How does an artist orient themselves in our increasingly media-saturated world? What new visual conversations can be created by sifting through and rearranging the everyday artifacts of popular culture? Spindleworks artists take on these questions in ka-POW!!, a new show opening for June’s Second Friday Art Walk. Re-interpreting images shared through the media landscape has been an artistic approach since the mid-20th century, and the artist of Spindleworks are no exception. From Kevin Babine’s large scale works on paper featuring an array of cinematic history, to Melissa Capuano’s portraits of television show characters and Kelly Weingart’s sculptural renditions of Pez characters, KAPOW explores new iterations of seemingly familiar icons. Join us for the reception in conjunction with the Second Friday ArtWalk, June 14, 5-8pm.

What: Heads or Tails, opening reception
Where: Frontier Cafe
14 Maine Street, Brunswick
When: May 10th, 2013, 5-8pm

The first ArtWalk of the season is going to be packed. Spindleworks will be bracketing Maine Street with two events on May 10th. At 4:30, the 4th annual  All Species Parade starts off the afternoon. Visit the website for final details. Make sure to look for the botanical banners which will be the backbone of the parade this year. Spindleworks artists helped 1st graders in the local elementary schools make these colorful flags specifically for the parade as part of  Arts are Elementary’s First Grade Artist Residency for the 2012/13 academic year. Following the parade this year will be a free concert for all ages by ImproVox in the gazebo at the Town Mall, sponsored by Arts Are Elementary.

The Brunswick ArtWalk is a sure harbinger of spring together with the blossoming fruit trees around town. There is much to see as always and we invite you to continue your parade down Maine Street to Frontier Cafe for the opening reception of Heads or Tails, an exhibit of species, sponsored by Spindleworks. As with last year’s spring exhibit,  a portion of the proceeds from this exhibit will benefit the Coastal Humane Society, and true to the generous nature of Frontier, they are not taking a commission from work sold so that more dollars can go to this important local organization. If you would like to eat dinner at Frontier (which we highly recommend), Frontier now takes reservations and we encourage you to call ahead to make sure a table is available: 725.5222

Because of the parade and opening at Frontier, the Spindleworks gallery and store will NOT be open this Friday ArtWalk, but look for us next month as we open our gallery season with a pop art show (details to come!)

It’s almost here: the much anticipated All Species Parade! Preparations began back in October when artists from Spindleworks, along with mentor artists Maureen Block and Catherine Worthington, started working with Brunswick first graders as part of Arts are Elementary’s First Grade Artist Residency for the 2012/13 academic year. Together the kids and artists have created “Botanical Banners” out of fabric, both to enhance the first grade science curriculum focus on plants and in anticipation spring parade. The colorful banners will be just part of a river of species parading down Maine Street on May 10th. All community members are invited to join in the celebration with their own creations that honor species of the natural world.

The larger vision for the All Species Parade and related events is to foster educational, cross cultural and cross generational happenings which celebrate our diversity and strengths as a community and to raise our collective consciousness about environmental protection. Following the parade this year will be a free concert for all ages by ImproVox in the gazebo at the Town Mall. Additionally, the first ArtWalk of the season will take place following the parade, including Heads or Tails, an exhibit of species, sponsored by Spindleworks. The opening reception for Heads or Tails will be from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Frontier Cafe. A portion of the proceeds from this exhibit will benefit the Coastal Humane Society.

What:  Call for Poets and Musicians
for Purr and Caw: talking about species
Where: Frontier Cafe
14 Maine St. Brunswick
When: June 11th, 2013 [please note date change]

On June 11th, Spindleworks will host the second year of Purr and Caw: talking about Species, an evening to celebrate the natural world through spoken words and music. The backdrop to the event will be Heads or Tails, opening on May 10th, right after the All Species Parade. Community members are invited to be part of Purr and Caw by reading or singing work in the theme of natural species. While not a juried event, those interested in participating should contact Liz McGhee at Spindleworks 725-8820 or emcg...@iaofmaine.org. Please include a copy of up to three works you wish to share. There will be no walk in entries. To be added to the line up, please respond before June 5th.

Everyone is getting cabin fever at this point. Despite what Puxataony Phil predicted, Maine still seems to be in the grips of a snowy winter. As usual though, Spindleworks artists are ready to push spring by sharing bright colors of their artwork. This month’s show at Cafe Creme in Bath is brightened by the large sunny windows facing Front street. It’s a fine place to get a cup of coffee and oh heck maybe one of those amazing cookies, drop into a quiet corner and take it all in. Thanks to our friends at Cafe Creme for the invitation to exhibit in their cozy and light filled space.