At Spindleworks we like to celebrate all art forms. The visual arts (particularly painting and drawing) get a lot of attention but we also have weavers and potters, sculptors and writers! Right now two of our artists are writing books, and throughout the year we have writing sessions on different topics. Over the course of a year, we do our best to honor all of the visual and performing arts, offering member artists the chance to flex their creative muscles in different ways, as they desire.

This month, as part of our celebration of species, we are hosting a community evening of poetry and song. Local great Jim McCarthy will emcee the evening which will feature the works of Spindleworks artists as well as local writers, musicians and appreciators of a good word. Offerings from Gary Lawless and Lauryn Hottinger will be in the mix.

Community members are welcome to participate and if interested should contact Liz McGhee at emcg...@iaofmaine.org, with two poems (or songs–acoustic please) that they would like to present.

What: The All Species Parade
Where: Brunswick Town Mall
When: May 11th, 4:30pm

Join us with your puppet or costume to celebrate the living species of our planet. We will gather on the Brunswick Town Mall at 4:00 and begin our procession down Maine Street at 4:30. For more information on the parade, inspiration and photos, please check out www.allspeciesparade.org

What: Return to Sender
Where: Whatnot Gallery
Spindleworks, 7 Lincoln Street, Brunswick
When: April 20-May 31
Reception: May 11th, 5:30-7:30pm

We will open our gallery at 7 Lincoln Street for limited hours during this Second Friday ArtWalk, so come on by after the parade to see this colorful exhibit. 39 artists from three art programs, and two states worked on 16 pieces over the course of two years. No, not a mean math problem, just a stunning exhibit. The work is with us for only a month before heading back to Rhode Island for another showing, so come on by!

What: Habitat
Where: Suite 102B, lower level Fort Andross (Cabot Mill entrance). 14 Maine Street, Brunswick
When: May 11th, 5-8pm
(additional hours during May. Contact us for more information)

For the past three months, artists from the Spindleworks Art Center have been transforming an empty space in Fort Andross into “Habitat”, an art installation created with local artist Matt Anderson. Anderson, a performance and multimedia artist, has previously led workshops at Spindleworks and Habitat represents their first long-term collaborative piece.

During the residency, Anderson and the artists gathered a wide variety of materials – those traditionally used in making art as well as found and recycled items – to shape the space into an immersive environment that moves viewers through several natural features, including a volcano. Using sculpture, painting, a mixed media techniques, Anderson and the artists found a variety of ways to make art that communicated the idea and experience of ‘habitat.’ The artists also made audio and video recordings to enhance the experience of the work.

Spindleworks artists, who often work on solo projects, took up the challenge to work together towards a shared creative vision. Sessions in the space gave artists the opportunity to give and receive feedback while incorporating their ideas into a common theme.

What: A Natural Order
Where: Frontier Café
Fort Andross Mill, 14 Maine Street, Brunswick
When: May 11th-June 30th (or longer!)
Reception: May 11th, 5-8pm

Spindleworks opens this year’s gallery season with an exhibit that has been in the making for over two years. Return to Sender features 16 pieces created by multiple artists through a mail art project spanning Maine and Rhode Island, and three art programs. While divided by state lines the three programs are joined on a core level. Flying Shuttles, the oldest art program in Rhode Island for adults with intellectual disabilities is run by former Spindleworks staff member Toni Carroll. Her husband Nate (also a former staff member at Spindleworks) works at Second Sight, the third art program in this collaboration. Return to Sender has allowed former colleagues to work together once more.

“When I first started at Spindleworks, Toni and Nate were my guides”, remembers Liz McGhee, current program manager of 10 years. “ It’s cliché , but they really did teach me everything I know. Aside from the how-tos of the job, Toni and Nate set the bar for advocacy, patience and compassion. They live and work their beliefs and have always been a great inspiration to me”. It was Toni who came up with the idea of this exhibit over two years ago. At the Flying Shuttles studio, her artists began working on drawings which launched the project. Half were sent to Second Sight, half to Spindleworks. The Spindleworks artists added, and sent their pieces on to Second Sight, and so on. These large drawings were sent through the mail to each program twice, finishing up at Flying Shuttles where the artists there put on the final touches and installed the first exhibit in this travelling show.

