A solo exhibition of felted Wildling Creatures by Deb Butters at Maine Craft Portland.

On view October 6-31, 2023

Maine Craft Portland proudly presents a solo exhibition by Deb Butters, a multidisciplinary artist native to Maine. Much of Butters’ childhood was spent outdoors foraging: “My pockets were (and are) always full; and even now my home is full of containers of shells, rocks, sticks and natural treasures that I incorporate in my work.” Always fascinated with the world around her, Butters’ has explored a variety of mediums in her 40+ year artistic career.

“I grew up working with my hands with varied exposure to many arts and artisan skills from family, neighbors, and other teachers. Many dolls benefited from this love of creating fabric items. Later puppets and stuffed animals took shape. My dad and uncle taught me to carve and work with wood. Next was pottery, bead work, and metal smithing. I designed my own jewelry, clothing, and decor. In my late 40’s I began painting and illustration of my own books and expanded once again. I learned welding, and I cut forms from steel sheets at SMCC while earning my degree in engineering/architecture. For two years I had stewardship of an art program for developmentally challenged adults at a local program working alongside Arts for All Maine in a juried show at the Portland Museum of Art as well as starting programs for visiting artists and art programs at night stressing community integration.”

It is this varied exposure to many arts and artisan skills that brings Butters’ to where she is today. Each step of her journey is a culmination of these art forms with a concentration on Fiber Arts, where it all began. The process of finding new meaning for something and helping to translate it into that vision is central to the work. “Be it humor, beauty or both, a piece grows and changes until it gains its finished form, sometimes surprising me with the outcome.”

We invite you to explore the incredible worlds’ created by this artisan, the exhibition opens October 6 and will be available until October 31, 2023.