Sam's Place

Summer buzzing along

2010-07-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

Summer seems to arrives so quickly & then it buzzes along @ lightspeed. So that's the excuse for the time beween blogs. But here are some observations about the past month or so.

Saco Community Garden has been put on the Saco Garden Club's garden tour this year. The founding members of SCG have been working to make community gardening a reality for over a year now, working closely with the Saco Park & Recreations Department. So being invited to participate in the garden tour is a considerable honor. Just google either organization to get the dates & times.

After a triumphant winter in the Mills, Biddeford Art Walk has moved outdoors & is still the final Friday of each month, still from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Still a great way to spend an evening locally & be inspired. Biddefords' own Tammy Ackerman is the contact for questions about the Art Walk.

The Saco Spirit & it's merchants have been working very hard all year to produce an enjoyable, organized Artfest. This 40th was the best yet. We saw new venders, like Portland's own Creative Trails bringing new artists to Saco. There were old stand-bys to revisit. There was a wonderful Silent Auction featuring many arts, crafts, free services coupons & lovely items to pamper the winning bidders. Sam's Place framer & artist Jim Cotsis won the Mixed Media ribbon, for the second year in a row! We will be featuring his winning work w/ the ribbon some time in the weeks' ahead, in our front store window - keep your eyes peeled.

If anyone is interested in a Art Club, contact Elizabeth Shore. Her Art Club meets the 2nd Thursday of every month @ Sam's Place, Main St.

So here's hoping you all get out & enjoy all the events this quick summer season!

Spring Blog: Things that Rock

2010-05-12T07:56:00.000-07:00

Saco Bay Trails is holding its annual meeting at the Dyer Library Meeting Room, this coming Saturday, May 15th at 9:30AM.

The trails committee recently installed a memorial bench to honor Horace Wood, in a mid-trail location that showcases much of the Rachel Carson Nation Wildlife Refuge. The bench will be dedicated at the Annual Meeting.

The Master Gardeners of the Saco Community Garden will offer a gardening workshop Sunday, May 22nd at the Saco Museum to support SBGC's donations to libraries, gardening education programs and horticultural scholarships. Most plants sell for $4.00 and further information can be obtained at sacobaygardenclub.com or call Cathleen at 286-2711.

The Saco Museum opens a new show, Making History: Art & Industry in the Saco River Valley, May 29th. Email museum@sacomuseum.org or call Jessica at 283-3861 for details

-Kathryn

Intro to Drawing

2010-04-28T06:33:00.001-07:00

The University of Maine System at Saco Island will be offering an Intro to Drawing (Art 115) through the University of Maine System. The class will meet Thursdays from 12 noon-5:00pm beginning May 20th through August 19th. Call 282-4111 or 1-800-696-3391 to sign up for this exciting course that satisfies 3 fine art credits toward most core curriculum requirements.

The talented Augusta faculty member Pat Chandler will instruct. Visit her website to enjoy the touching portraits, brilliant still life work and the accurate visual medium she has chosen to communicate through.

Registration is painless if you call the helpful counselors to walk you through the process. Call now, registration began April 12th.

Father and Daughter

Portrait by Pat Chandler

-Kath

The Arts Now

2010-04-09T10:08:00.000-07:00

The talented Thornton Academy Players will perform "Into the Woods", this Friday and Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets sell for $8. For more info email cathy.murray@thorntonacademy.org

If you just want to experience the history and humor of Red Soucy and Roland Bergeron at their farewell performance, Cornerstone United Methodist Church is the place to see them one last time. The performance is Saturday night at 7pm and tickets sell for $5. For more info call 207-282-2755

If Franco is your interest, the McArthur Library is featuring renown artist Lucie Therrien in concert Sunday at 3pm. For more info about ongoing programs and concerts call 207-284-4181 or visit www.mcarthurpublicelibrary.org

The OOB/Saco Adult Ed is offering a class called Tips for Decoration on a Budget next Tuesday, April 13th frp, 6-8:30p. Cost is $29. For more info call 934-7922 or visit their web site.