Visitors will recognize familiar artists’ styles and colors embedded in these densely colored works. It is fascinating to see the how each artist has been inspired by what another has added to the page, and to observe common themes and interests. At least one drawing looks like a picture of a party where all the participating artists might come together.

The May 11th ArtWalk is shaping up to be a busy evening, with four different Spindleworks sponsored events, so mark your calendars now! Start with us at the Mall at 4:30 for the 3rd Annual All Species Parade. Then come over to the Spindleworks Whatnot Gallery (open from 5:30-7:30 on May 11th ). Finally, make your way toFort Andross to see “A Natural Order” at Frontier, and “Habitat” an installation project funded by Kickstarter and The Alfred Senter Fund. Stay tuned to www.spindleworks.org for more information on all of these must see events.

What a wonderful opportunity! The producers of Maine’s hippest fundraising catalog, Closebuy, have chosen Spindleworks to be a beneficiary of their April fundraiser. All you have to do is shop at their online catalog and chose Spindleworks when you check out, and a portion of the sales will be donated to us! If you haven’t seen this catalog yet, you will be delighted. There are over 100 local Maine products available, so you can feel doubly good for making a purchase as you are supporting local artisans as well as Spindleworks.

Remember, this is time sensitive as the fundraiser is for APRIL ONLY! Please share this with everyone you know! Here are all the details: CBWEBFLYER

The master of modern day movie posters, Kevin Babine’s large text driven works walk the viewer through his favorite scenes and characters in a visual medley of words and images. His works hum with vibrant color and bold forms. When you come to see a movie at Frontier this spring, take a moment to enjoy the larger than life movie posters that adorn the walls of the theater while the lights are still up! Spindleworks thanks Frontier for providing such a perfect location for Kevin’s work!

Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Thursday: 11am – 9pm
Friday – Saturday: 11am – 10pm
Sunday Brunch: 10am – 3pm

Nancy Scott , James Gallagher and Terri Snape, are among over 30 artists whose exhibits will be on display at the Hall of Flags, in Augusta during the second annual event titled “Lest We Forget” on March 22, 2012, from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm, to celebrate the 16th anniversary of the official closure of the Pineland Center in Pownal, Maine.

“This exhibit will bring the voices of the people with disabilities we serve into our celebration,” said MACSP Managing Director, Mary Lou Dyer. “The remarkable diversity and creativity of the pieces underscore the value of supporting community integration and self-expression for everyone, including individuals with disabilities.” The decision to close Pineland Center and integrate its residents within the community speaks volumes to the commitment Mainers have to inclusion and fairness.

The Maine Association for Community Service Providers (MACSP) is an association of nearly 70 organizations providing community based services to people with intellectual disabilities. Services include pre-schools, early intervention services, community supports, work supports, home supports, respite, and parent education. MACSP members provide services in all sixteen counties in Maine.

In 1907 the Maine Legislature established a school for “idiotic and feeble-mined” children. In the late 1950’s some 1700 residents lived in approximately 50 buildings. It was a place where people were left and often forgotten. After the last resident left in 1996 Maine has led the nation in welcoming people with disabilities into our communities, our schools, our workplaces, and into our art world.

We are proud of the partnerships that have developed with self advocates, families, state governmental agencies, and the legislature. We hope that people coming through the Hall of Flags on March 22, 2012, will appreciate the art work and the fact that not so long ago these artists might not be living and creating in our communities throughout Maine.

We are hopeful that no one will forget our history and will celebrate our progress.

Spindleworks together with Frontier Café is hosting an open call exhibit to coincide with the All Species Parade, set for May 11, 2012 in Brunswick Maine. As with the parade, the exhibit A Natural Order is meant to draw attention to our living planet both to celebrate, and to raise awareness of the diversity of species, all of which are affected by our actions and inactions. Last year Spindleworks and Frontier hosted “Aviary: A winged celebration”. This immensely successful exhibit drew artworks from across Maine and across the country. A portion of the sales from Aviary were donated to Maine Audubon to help further their educational work. This year, Spindleworks has chosen the Coastal Humane Society as the beneficiary of the exhibit. 20% from each sale will be donated to this important and well loved local organization.

