A Friday of Folding with Anna Lowe...

On Thursday and Friday of this week, we had bookmaker Anna Lowe come in to teach two workshops on making "flexigrams": paper shapes that open in multiple directions to reveal hidden pieces of artwork or tell a story. The process reminds me a bit of making those origami cootie catchers that were so popular in middle school. Anna brought sample flexigrams that featured figures changing outfits when folded and unfolded different ways, different lines of poems, and different petals to flowers. The artists were taught to make certain shapes to work with but had total freedom in design and purpose of the pieces. What an incredible turn out we had this morning for a somewhat quieter day in the studios....

We're looking forward to seeing Anna again in a few weeks when she returns to teach a workshop on "magic wallets." Thanks Anna! This was a relaxing and productive workshop on such a chilly Friday.

Woven Wednesdays

Each Wednesday, artist mentor Cathy takes a group of artists to visit the local elementary school. There they spend a little under an hour teaching first and second grade students to weave. The children are as eager to learn the process as we are to use our skills towards teaching. Barbara took charge of the loom today. The students have been adding on to this creation week after week. Barbara gives them each the chance to weave a few rows and then calls the next student up for a turn.

While the students do get turns using the real loom, they've also been taught to create their own looms using just scissors and cardboard. This process is called "card weaving." A huge selection of yarn is picked through each week by the students. There is so much room for originality and experimentation in this process. One student explained the way she chose her colors in coordination with the fur on her favorite doll's stuffed dog: the finished piece is to be his blanket!

It's an experience to watch this short but meaningful visit play out. Both the students and Spindleworks visitors are listeners, learners, and artists, each offering such positivity to one another and embracing this unique opportunity.

A Storm of Productivity

Spindleworks was closed during yesterday's "snowmageddon," but that didn't stop today from being as energetic as any. A few artists and the full Wednesday staff went in around noon today to shovel, clean, organize, and, finally, create. The energy was full and powerful on this post-blizzard afternoon.

Terri was particularly productive today with her eye for great color. She completed so many pastel prints this afternoon with her signature abstract technique.

Visiting Nancy B. at her drawing desk always brings a new experience. She creates intricate pieces based on such a variety of subjects. Today she drew inspiration from a book on flower life cycles.

Angela's mind is on the approaching super bowl! She's in the final stages of work on her wooden rendition of the Patriot's Tom Brady. This large project has actually come together quite quickly, and will probably be finished just in time for Sunday.

Here sits Emma with watercolor and canvas. She seems so content in the company of these tools. Emma's work tends towards the ethereal. What grace is shown in her handle of brushes and the landscapes she illustrates despite the bleak winter skies.

We hope everyone was safe during Juno and that we've succeeded in offering you a little of the brightness that we experienced today. It seems that the dreariest of days often bring such inspiration. They can evoke that stir-crazy need in us to battle back the dullness with brilliant work.

Stay warm!

"Right Next to The History"

Liz McGhee, our program manager, and a handful of our artists visited the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine yesterday afternoon, located at the University of Maine Augusta. Some pieces of Spindleworks art have been showcased in the center along with artifacts from the Holocaust and various periods of history that showcase discrimination against all types of people. As artist Theresa Labrecque told me it was, "just fascinating. And we got to see our stuff up on those walls, right next to the history."

Diane Black stands with her vibrant woven rug...

Earl Black is an expert weaver as well. Here he stands with two of his showcased rugs...

Barbara Carter, Theresa Labrecque, and Diane Black...

Kim Christensen poses with more Spindleworks items.

Warm Words for Winter

Spindleworks is wishing you a happy and healthy winter season. It's been a while since we've posted, and this is my own very first post! My name is Franci. I'm a Bennington College sophomore spending my mandatory winter internship here at Spindleworks. I'll be working and posting for 5 more weeks. I've been in Brunswick for just over one week and, as I'm sure you can imagine, am feeling quite at home already here at Spindleworks.

