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Forging Ferrous an Exhibition at Maine Craft Portland

Maine Craft Portland 521 Congress St, Portland, ME

Maine Craft Portland Exhibition: Forging Ferrous 

Steel works by Nick Rossi, Wicks Forge and Jason Morrissey 

On View: September 2 - October 31, 2022 

This autumn exhibition at Maine Craft Portland features handmade chef knives, damascus steel hammers, forged steel lamps, cookware & beyond – all masterfully made to last for generations. Nick Rossi, Jason Morrissey and Nick Wicks, all uniquely skilled in their craft and each an accomplished Maine craftsman, all approach working with steel in distinct and creative methods. This unique opportunity to view their collective work on exhibition is conveniently located in Portland’s arts district. 

Maine Craft Portland is a retail gallery + resource center in the historic Mechanics Hall downtown Portland, Maine. The gallery promotes craft in Maine through exhibitions and public programming and directly benefits Maine craft artists through sales of their work. Maine Craft Portland opened in July 2018 and exhibits and sells the work of over 200 MCA member craft artists.

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RWS Annual 6×6 Exhibit and Open Studios

Running With Scissors Artist Studios & Community 250 Anderson St, Portland, ME

The Running With Scissors Art Studios (RWS) annual 6x6 exhibit and open studios are happening in Portland, Maine during Maine Craft Weekend (MCW)!

Kick off your celebration of craft on Friday night from 5-8pm for an informal artist meet and greet and exhibit at Belleflower Brewing Co. (66 Cove Street). On Saturday and Sunday Explore the life and works of 80+ artists working with diverse mediums, artistic goals, backgrounds, ages, and experiences and wander over 16,000 square feet of private and open-air studios and communal work spaces in the clay, print, wood, and paint studios at 250 Anderson Street from 10am - 5pm on Saturday and noon - 4pm on Sunday. Support local artists and learn more about RWS at these family-friendly and free events! All visitors are asked to please wear a mask.

RWS’s goal is to help artists reach their independent creative ambitions by providing access to shared equipment, tools, information, and community. The 6x6 exhibit is a way to share members' diverse styles and talents in an accessible and unifying format (where each piece is 6" x 6" and up to 6" deep). The exhibit will be up through the end of November. RWS open studios happen only twice a year, during MCW and the RWS Holiday Market.

These events are a part of MCW, a statewide tour of Maine craft studios, businesses, and events. Running With Scissors is a proud 2022 Event Sponsor of MCW, which is produced by Maine Crafts Association, an organizational resident member at RWS. For more information visit rwsartstudios.com and follow @rwsartstudios on Instagram.

Coveside Market

Coveside Coffee 28 Vannah Avenue, Portland, ME

Stop by Coveside Coffee for another fun-filled market with local makers and food trucks plus puppet-making for the kiddos with STAGES Youth Theatre!

FEATURING MAINE MAKERS:
Alien Ceramics
Bloodroot Metalworks
Burnt Wave Pottery
Cece and the Seams
Claytec Boutique
Dunter Goose / Lin Snow Art
Jose Gouveia Pottery
Lunalux Botanicals
Pam Chévez
Pickwick Independent Press
Rouxco Leather Goods
Strong Moon Metals
Sundew Sewing Co.
Woodnote

Trunk Show at PortFiber

PortFiber 50 Cove St., Portland, ME

This year's Maine Craft Weekend coincides with PorFiber's 9-Year anniversary! We are looking forward to celebrating with Maine makers Katherine Ferrier of Threadwrite, Wade Stephens of Husk, and Rachel Bingham Kessler of 44 Clovers. Katherine is a poet, dancer, maker, teacher, curator, and community organizer. She will be here with her patchwork clothing and accessories and will be writing typewriter poems on the spot that might just make you weep. Wade is a textile artist with a heavy focus on wool. Inspired by color, texture, and natural forms, they will be showcasing their felted handbags and accessories. Rachel is a plant dye educator, writer, sewist, and painter with a degree in Art Education. She works annually, sourcing Maine fleeces to be spun into yarn, which she then dyes with natural, local plants and other natural dyes. Come squish these beauties and celebrate all things fiber with us!

