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In 1966, the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ College Museum of Art presented an exhibition of photographs by John McKee, then a Romance Languages instructor at the College with an interest in photography. Titled As Maine Goes, the exhibition featured a series of black-and-white photographs that starkly depicted the environmental degradation of Maine’s coastal landscapes, highlighting issues such as pollution, seaside dumps, and the impact of unchecked development. What began as a sidelight became the defining part of McKee’s career—and these works served as a catalyst for environmental awareness and legislative action in Maine, contributing to the burgeoning environmental movement of the time. The exhibition was accompanied by a , with an introduction by U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.

Almost 60 years later, the Museum is refreshing McKee’s original exhibition in a new presentation that is no less relevant in the face of the changing climate and its impact on Maine. McKee, who died in 2023, bequeathed 54 photographs from the As Maine Goes series to the Museum, as well as 31 additional images from other later series. This exhibition is a rare opportunity to look backwards and forwards at the same time.

John McKee: As Maine Goes is presented in conjunction with East-Northeast: Charting Moments in Maine, four exhibitions in summer of 2025 at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ College Museum of Art featuring artists who drew inspiration from Maine.

This exhibition is curated by Chris Zhang ’25 and Frank Goodyear, co-director of the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ College Museum of Art. Major support has been provided by the Estate of John H. McKee and the Stevens L. Frost Endowment Fund for the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ College Museum of Art.