There have been moments every day that have felt blog-worthy. To watch the development of skills and confidence first hand is fascinating, but more importantly, inspiring. Just this morning, I found a book in the Spindleworks store, Voices. It's a collaboration between a few branches of Independence Association and another art nonprofit. There are pages that feature only visual art, but many include written word. The photo above is of one of my favorite pages. It reads:

"anarchy means not being satisfied with the status quo and hatred for things that are bad...i admire punk rock musicians because they tell in their songs what the politicians won't tell you. if i could be on tv and tell the viewers anything i wanted, i would tell them that being autistic can be a good thing."

I decided on this moment for today's post because it seemed to tie together the days I've spent at Spindleworks so far. This type of confidence present in the artists is perhaps the most refreshing part of this job, as it is the core of their artistic potential. Spindleworks artists are not just painters, just writers, just weavers; almost all of them spread their creativity over as many art forms as they can, letting each medium speak to the others with security and confidence. It's a holistic embrace of creative potential that I long to translate into my own art. I look forward to reflecting on the weeks and events of Spindleworks that may inspire you as they have me.

Food, Fun, and Fantastic Art on the Coast

While a bit belated, this post is a thank you- on behalf of all of the Spindleworks artists and staff- to Louise Keifer, Steve Black, and Connie Lundquist for hosting the entire Spindleworks crew last Friday for a day of fun, food, and art on the beautiful Maine coast. Louise Keifer, an avid collector of Spindleworks art and a longtime friend and supporter of the organization, has been opening her home on Orr's Island to Spindleworks folks for over 20 years. Once a summer, artists enjoy a barbeque and unlimited inspiration quite literally on the edge of the coast. This summer, Steve Black added another destination to the trip- generously opening Capt. Morrill's- A Community Art Center to host artists and display their work throughout the historic home. As the photos above (taken by artist mentor Denae Spencer) show, it truly was a day of food, fun, and fantastic art!!

Learn more about Capt. Morrill's Community Art Center here:

https://www.facebook.com/Capt.MorrillsACommunityArtsCenter

Playful Printmaking Part II

As promised, here are some fabulous photos from the second half of the print and bookmaking workshop! This week, artists turned  the beautiful papers they created last week into covers for 6x9" blank books. Using a five-hole pamphlet stitch, the artists assembled pages to make unique sketchbooks- soon to be filled with even more art and inspiration! To make your own book using the simple pamphlet stitch, follow these easy-to-use instructions courtesy of Design*Sponge: 

http://www.designsponge.com/2013/03/bookbinding-101-five-hole-pamphlet-stitch.html

Playful Printmaking Workshop

This week I had the pleasure of leading a workshop that I have been developing over the course of my summer here at Spindleworks. The workshop, consisting of four classes over a span of two weeks, combines printmaking and bookmaking to create handmade sketchbooks/journals. This week of the class was focused on creating the book covers using found objects as stamps. The artists experimented with all sorts of materials- string, marbles, wood pieces, and even bok choy- to develop fun, beautiful abstract prints. It was amazing to see how much personality and variation each of the artists' prints contained, despite having been created from the same materials. Some of the artists developed their own techniques entirely- adding texture with paper towels, or turning the wood pieces to create a spiral effect. I, for one, am totally excited to see the finished products...stay tuned for more images of the completed books!

ADA Boston Trip

This past week I traveled to Boston with a friend from Spindleworks, Emma Becker. We went to represent Spindleworks at an art exhibit called “Celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act Through Art”. There were artists from all over New England- Vermont, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut- including seven Spindleworkers! There was also a poetry reading and the poets were from as far as India. The poetry was about overcoming disabilities, and it was very powerful and well done. The show was held in a very big gallery on a side street in Boston- a really nice spot. It was the ADA center of Boston. The show was really a celebration of having a disability and expressing it through art. The works of art were all paintings in different styles. I did an acrylic painting of different types of squash, and Emma did a watercolor ocean scene. It was nice to represent Spindleworks and give out business cards- it made us feel like real, professional artists. It made me appreciate Spindleworks and the artwork that we have even more. It was like one big party!