Pop Up Shop! Creator of America’s Best Bus Stop

Akakpo & Co. Pop Up Shop 132 Washington Ave, Portland, ME

Come see Akakpo and Co., founded by artist, educator, and industrial designer Ebenezer Akakpo. Ebenezer's designs are inspired by ancient symbols from Ghana and Maine wildlife. Each intricate pattern tells a story. Visit the shop and find your story

Blaze with Brûlée

Open Bench Project 971 Congress Street, Portland, ME

Yakisugi Fire Art Workshop. Sat & Sun 12:00 - 16:00 both days. Participants will have a hands-on opportunity to put flame to wood. Yakisugi developed in Japan as a solution to the destructive forces of Mother Nature. Sometimes called Shou Sugi Ban.

You apply as much or as little flame to a wood object, demonstrating the protective nature of fire. Apply additional flame to experience a noetic transformation. Take home your personalized artistic expression. The flame does all the work!

Creative expression is a scientifically proven method to end burnout. Originally used for exterior siding and roofing to counteract the salty sea air destroying wooden houses. Burning wood creates a layer of carbon protecting the inner wood core.

Wood Object Considerations:
You will hold the wood object with metal tongs. This factors into the weight of the object and shape of the object. Make sure there is an anchor point to hold the object. Round objects are problematic.
You will use both hands at all times while burning. Adaptations and accommodations possible with Instructor involvement.
You have total agency where the flame goes. Applying the flame to the wood object is the best choice.

Lost on the Side of the Road: Mixed Media Found Object Embroideries (exhibit at Handiwork studio + market)

Handiwork Studio 199 Pleasant Ave, Portland, ME

"Given love and attention, the things we discard can make the world so much more beautiful."

On foot and by bicycle, Tree scans the streets of Maine for lost and tossed items -- keys, springs, toys, disposable straws, and all manner of roadside debris -- then stitches them onto fabric to create new narratives for the repurposed objects. Her work is an exploration of how humans interact with our environment as well as a thoughtful, joyous marriage of color and texture. You can follow her progress on Instagram at @RoadTrashCritters.

Tree's studio show at Handiwork is open 10-5 Wednesday-Saturday and 11-4 Sunday.

Costumes and Masks: A Solo Exhibition of Felted ‘Wilding’ Creatures by Deb Butters @ Maine Craft Portland

Maine Craft Portland 521 Congress St, Portland, ME

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.

Katharine Watson Open Studio

Katherine Watson Studio 100 Brentwood Street, Portland, ME

Come visit Katharine Watson's Portland studio, and get a chance to pull your own print! We will have our presses set up and ready to go; you can try printing, take a walk in the garden, and have a chance to shop directly in the studio. The studio will be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, October 7th, and we will have everything you need to pull your own print!

Rosemont Artist Guild Pop Up

ChaliceWorks Turning 64 Rockland Ave, Portland, ME

ChaliceWorks Turning hosts pop up gathering of Rosemont Artists Guild members. Featuring wood turning, fabric crafting, jewelry, pottery, and our craft arts

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Running With Scissors Open Studios

Running With Scissors Artist Studios & Community 250 Anderson St, Portland, ME

Saturday, October 7 | 11am - 4pm Open Studios at Running with Scissors Studios! 

We are happy to be opening our 16,000 sq ft fine art studio workspace housing Clay, Wood & Print departments as well as many other mediums serving over 80 artists Saturday in Portland's East Bayside neighborhood. Tour the workspace, meet the artists, watch demos, get interactive with Pottery Painting with Armstrong Pottery, and live t-shirt printing from woodblocks. Free and open to all. A great neighborhood to walk around in before or after. Full of artists, beverage artists, food trucks, and more. 