The Saco Spirit Merchants are planning the Annual Fashion Show for Thursday April 29th at the Ramada. The $35 tickets get attendees dinner, the runway show, celebrity waiters and gift bags. Go to Saco Spirit's website or buy tickets from participating merchants downtown.

In Vino Veritas*

2010-04-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

2010 Mill-ennial Memories

Last night marked the gala opening of the long awaited Mill-ennial Show. There was a great turn-out (I stopped counting at 150). From the wine table it was a wonderful sight. Passing red or white, I got to see all the artists whose work hung inside. There were so many talented people representing so many different media. The things they all had in common were a connection to the area and a love of their craft. Respected evergreen artisans rubbed elbows with a younger blooming set. It was like a garden of the mature experiences and new hybrids talking and sharing knowledge.

Newer artists like Assemblage Robin Puleio and Photographer Nick Anagnostis, a Thornton Academy Alumni, showed with well-known Fiber Artist Kathy Angel Lee. Lee's work "Saco Mills" was chosen for the Mill-ennial publicity.

George Hughes' Intelligent Design

This show had it all: witty art from Peter Bennett and George Hughes to social commentary from Omer Gagnon. Well received Encaustic Artists Laura Dunn and Diane Bowie Zaitlin both proved again that their medium continues to engage in fresh surprisingly new ways.

Anastasia Weigle's Zoological Curiosities

The galleries diversified by presenting works in the Mill and in the Museum. Large works world-class sculptor Celeste Roberge, whose current works are a sentimental favorite and small scale works by Assemblage Artist Anastasia Weigle broaden the scope of work. The former's works, dedicated to her cherished parents, tugged at the heart in a big way while the latter's miniatures stirred up a collective cultural memory in an enclosed intimate setting. This is just another example of the Museum's attention to detail - how they showcase a narrative versus simply collecting.

Donna Caron's Upright Figures III

Once relieved from wine pouring, I wandered the gallery and enjoyed the work in both locations. Sculptor Donna Caron's Upright Figures III referenced the past and the organic and still elicited a brave stance towards an uncertain future. It was astonishing to see Painter Tammy Charles' acrylic Crows full scale after admiring it so long as a thumbnail sized work on her website. With the size of the work, the painting appeared to glow.

Tammy Charles' Crows in the Cornfield

Once one saw the scale and diversity of the works, it made perfect sense to use two sights for the show. The experience had the feel of a scavenger hunt once the Stone Soup Artisans Spring Fling was thrown in for good measure.

The show runs until June 13th. Even better, the Museum intends to present a Mill-ennial every two years. Raise a glass, because we can expect to see this event grow in richness and complexity, in much the same way the artists grow and change. We can hardly wait!

*With wine comes truth. Cheers!

-Kathryn

7 Questions with Artist Chris Reed

2010-03-31T11:07:00.000-07:00

Encaustic by Chris Reed

1. What do you do when you're not feeling creative? How do you get back in your groove?

I rarely am in a deficit for creative energy. When I'm looking for that extra boost, meditation provides the stillness and concentration to be more engaged in the present moment.

2. Do you think creativity is innate or learned or both?

I believe creativity is innate in all of us, yet can be greatly augmented through our connection to the environment and one another, which is the best education.

3. What has been your biggest influence or inspiration in the past? Currently?

In addition to other artists, the natural environment has always been inspiring to my painting. More recently, architectural decay, including the effects of oxidation have complemented my process as well.

Encaustic by Chris Reed

4. How do you feel living in Maine affects your work?

The natural beauty of Maine and slow pace of life is very nurturing for being an artist that I appreciate more all the time.

5. Who is/who are your favorite artist/artists? What do you love about them or their art?

Jasper Johns, Anselm Kiefer, and Gerhard Richter are at the forefront of my artistic influences. I am most intrigued by their tactile and applicatory use of the painting medium.

