Located in a scenic spot on the Maine coast, the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts is an iconic place for people who create. Founded in 1950, Haystack offers an array of programs including one and two-week studio workshops to participants of all skill levels as well as the two-week Open Studio Residency program. The School also hosts exhibitions, tours, auctions, artist presentations, and shorter workshops for Maine residents and high school students. As Haystack celebrates its 75th anniversary year staff are taking time to reflect on its significant contributions to the field and to the community.
Read MoreAmong Haystack’s speaker series scheduled for its Deer Isle campus this summer are Stuart Kestenbaum, former poet laureate of Maine; sculptor Syd Carpenter, former chair of the art department at Swarthmore College; and woodworker Rosanne Somerson, former head of the Rhode Island School of Design. Photos courtesy of Haystack.
Read MoreDo you love tinkering?
Been longing to learn your way around a 3D printer, table saw or pottery wheel but don’t want to invest in expensive equipment? Or are you simply looking to expand your horizons in the company of avid creators of all ages and backgrounds?
One of Maine’s makerspaces may be just the ticket.
A makerspace is a cross between a lab and a workshop, a place that gives hands-on creators, from novice hobbyists to expert engineers, the equipment and support they need to bring their ideas to life—and forge community in the process.
As makerspaces gain in popularity, if you don’t see any in your area now, there may well be one soon. (A word of caution: if you are unfamiliar with how to use a particular tool the correct and safe way, ask an experienced fellow maker or staff member—they’ll be glad to help.)
Read MoreFor many makers, opportunities to focus solely on creative exploration—without the pressure to produce work for sale or prove our worth through finished pieces—feel impossibly rare or reserved for those along a traditional academic path. When you discovered your craft later in life, already juggling mortgages and responsibilities you can't simply walk away from, where do you turn for intentional study and community that actually fits your reality? Craft schools exist outside traditional academia, offering experiences from weekend workshops to multi-week residencies that welcome makers at every stage—and in celebration of Haystack Mountain School of Crafts' 75th anniversary, Perry Price shares what makes these singular learning experiences so transformative.
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