connects young people with Maine’s talented artist community.” – Ellery Chalmers

Program Director, Amy Tingle, shared her enthusiasm about Ellery joining the team:

“I am thrilled to welcome Ellery to the Waterfall team. Her joyful, steady presence will be a wonderful addition to our organization. Ellery’s deep connections to the Midcoast community make her exceptionally well-positioned to design and expand our programming to reach more youth and help shape them into confident, engaged, and successful adults. My hope is that we can exponentially increase the accessibility of our programming and shape how young participants understand themselves and connect with others through art. With Ellery on our team, I know our creative programs will meaningfully impact students and their families for many years to come.”

Meet Ellery at the opening reception of our Young Artists’ Gallery Takeover on March 6th from 4–7 PM!
Learn more about upcoming youth programs at Waterfall Arts and celebrate a vibrant showcase of artwork created by Waldo County’s next generation of artists. Ellery is excited to meet you and encourages anyone in the community to come and say hello!