To read more about the show and the Americans with Disabilities Act, visit: www.NewEnglandADA.org

Artwork (from top to bottom) by: Emma Becker, Terri Snape, Anna McDougal, Karen McGann, Melissa Capuano, Micah Webbert, and Sheri Davis. All photos by Anna McDougal.

-post by Spindleworks Artist Anna McDougal

"Monochrome"- the Online Exhibition

Can't make it in to the Whatnot Gallery before the end of the month? No worries, you can now view the entire Monochrome show online! While this virtual exhibition is no replacement for the real thing, we're thrilled to be able to share the wonderful work of our artists with an even greater audience. All pieces still available are for sale, and Spindleworks is accepting both phone and email orders. Call us at 207-725-8820 or send us an email at spindleworks@spindleworks.org for enquiries!  View the the fabulous online show here: http://spindleworks.culturalspot.org/home

A Beautiful Day for Clay

Today really was the perfect day for pottery. Many Spindleworkers gathered outside to enjoy the beautiful weather and to take advantage of the clay studio- a seasonal activity that, at this time, is only available to artists in the summer. Today, artists worked on a variety of pieces at a variety of stages- some creating new forms, some glazing, and others performing a technique called sgraffito that involves carving into a painted piece with a sharp needle tool. For some of the artists, working with a new medium can be intimidating, but it seems that once they get their fingers into the clay they are hooked! The photographs above show Teresa painting the details of her Luke Bryan platter, Betty beautifully carving into a slab (that was eventually made into a votive holder), and Caroline glazing her "star bowl". Many more fantastic pieces are featured in the Spindleworks store- where 75% of every purchase goes to the artist!

Fun at the Farmer's Market

Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny day at the Brunswick Farmer’s Market, and the Spindleworks crew was in good spirits- drawing, hula-hooping, and sharing their work with the community. Most Tuesdays, a small group of artists and staff set up a sort of “pop-up shop” alongside the many local vendors to display (and hopefully sell) some of their art. Above all, the farmer’s market outings provide the opportunity for artists to engage with the greater community and, likewise, for community members to meet the amazing local artists of Spindleworks. As artist Kim Christensen remarks, “I like when people stop and talk to us and don’t judge, and say that we do beautiful work”. Kim is a very active participant in the farmer’s market outings, and does a wonderful job handing out brochures and peaking the interest of those who have never heard of Spindleworks before. So next Tuesday, if you are out and about shopping for produce, stop by the Spindleworks stall and say hello! As artist Nancy Bassett said after the outing, “I want to do it again!”

Beauty in Black and White

Spindleworks staff and artists have been working hard these past few weeks to prepare for the newest installation in the What Not Gallery- the Black and White show! As the name suggests, this exhibit showcases solely monochromatic works. Despite the muted color palette, these works are anything but bland, and cover a wide variety of mediums- everything from clay to cloth to cigar-box sculptures. While some of the work was pulled from the artists’ archives, other pieces were created specifically for the show- allowing involvement of a large number of the Spindleworks artists. Stop by the What Not Gallery weekdays 9-4 or during the July 11th Brunswick Art Walk (5-8pm) to view the beautiful work!

Portland Museum of Art

Yesterday I was lucky enough to take a trip to the Portland Museum of Art with Spindleworks supervisor Brian and a group of four artists. We spent our time exploring two of the current exhibitions- Richard Estes’ Realism and Andrea Sulzer: throughoutsideways. It was really neat to view the shows together and to travel from photorealism to pure abstraction.

On the first floor, we marveled at the precision and detail of Estes’ landscapes and cityscapes, which often featured views through glass and other reflective surfaces. On the fourth floor, in contrast, we admired the colors and forms of Sulzer’s work in a variety of media including drawing and prints. It was exciting to see the work of a Brunswick-based artist in the museum- one whose studio is right down the street from Spindleworks!