6. If you could take a vacation anywhere, where would go and what would you do?

I would embark on a trip to either the Greek Islands or the Tuscany region of Italy to capture the stunning light.

7. What's your best advice to beginning artists?

My best advice to beginning artists: Always be mindful of the beauty that awaits.

Chris Reed graduated from Bowdoin with a degree in Visual Arts. Chris has exhibited in Portland Galleries and taught at The New School in Kennebunk and Saco/OOB Adult Ed.

Biddeford Art Walk

2010-03-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

The Biddeford Art Walk is almost upon us. That's why we have had a flurry of artists (like a flock of birds or a gaggle of geese) in Sam's Place. (editors note: we do not intentionally allow birds or geese in the shop) We have supplied artists with hanging wire, "s" hooks and various small brads for their frames. Someone's been in for core board, another for tape. All these excited preparations remind one of the hours before a much anticipated wedding.

Art shows and weddings are both days of commitment, fear and celebration. Expectations scatter in the brain like confetti. The public will love it. The public will hate it. Does this gown make me look like the back end of a milk truck?

There's the inevitable moment of panic before the ceremony. Does he have the ring? Is the paint dry? I should have gone into short stories.

Finally, there is the eventual pride and peace when it all comes together like a well-catered affair. So too, the art show arrives and artists' work is waiting for you to fall in love enough to carry them off and hang them in your home (another editor's note: think I'll stick with art shows and avoid the whole wedding thing).

Following the commitment there is the reception and here is where the wedding and the art show usually diverge. Receptions can be fraught with corny DJs and rambling drunken toasts delivered by your emotional college buddy. Art shows as lively as the Mill installations provide the opportunities for live music, dancing dogs, yummy foods for purchase and the fabulous company of like-minded art-makers and art-lovers; feels like a party!

What's Going On?

2010-03-13T07:25:00.000-08:00

Events

March 13th & 14th

The Portland Museum of Art's Movies @ the Museum will show "North Face", the story of the challenge to scale the Murder Wall of the Alps in 1936. The film is subtitled and runs 2:06 minutes. Shows start at 2pm both days.

March 20th

Bread and Bones will perform at the Saco Coffeehouse at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 60 School Street in Saco, show starts at 7pm with an open mic and Bread and Bones at 8pm. Bread and Bones is an acoustic trio performing original and traditional songs from America and the British Isles.

Bread and Bones, Photo from their website

Classes

OOB/Saco Classes

Professional Artist Judith Kinsman will teach Watercolors for Beginners and Beyond and an additional class, Watercolor Florals. Both will be offered Wednesdays. There is always a lot of positive feedback about Judith's classes. Sign up through Old Orchard Beach/Saco Adult Education.

Russ Whitten will be teaching Inspirations in Drawing on Mondays from 6-8p beginning May 3rd. His focus will be perception and composition in nature.

Sam's Place

Elizabeth Shore will be teaching traditional oil, water-mixed oil and acrylic at Sam's Place, Wednesdays April 7, 14, 21 and 28th from 12:30-2:30pm. Repeat enrollments are common because students often want to hone their paint skills.

Saco Center's Senior College

Bob Dunn will teach Museum Masterpieces. It is a class that teaches appreciation for the Impressionistic movement that took the art world by storm. Classes will be held at the Dyer Library.

Saco Community Garden

2010-02-27T09:46:00.000-08:00

So the SCG (Saco Community Garden) held an interesting meeting recently. They are the nonprofit that displayed a small garden next to the Saco Museum/Library. The success of that small demonstration has led them on to the Community Garden that will start this Spring. Saco residents get first dibs on a 10x10 plot.

The really interesting part was to hear how it is all coming together. They have mapped out the garden, contracted out the building of the tool shed to a local high-school class and are deciding on fencing materials. Their laughter and know-how are powerful draws. Most of the committee members are master gardeners through extension courses so there will be lots of talented people who have the answers for us first-time gardeners.

