Meet the Team: Docent Eliza Bailey

Eliza Bailey moved to Maine in the early 1970’s with an acuity of mind of the pressing need to protect land from further development.  Her passion to preserve the unique beauty of  Maine’s Mid-Coast, prompted her to volunteer at the Georges River Land Trust in the early 1990’s. Her continued dedication and involvement led to her eventual role as Executive Director there. She also served as an educator at Hurricane Island Outward Bound School. Eliza joined the Farnsworth Docent team about eight years ago after a visit where she happened to encounter a visiting school group, led by Kathy Deupree, and thought, ‘now that looks like fun!’. The Farnsworth’s commitment to bringing in public school students for experiences outside their classroom is especially inspiring to Eliza. Some of her favorite moments are watching younger students achieve a sense of competency and understanding after intense/close looking at artwork, and then trying their hand at drawing what they see.  It has been a thoroughly enriching experience for her to be a part of the Museum. She majored in Art History in college and loves feeling connected to the Maine artists’ community. When not at the Farnsworth, Eliza is most likely outdoors, either raising vegetables with a team of volunteers at Brae Maple Farm, a Maine Harvest for Hunger farm in Union, birdwatching or exploring Tenants Harbor in her boat named, Sally.