The Latest News 2026
We have decided to keep our primary gallery in Blue Hill, Maine open instead of opening the Grafton Gallery. This decision has already proven beneficial. For the first time since 1954 an image of Blue Hill has appeared on the cover of the magazine of Maine “Downeast” for the October 2023 issue.
A recent post by Wild Wings Ski Touring Center features Jud and his work in Bronze sculptures. See it here.
They know him because he trains there regularly for Nordic ski races throughout the winter months.
In other news, we have been working with Sean O’Reilly of 3DScanSmith who has made an amazing virtual tour of our Blue Hill Gallery. It shows all of our sculptures and beautiful paintings on display. It really is a must see! Here’s a shortcut to take you directly to the tour on our Two Galleries page.
Gallery hours: Monday-Saturday 11:00-5:00,
(Sunday if it’s cloudy or raining 12:00-4:00) call to be sure: 207-460-2143
Season: mid May into November
Off season by appointment: 207-460-2143
A “New” Video has Surfaced
Recently a “new” old video resurfaced done in 2002 by two Micmac friends Brian Francis and Hubert Francis from New Brunswick for First Nations television in Canada. It was one episode for a twelve part series and I was honored to be the only one in that series who was not native by birth. More videos of Jud Hartmann sculptures can be seen on his YouTube channel done by professional videographer Frank Netto of Versatile Video.
Native American Bronzes
Jud Hartmann’s primary artistic focus since 1983, has been the creation of a series of limited-edition bronze sculptures entitled: The Woodland Tribes of the Northeast – the Iroquoians and Algonkians. Unlike the countless bronzes depicting the American West beginning with artists like Frederick Remington and Charlie Russell, this series represents for the first time in sculpture, an exploration of the Eastern Woodland Tribes. It is far and away the most in-depth portrayal of Northeastern Indians ever done. Availability of sculptures and prices on request.
As a young boy, Jud often wondered what the woods were like when Indians lived there, before the white man came. He rediscovered his curiosity in Northeastern Indians when he sculpted what became the first piece in the Woodland Tribes series. It launched a passion for finding more historical evidence which became the foundation for the series. He actually devotes more of his time to research than to actual sculpting. He has found historical sources practically inexhaustible on the Eastern Tribes in comparison the more limited historical evidence of the American West and this is where he finds the inspiration for his sculptures. With each piece, he includes his core historical findings on an acrylic plaque seen in the example below. By adding the story with the sculpture, another dimension of the sculpture is revealed. For Jud it has been like finding a whole forgotten world and his objective is to share this historical dimension with others. He hopes his sculptures of this fascinating culture promotes appreciation in the history of the tribes and their descendants who live among us today.
Historical Plaque Included with each Sculpture
Accompanying each bronze is an acrylic plaque which gives the viewer historical insight into the sculpture. These plaques represent a small part of the exhaustive research into mostly primary sources from the early 16th c.- the early 19th c. by French, English, Dutch & American observers as well as the oral histories and traditions of the Native people and their contemporary descendants. The research is the foundation for all the sculptures. The bronze sculptures as well as a work in progress, along with a large display of paintings by talented local artists can be viewed in our Blue Hill, Maine gallery from mid-May into November. Learn more about our galleries on our Galleries page.
Sculpture Imagery
Photography on this site is by photographer and videographer Frank Netto of Versatile Video unless otherwise noted. Editions of the sculptures do vary in appearance for several reasons. The sculptor uses pigment on a number of the bronzes, notably on the red blanket on The Study of King of the Maqua. Also, the bronzes are cast to order and the type of patina (darker or lighter) as well as the use of pigment (or not) is customized to the client’s wishes.
Our 1755 Map
On Being an Artist
“Most people are surprised when I tell them that I never took a class, I never went to art school. I think of this as a gift, something that’s not really teachable, something I didn’t learn, something I was given as a gift. It’s important that I didn’t squander the gift and to make use of it and absolutely, I have not doubt, that depicting Northeastern Indians in this series is what I was put here to do.”
Jud Hartmann, 2020
“Nearly 40 years ago, involved in carving the Oriental Doors, I came across a paper written by a Chinese poet, painter, philosopher and landscape architect from the Golden Age of Chinese culture – the Tang Dynasty. It immediately resonated with me. So recently I condensed it down to its essence and have it framed and displayed in my gallery….As an artist, I am striving to master the seventh step.”
Jud Hartmann, 2021
Where the Bronzes Are
“Years ago I decided to track where my sculptures have gone/where my clients live. It occurred to me, given the subject I focus on, that a present day map would not be appropriate. I had the good fortune to find this 1856 “school map” which hangs in my gallery and is how I keep track.”
Jud Hartmann, 2021
Paintings at Our Blue Hill Gallery
Hover over the slideshow to stop it and use the navigation arrows if you wish. Click an image to go to the artist’s page.
Along with the bronzes, we are displaying paintings by gifted artists with a local connection in oils, watercolor and pastels. Among whom are Charles Fenner Ball, Carolyn Walton, Jean Hirons, Randy Eckard, Sally Ladd Cole, Ken DeWaard, Donald Rainville and others. As time goes on we will be adding more images of them to our paintings section.
Please note our updated gallery schedule below!
