Follow 3 Mainers whose social media accounts offer inspiration of different kinds

AMY STACEY CURTIS

Amy Stacey Curtis is a Lewiston-based artist known for her large scale installations.

In 2017, a “demon” in Curtis’ head that she called The Imposter started to tell her she had to commit suicide. Her ability to speak and her mobility were also impacted.

Months of doctors appointments followed, along with drugs and different diagnoses, including schizophrenia.

In 2018, Curtis was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease. She’s been navigating her recovery ever since.

In 2022 as part of her self-prescribed occupational therapy to heal her brain, Curtis started to play the ukulele and sing covers of popular songs. She continues to share the clips on social media.

@amystaceycurtis

Curtis’ TikTok account has more than 28,000 followers. It features dozens of these songs, including “America” by Simon & Garfunkel, “Cornflake Girl” by Tori Amos and Tom Petty’s “You Got Lucky.” Her strumming is sturdy and her vocals lovely and strong. You can also find her on Instagram.

The impact of playing music on her recovery has been huge.

From 2017, until she started playing during the summer of 2022, Curtis said she had severe palsy and sometimes was unable to speak at all. “I had progressed from wheelchair to walker to cane and back to my feet, but was still struggling with my speech when I intuited that playing the ukulele could help,” said Curtis. “Within a week of playing the ukulele I was capable of perfect-for-me speech unless overstimulated. My speech is now normal unless I am overstimulated, for example when I make the videos, or am in a busy environment.”

GAGE & ISAIAH

Gage Nelson, based in central Maine, has been creating online content since 2012.

In 2024, he and his cousin Isaiah Dunphy launched a new social media project called Gage & Isaiah. Their goal was to create viral content.

Initially things got off to a slow start. But then late in the summer of 2024, the duo hit paydirt.

Nelson’s sweat equity plays a huge role.

He has a goal of losing 200 pounds. One of the ways he hopes to achieve this is with exercise, specifically running and walking.

To motivate himself, Nelson has pledged to log one mile for every new subscriber on TikTok and YouTube.

Both accounts have accrued millions of views and “likes”.

Both have huge followings (173,000 on TikTok and 100,000 on YouTube).

Nelson’s plan is working. So far, he’s lost 50 pounds, although now he “owes” his fans hundreds of thousands of miles, which seems an unlikely goal.

@gageandisaiah

THOMAS JOHNSON ANTIQUE FURNITURE RESTORATION

If you have a love for old furniture and impressive woodworking and carpentry, you’re going to want to follow the Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration YouTube channel.

The channel has 164,000 followers and is an extension of the business of the same named based in Gorham.

Tom and Jane Johnson have been restoring antique furniture since 1979.

Their business was initially based in Massachusetts, where they employed about five people.

The couple moved to Maine in 2008 and set up shop in their Gorham home. It’s only fitting that the Johnson home is antique with an attached workshop and barn.

It’s in this workshop where the restoration videos are filmed. To date, 317 of them have been posted.

One from last year shows Tom restoring a 19th-century chest of drawers that was found at the side of the road on a rainy day. He estimates it was made in 1830. The video clocks in at 50 minutes. It’s been viewed more than half a million times, liked 18,000 times and has been commented on 3,359 times. Looks like Johnson hit the nail on the head.

The once-dilapidated piece of furniture that most people would have driven by, especially because it was missing its legs, is restored to regal glory. He spent about 50 hours on it. While he works, Tom offers history about the original manufacturer and explains the entire restoration process clearly.

You don’t have to be a furniture history buff or a master woodworker to appreciate the patience, knowledge and expert craftsmanship Tom puts to use during the restoration projects.