After an evening with these excited volunteers, I am ready to grow monster crops. You can too if you rent a plot soon!

-Kathryn

Biddeford's 1st Art Walk of 2010

2010-02-24T07:19:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the organizers of the Biddeford Art Walk. Their idea of having all the artists under one roof (The Mill) during the frigid months was inspired. The crowd parked once and enjoyed the evening over and over again as they moved through the comfortable hallways and busy studios.

Old VW Bus by Diane Noble

Happily they hung the artworks of some of my favorite artists. James Cotsis' dramatic mixed media abstracts, Walter Buczacz's quirky still lifes and black and white photography and Diane Noble's cheery acrylic waterscapes were all well represented.

Walter Buczacz

There was new artwork too to share. Photographer Chelsea Einsidler-Moore presented images in color that informed organization, style and what belongs by capturing individual's constructed spaces. One photo of uniform cases practiced duality- it would promise the traveler a quick exotic getaway, while conversely the tidy stack could also promise pristine order. Chelsea sold several pieces Friday evening.

The Mill has the feeling of a festival because there were so many kinds of art, food and general goodwill exhibited. Nibbling on Maine Buck Nuts, I learned all about the Community Bicycle Center from some wonderful children participating in the club. They showed photographs of intergenerational teams building bikes together, charity cycling events, mentoring, outreach transportation projects, recycling parts of wonderful art created from bike parts too far gone to use in rebuilt bikes. These kids were proud of the CBC and confidently shared their wide knowledge and demonstrated the skills they have gained alongside the bikes they have rebuilt.

One of the most interesting shops did not have any art at all. Well, it did, just not your traditional brush and canvas variety. Wandering into Warren Ellison's shop was very exciting because the art was stringed instruments. While laid out in pieces on a velvet drop-cloth, the instruments looked very much like found art. The shapes and finishes were lovely. The folks there was friendly and ready to answer any questions. Before I wandered out again I picked up a business card: Warren Ellison, Violin Maker...but could have said Violin Master.

from warrenellison.com

Ceramic artist Meryl Ruth proved her point by creating some of the most whimsical tea pots ever seen. They are collectible and guaranteed to make you smile before the water is hot. Artist Shay K. Ayres of Eye Sun Holistic Massage chooses to use the tea bags to festoon her assemblage art. The Sweet Specialist offers a classic boxed combo called Tea Time that has three varieties of cookie with tea leaves. She has many other delights you should check out too.

Tea Time from The Sweet Specialist

Can't wait for Friday, February 26th, the next Art Walk at the North Dam Mill. See you there!

Monday, Monday

2010-02-12T08:13:00.000-08:00

This is my third and final Monday night of OOB/Saco Adult Education Encaustic Painting tonight. The teacher, Chris Reed, graduated from Bowdoin with a degree in Visual Arts. Chris has exhibited in Portland Galleries and taught at The New School in Kennebunk.

If I thought that encaustics were anything like Batik (yeah, we did that in the 70's), I was wrong. But encaustics has been good, worth bundling up for on winter evenings for sure.

So what makes a Monday night worth going out for? Chris has a pleasant, relaxed teaching style and encourages a playful curiosity in his students. The tuition covers the use of encaustics, resin, pigment and chip brushes. Initially, Chris was going to have the students use fiber board but eventually decided on birch board.

Chris arrives early to set up the electric grills, heat gun and to make sure the wax is melted before students arrive. The class is small so the students can share what works (or doesn't) with each other as they test their new skills and enjoy the camaraderie. Someone realized in the course of this class that it is not a craft. Encaustics is an art.

Saco River Yoga in Pepperell Square announced Beginner Yoga Classes: six classes for $60. Drop round and hear about the various styles of Yoga offered, the free drum circle evenings and the very qualified teachers. You will be happy you did.