250 Anderson Street, Portland ME | Off-street parking is available.

Join us later that evening at Belleflower Brewing Co., located at 66 Cove Street, from 5 - 7 pm for an informal meet and greet and to view the annual RWS 6x6 Show. Each piece is 6” x 6” and up to 6” deep, an accessible and unifying format that showcases members' diverse styles and talents. The exhibit will be up through the end of November. 

Pickwick Open Studio!

Pickwick Independent Press 536 Congress St Second Floor, Portland, ME

Our first official MCW open to the public since 2019! Come take this rare opportunity to say hi, take a look at our awesome print shop and studio space and a stroll through our Corner Store, featuring diverse and dynamic prints by our members. If you're lucky, you just might see one of them printing!! We are open Saturday from noon-5 and Sunday from 10-3. We are up one flight of stairs in the Space Studio Building.

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Build Your Own Terrarium at Moon Lady Plants

Moon Lady Plants 115 Main St., Biddeford, ME

Join us for our highly rated + requested terrarium class at our new plant shop located at 114 Main Street in Downtown Biddeford.
Absorb the healing energy of houseplants that surround you in the plant shop as Kristy Verdel of Moon Lady Plants guides you through how to build your own terrarium! By sinking your hands a little deeper into organic soil and working with reiki attuned plants, this class will not only ground you but also have you tapping into your creative side. Top it off with a crystal tumble of your choosing + bring your creation home!

You will be planting into a unique glass terrarium while unwinding + taking in the energy of the reiki infused plants around you.
You will have the choice of creating a succulent, fern or cactus terrarium.
Cost is $55, includes glass terrarium, plants (either succulents, cactus or ferns), moss, pebbles, organic potting soil, 1 crystal tumble + instruction.
Class size is limited and they have been selling out quickly, so be sure to register asap.

Additional crystals provided by Lily & Quartz (based in Portland, ME) are available for purchase in the shop!

Terrarium Building takes roughly 45 minutes. Additional 15 minutes is allotted for questions and cleanup for the next round.
Time slots are 1 hour and will run from 4-8pm. Please determine which time slot you would like to reserve when you book on moonladyplants.com
4-5pm
5-6pm
6-7pm
7-8pm

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Annual RWS 6×6 Show @ Belleflower Brewing

Belleflower Brewing Company 66 Cove Street, Portland, ME

Saturday, October 7 | 5 - 7 pm| at Belleflower Brewing Co: 66 Cove St. Portland, ME After you wander the 16,000 sq ft fine art studio workspaces of the Running with Scissors artists during their open studios from 11 am - 4 pm (250...

Open studio and Sale @ Collated Craft

Collated Craft 1053 Forest ave, Portland, ME

We will host a time for people to see our studio and potentially buy work set up in a section of the studio. We will give tours and give visitors a glimpse into what we are working on.

Portland Pottery Gallery Sale and Studio Tours

Portland Pottery 118 Washington Ave, Portland, ME

Please join us at Portland Pottery for Maine Craft Weekend! Our gallery is open everyday 9am - 5pm and sells a collection of teacher and student work. We will offer studio tours for folks interested in seeing our various classroom spaces (wheel throwing and hand building), glazing areas, and high-fire reduction kiln. We are happy to answer questions about adult classes or other ways to engage with our community!

We also welcome you to pop down to our new, second studio location: 49 Fox St. This is a mid-fire studio where we offer private lessons, parties, youth classes, and adult intro classes.

Hope to see you there!

Pickwick Independent Press Open Studio!

Pickwick Independent Press 536 Congress St Second Floor, Portland, ME

Join us for an open studio and check out our Corner Store - chock full of original and unique prints by our 25 independent printmakers!
Pickwick is a community print studio located in the SPACE Studios building at 536 Congress Street: a hub for professional artists in southern Maine.