When I spoke to Spindleworks artist Diane about her experience at the museum, she was most excited to discuss Sulzer’s prints. Her favorite pieces of the exhibition were the ones with “scarf material put together with prints on top” and the “Black prints on top of the cloth”. She said that seeing the show has inspired her to try applying mixed colors to the cloth she works with in her own art. While she enjoyed the simplicity of Sulzer’s art, Diane thought “there was a little too much distraction” in Estes’ paintings.

Although she has been to the museum many times, Diane was eager to go again with a Spindleworks crew. Like many community excursions the Spindleworks staff organizes, the Portland Museum of Art trip provided artistic inspiration, change of scenery, and a break from the studios!

Our Trip to Popham

I went with three other artists and Angie to Popham Beach today. We stopped at a farmer’s stand on the way and Angie went and got strawberries. We laid our blankets on the beach, but I sat in a chair. We walked around on the sand, and some of us went in the water, but I didn’t- it was too cold!! We were mostly walking around taking pictures, and the sand was really hot. I took pictures of people, shells, the mountains, and the water. Many people on the beach were in the water and some of them were flying kites. Seagulls were flying around looking for food. We all had lunch at the beach and luckily we avoided the gulls! It was low tide and there were lots of designs on the sand- some of them looked like waves and some like tracks. Kids were making tiny sandcastles. It was very pretty outside, although a little chilly. We all had a lot of fun looking for shells and taking pictures!

At Spindleworks, we try to do trips like this once a month to draw pictures and take photos. It’s also a time to get out of the studios and walk around.

-M.C., artist at Spindleworks

"Searching"

This was my first week of summer at Spindleworks and it was jam-packed with outings, dance parties, and beautiful art! One of the highlights of my week was sitting in on a rehearsal of the upcoming play “Searching”- a collaboration between Spindleworks and the Theater Project. Earl and Diane Black, Nancy Scott, Kim Christensen, Lloyd Whitcomb, Don Weatherbee and Al Miller make up the ensemble that has developed over a long-time collaboration between the two well known arts organizations, and “Searching” is the fourth production of the ensemble. As Diane says of the group, they’ve “Went a long long ways since we’ve been doing it (started acting), and it’s been a lot of fun”.

The production challenges our view of language (as well as the artists’ creativity!) by replacing spoken-word dialogue with sounds, gestures, and expressions. The outcome is often highly comedic, and it is clear that the artists have had fun developing a new language together. As Nancy says, the group does a “Little bit of both” (sound and silence) and she “likes everything!”

When asked what he has learned from participating in the theater group, Earl said that he mostly “learned about acting”, and also gained confidence being in front of people. The other artists in the group echoed this sentiment, although Nancy claims that she is never nervous in front of a crowd.

“Searching” will be playing at the Theater Project in Brunswick, Maine on June 20^th and 21^st (see details below), and the artists are so looking forward to seeing you all there. Kim put it well when she said, “I like how we can all come together, and the community comes out to support us".

What: Searching

When: June 20 & 21, 2014, 7:00pm

Where: The Theater Project
14 School Street, Brunswick

Cost: pay what you can, suggested donation of $10

Tix: 729-8584, or www.theaterproject.com

A Brief Introduction

Hello Spindleworks friends and family! My name is Helen and I am a visual arts and sociology major at Bowdoin College. I began volunteering with Spindleworks this past winter, and quickly became enthralled by the creative magic that happens under the Spindleworks roof. Thanks to the Bowdoin grant fund, I am lucky enough to be spending my summer on Lincoln St. as a full-time artist mentor. Among other things, I have been tasked with revitalizing the Spindleworks blog, which will hopefully keep you all updated on the happenings within the studios and throughout the community. A few of the Spindleworks artists have already demonstrated interest in working on the blog, and I am looking forward to assisting them in making this site their own!