Busy artist Diane Bowie Zaitlin is exhibiting at the Toby Rosenberg Pottery Show "Some Like It Hot" now through February 28th at 293 Reed Street, Portland, Sunday-Thursday 10am-6pm, Friday 10am-5pm, and Saturday by appointment or chance. 878-4590

Diane is also exhibiting in a mixed media exhibition February 1-March 12th at 25 Exchange Street in Lynn, MA in the Lynn Arts Center.

If that wasn't enough, Diane is offering her Encaustic Workshops in her Saco Studio. The dates are March 27th and 28th, April 17th and 18th and May 15th and 16th. Call 282-7240 or email for details on how you can learn from one of Saco's finest artists.

Cool Things

2010-02-08T08:50:00.000-08:00

Wandering through the shop with my dust-cloth in hand, this cool book jumped into my hand: "Rite-in-the-Rain Birder's Journal". The American company that manufactures it has the following slogan: "Outdoor writing products for outdoor writing people."

Field researchers call it a Birder's Journal as the paper is made so you can write or sketch on the pages in inclement weather. As it is a nearly indestructible little notebook, it would be excellent for any journaling outdoors. Apparently this company has been making these adorable recycled notebooks for recording field data worldwide for ages but the "Rite-in-the-Rain" all-weather writing paper is still new to me.

The inside front cover presents two distinct bird diagrams along with body parts and feathers carefully labeled. It is exciting to know the lesser coverts from the median or the greater coverts! Inside there is plenty of room for sketches, photos and notes (weather, location and time slots too). The back cover has a cheat sheet for the American Birding Association's Principles of Birding Ethics (think Geneva Convention with feathers). It is even covered in a cheery yellow so it's easy to find in the tall grass! Now that is wicked cool.

Restocking Sample Jars

2010-02-01T07:34:00.000-08:00

We have restocked our California Paint Fres~Coat Eggshell Acrylic Sample Jars

These 4 oz beauties can cover an accent wall space of 4x4. They are great for doll houses, canvas work, birdhouses, etc

Our framer, Jim, says they are perfect acrylics for artists working in smaller mediums

Some colors to stock up on: Andover Cream (a creamy light yellow, so soothing on dark days), Pale Organza, Lady Banksia, Jonquil, Knightly Straw, Mountain Laurel, Whispering Willow (soft green), Yarmouth Oyster (calls up pilgrim thoughts) and Rain Barrel (the lightest of barks).

7 Questions with Artist Russel Whitten

2010-01-25T07:57:00.000-08:00

Large Abstract #2, Russel Whitten

1. What do you do when you're not feeling creative? How do you get back in your groove?

Inspiration is everywhere, so this rarely happens to me. When it does happen, looking at other artists work will often trigger an emotion, or give me an idea I can jump off from to use in my own painting.

2. Do you think creativity is innate or learned or both?

There is no question that some people are born with a creative intuition. I don't think creativity is something one can learn, but rather the furthering of education will add to their creative spirit. The only other trick to being creative is the following through with the ideas and prevent from standing in your own way.

Self Portrait, Russel Whitten

3. What has been your biggest influence or inspiration in the past? Currently?

Other Artists and minds that think outside the box.

4. How do you feel living in Maine affects your work?

This is an interesting question, for it's something I never considered. I graduated from Old Orchard Beach and at that time I knew I was going to be an artistic painter. I always found myself looking elsewhere for something to paint. (New York, Italy, London...) I honestly had little appreciation for Maine until I returned from New York after a year studying at The Art Students League. I feel like I had a new perspective, and still do to some degree, on everyday life around me. As a result I am finding interest in painting subjects I never would had considered otherwise.

Drawing Class, Russel Whitten

5. Who is/who are your favorite artist/artists? What do you love about them or their art?

To me, the thing that makes a good artist is they inspire you to take up that craft and try it yourself. I think when we hear music that moves us, we want to sing or play along. When I see a Degas, I want to work in Pastel. When I see a Rembrandt or an Anders Zorn, I want to etch in copper. Artists that inspire me are Lucian Freud, Andrew Wyeth and William de Kooning.