Artists are invited to submit work in any medium, allowing the diversity of artistic expression to reflect the diversity of species. Information about submitting work to follow:

Theme:
Artwork must reference a natural species (animal, plant, fish, bird, bug, etc…)
Parameters:
Entries will be accepted in all media but must be able to hang from the wall due to the nature of the exhibit space. Contact us with any concerns or questions regarding your entry. We will accept up to three entries but will not guarantee that all will hang due to space limitations.
Deadlines:
1. Plan to participate: April 9th, call Liz McGhee at Spindleworks 725-8820, or email: emcg...@iaofmaine.org
2. Application and entry fee: April 20th (send to Spindleworks)
3. Artwork drop off : May 4th (work will be accepted during the week of May 1st to Spindleworks)
Cost:
A non refundable entry of $15 for first entry, $5 per additional entry.
Make checks payable to “Spindleworks”, and send copy of application with check to Spindleworks, 7 Lincoln Street, Brunswick ME 04011. (attach original form to back of artwork)

APPLICATION IS HERE: Natural order entry

Where: Little Dog Coffee Shop
87 Maine Street, Brunswick ME 04011
When: March 2-31, 2012
Cost: Free
(Hours: Mon- Sat: 6:30am-6:00pm, Sunday 7:00am-6:00pm)

While modern TV dramas such as CSI, Law and Order, and Parenthood blanket the air waves and shape our understanding of modern society, those of us of a certain age are still informed by the TV shows of our youth. In her homage to Little House on the Prairie, Melissa Capuano puts us face to face with the characters of this memorable drama. Front and center in each frame, Laura, Albert, Pa and Doc Baker bring us back to a “simpler time” but when the issues faced were just as important as they are today.
Drawing parallels to the current day, Capuano states: “they talk about real issues like drugs, death, friends, family, and supporting each other”. Her paintings reveal the larger than life part these fictional figures can play in our lives. Fourteen of the legendary T.V. show characters adorn the walls of the Little Dog in March. Come get a cup of coffee and have a sit down talk with Laura, Pa, Nellie, and remember the life lessons learned.

SPACE’s Free For All is an unjuried group show featuring works by a wide variety of artists in a democratic curatorial experiment. This call invites artists of all stripes to bring work to be displayed at SPACE. Both seasoned artists with multi-page CVs, and emerging artists who have never shown to the public find room on the walls for this fun exhibit.
Both Spindleworks’ 25th and 30th anniversary exhibitions were held at SPACE gallery and we think of this thriving non profit as a great supporter and friend. SPACE holds events for people from all walks of life and this show is just one example of their inclusive nature. Don’t miss this jam packed fun show.

What is this project?

HUSOWORKS is a three-month collaboration/residency in which Matt and the Spindleworks artists will create an interactive and immersive art installation.  The project will use sculptural, audio/video, fiber, painting, and performance elements to transform a raw space into a multi-sensory, interactive environment.   It’s an exciting new way for Spindleworkers and Matt to work in collaboration, harness their creative talents, and create an amazing new experience for both local and online audiences.

Local audiences are invited to participate during community sessions at the space and at the opening during the May 2012 Brunswick Art Walk.  Online audiences can experience the project via a blog featuring audio, video, and images, and interact with the artists along the way.  Are you both local and online? Even better!

Why we need YOU!

We have to rent a large, temporary art space nearby to create this experience! We cannot do this project in the Spindleworks Art Center building.  Our studio rooms are full the brim, used daily by artists for their individual projects and for classes.  Your support will also supply the artists with the materials needed to create the art work.  Here’s just a few ways that you can make this happen:

• $10 covers the materials for dyeing a fabric installation.
• $25 supplies artists with the materials to build a sonic sculpture.
• $50 rents ten square feet of the art space for three months.
• $150 will put the project online and accessible to audiences everywhere!

We have lots of great rewards at all levels of support — including original art pieces, ringtones, secret blog access, Skype sessions with the artists, and more.   This is a fantastic way to participate in creativity and collaboration, whether you’re in Maine or from anywhere in the world.

Watch our promo video and support the project on Kickstarter by clicking here!

THANK YOU!