We are a group of printmakers that share space and equipment to make our work, educate and activate our communities, and serve as a platform for our members to become or continue professional careers as artists.

Maine Clay Collaborative

Maine Clay Collaborative 65 Hanover Street Suite 2, Portland, ME

Come explore our new pottery studio! Join us for a guided tour of the space, learn more about the classes and workshops we’ll be offering, and get a feel for the creative community we’re building.

After the tour, stick around for a Clay Play (registration required), where you can try out the pottery wheel with help from our instructors. It's a fun, hands-on introduction to working with clay—no experience required!

Turning Studio Show @ ChaliceWorks Turning

ChaliceWorks Turning 64 Rockland Ave, Portland, ME

Pop up outside display and demonstration of turning design and tool use. Shop tour option available including brief lathe demonstration of off center turning. Open 10-3 on Saturday and Sunday.

Factory 3 Open House — 105 Saint James St, Portland, ME

Factory 3 105 Saint James St., Portland, ME

Come visit Factory 3 and meet our community!

Our 5000 square foot makerspace includes facilities for working with wood, metal, fiber, 3D printing, bicycle repair, and electronics—all yours if you become a member for $155/month.

We also offer private studios and 52 classes in art and fabrication.

LOQUAT – Fashion Studio + Vendor Demonstrations (jewelry + wood-burning)

Loquat 521 Congress St., Portland, ME

Join us in the MECA+D alum owned and operated fashion studio at Loquat. Tour the equipment, materials, and engage with makers as they produce their work. Artists and alumni Bryan Hansen (Metalsmithing & Jewelry 18’) and Jason Haskell (Woodworking 20’) will also be in store all day working in their portable studios. Hansen and Haskell will be demonstrating jewelry making and wood burning respectively. Their works and the works of many other artists will be on display and available for purchase with cash and credit card.

Saturday October 5th, 11:00am – 6:00pm
Sunday October 6th, 11:00am – 6:00pm

LOQUAT: We know that art can save lives. Our materials, motifs, collaborations and contributions are selected to directly benefit and empower marginalized people, causes and aesthetics. Our goal as artists and designers is to honor the individuals, traditions and communities that have made LOQUAT possible.

Jason Carias graduated from Maine College of Art and Design in 2021 where he received his BFA in wood working and furniture design. Carias is a POC Maine based woodworker and turning artist based in Portland Maine. Carias’s focus is to create work that is ethically designed. He does this by working with locally sourced lumber to create bold pieces that showcase design and woodgrain. Carias’s designs are handmade and inspired by sculptures within furniture, nature, and art by using the process of stack lamination. Carias’s hope, through his art, is to inspire other POC youth to join the field of woodworking.

Bryan Hansen grew up in the midwest and graduated with a BFA in metalsmithing and jewelry from Maine College of Art in 2018. In reference to his childhood mindset, he fabricates, casts, and forges objects of vague whimsy that appear artifactual in nature. Hansen’s interests lie in tools, relics of supposed unimaginable significance, the augmentation of the body through said objects, and a precursory state of perception that makes up any and all of the connections we experience in our individual constructions of reality. Stripped of these heady concepts he also appreciates and pursues the beauty in simple objects and curated forms and the almost supernatural allure certain forms are capable of producing.

Open Studio at Sew Crafty

Sew Crafty 650 Congress St., Portland, ME

Do you have the urge to create something everyday? Are you looking for a new hobby? Come spend some time at Sew Crafty and play with our supplies. Try out a sewing machine, or try some weaving. Learn how to use felting supplies or make some polymer earrings. We’ll have different stations set up for you to explore. Bring the family!

Kimberley Harding Open Studio

Kimberley Harding Studio 20 Pamela Rd, Portland, ME

Visit fiber sculptor Kimberley Harding in her studio and learn about her process of creating works with found objects, foraged fibers, natural fibers and other materials. She'll be demonstrating weaving in 3D throughout the day. Sculptures, jewelry and ornaments will be available for sale.