Alexis Iammarino, the community artist and educator known locally for her work with CMCA’s ArtLab and also the Arts in Action community mural program (who has led several of the colorful murals on buildings throughout Rockland), will present a program about her public history project on the American-style donut.

Alexis became interested in donuts in 2016 when she learned that the American style donut is said to have been invented by Captain Hanson Gregory when he suggested that his mother cut the centers out of her little fried cakes because the centers never cooked through. There is a small monument to Hanson Gregory and his donuts on the Nativity Lutheran Church property on Old County Road in Rockport, where Gregory grew up.

From her interest in donuts, Alexis has produced a book and several programs and exhibits – most recently an exhibit titled “Hole History Show: Origins of the American Style Donut” in the Lewis Gallery at the Portland Public Library, from August 8 to September 21, 2022.

For more info, please email elewis@rocklandmaine.gov.