Behind The Scenes of Portland's Cultural Renaissance

Living in and around Portland, it can feel like a week doesn’t go by without our city and state being lauded for its culture, food, and lifestyle.

We know this first-hand at the PMA, because our region’s entrepreneurs, community leaders, business owners, creatives, and influencers come together as members of the museum’s Council and Contemporaries.

They live in and around Portland because of the city’s potential as an incubator for creative and entrepreneurial endeavors, and for the close-knit community that enables connections and inspires support. Simply put, Council and Contemporaries members are at the heart of everything that’s exciting in our culture, and some of the folks behind Portland’s cultural transformation.

We sat down with Kate and Ian Malin, Council members as well as co-owners of West End darling Little Giant to find out what they love about Portland and why they support the PMA.*

What attracted you to the PMA and what motivates you to stay involved?

Kate: We moved to Portland from Hong Kong in 2013, but I grew up in Yarmouth so the PMA has—for as long as I can remember—been a part of 'home' in Maine.

And now, as parents we love taking our kids here—and we hope to instill in them that same appreciation of art that we both grew up with. Our kids are young so we keep our visits fun (and brief!), doing our own scavenger hunts, picking 'favorites,' and of course popping down to the PMA Café for something sweet.

What do you enjoy most about being involved with the museum?

Kate: As a member of the Contemporaries Steering Committee, I've loved being part of the group's evolution—it's established itself as a model for so many organizations and is such a dynamic part of the cultural landscape in Portland.

Do you have a favorite artwork(s) in the PMA collection or a favorite exhibition in recent years?

Kate: Hands-down the Nan Goldin exhibition—what a tremendous undertaking from a curatorial point of view, but it was a total home run on every front. The intimacy of her work is heartbreakingly beautiful—it's a visual gut punch, but so gorgeous and complex. Having the opportunity to hear her speak about her work at the pre-opening talk elevated the entire experience for me. I get goosebumps thinking about it even now!

Ian: The "menagerie" on the fourth floor is a big hit with our kids, who can't get enough of all the carved and painted wooden animals and Dahlov Ipcar's gorgeous Blue Savanna.

Can you tell us a little bit about what you do for work?

Kate: Before becoming involved at the PMA and Contemporaries I worked for Christie's auction
house in New York and Hong Kong, leaving in 2013 when we moved back to Maine. We are also business partners with Andrew and Briana Volk (fellow PMA Contemporaries) in Little Giant, a new market, bar and restaurant in Portland's West End, and are investors in the Portland Hunt & Alpine Club in the Old Port.

Ian: I serve as Chief Investment Officer for the AJW Group, an English aviation group, and am the CEO of their aircraft engines and parts leasing company.

What kinds of things do you do in Maine when you’re not at the PMA?

Ian: We renovated an old farm house in Vermont while we were living in Hong Kong and pretty much every weekend from December through March you can find us there skiing, exploring the Green Mountains, and just unplugging from the busy week.

Kate: Closer to home we love to get out and about with our kids—Josie, age 8, and James who is nearly 5. We are an active family and pretty much always on the move—we love the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine, hitting the beaches, exploring Casco Bay (this summer we hope to do some island overnights and the kids are doing Sail Maine camp), and day tripping around the state.

*This article originally appeared in the Spring 2018 issue of PMA Magazine. Subscriptions to PMA Magazine are included for free at every level of museum membership. Join today!

Want to stay up to date on global trends in art, fashion, design, and cuisine, as well as keep current on what’s going on in their community? Join the Council or Contemporaries and get involved in everything cool and innovative happening in Portland.