Now as of this week, I have a new favorite artist and it's my 2 year old daughter Adora. For a number of months she has been playing with watercolor media and enjoying the mix of colors and water on all shapes and sizes of paper I have provided her with. Seeing that she has the honesty and pleasure that can be found in all good art making makes her by far my most inspirational source.

6. If you could take a vacation anywhere, where would go and what would you do?

Florence or Giza. I would spend time in Museums and temples if I could, and start each day with a painting.

7. What's your best advice to beginning artists?

To be an artist is to be inspired. I find it important to take time for it everyday. I tell my students that taking 5 minutes a day to sketch out an idea is better then a 3 hour class once a week. Follow it through, for once you have it, it will never let you down.

The Crash, Russel Whitten

Thanks for playing Russ! We hope to continue with Artist interviews so check back!

Russ teaches adult education classes and has a drawing class starting in February. Contact Saco/OOB Adult Ed or check out our past blog for more information.

-Jenna

What's Going On?

2010-01-19T12:19:00.000-08:00

The Southern Maine Potter's Guild is having a show, dates to be determined. They are going to participate in the Empty Bowls event in February or March, at the York Art Association. More details to follow.

Thursday, January 28th, the Second Congregational Church will host the Biddeford Adult Poetry Project featuring biker poet K. Peddlar Bridge's "Ever Changing Line" lecture. All are encouraged to bring their own work for peer review, followed by a performance. All are welcome and the fun begins at 3:45pm.

The Dyer Library is pleased to announce award winning artist Timothy Parks will be teaching Pastels and Drawing, in the Deering Room of the Dyer Library on Tuesdays from 1-4pm. Classes begin February 2nd. Cost is $40 for the four-week session.

by Timothy Parks

The Biddeford Art Walk will be housed at the North Dam Mill during the months of January, February, March and April to avoid dancing with Old Man Winter. There will be food vendors, artisans and other interesting things happening. Would-be participants are encouraged to contact info@biddefordartwalk.com or call 229-3560 to get involved. The deadline is January 24th and it's free. This month's art walk is Friday, January 29th from 5-8pm.

Check out lovinganvil and Hog Farm Studio for other fun things to do like the Lovefest 2010 on February 13th. There will be champaign and treats at lovinganvil at 5pm followed by a parade over to hog farm studio down the street for some music by The David Wax Museum and Friends at 6pm. Sounds like a lot of Saint Valentines Day fun!

-Kathryn

From the Saco Community Garden to Manatees

2010-01-19T10:00:00.001-08:00

The human mind is an interesting thing. You can start out thinking about the Saco Community Garden, which can lead you to thoughts of how lovely and lively the color green looks, in the dead of snowy winter, which can bring up general musings on the color green. From there it's a simple jump to California Paint's Colors of America. As your eyes wander over the historical green shades, your hand chooses coral springs. Before you know it, you are remembering the name of a place in Florida the Weather Channel mentioned: Homasassa Springs, where manatees graze on soft green river grass. Now this grass image leads you to think of green lovely things in general, that you can grow this Spring in the Saco Community Garden!

The mind is an interesting thing!

Editor's note: Trivia ---> Kathryn's favorite animal is the manatee!

Practice What We Preach

2010-01-09T07:39:00.000-08:00

Red Barn - Gilsland by Diane Noble

The Saco Museum will present "Practice What We Preach: Work by Maine Art Teachers" January 16th-March 19th. There will be an opening reception Saturday, January 23 from 1-3pm.

More than 45 teacher-artists will show their work including Deb DiGregoria of CK Burns, Diane Noble of Young & Fairfield, Jodi Thomas of Thornton Academy, Judy Pulia of Saco Middle School and Piper Bolduc of Loranger, Old Orchard Beach. This exhibition will celebrate drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry and fiber arts. It is part of a bigger program of school tours, art-making workshops and artist talks.

Ninety-nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall by Piper Bolduc

Having been fortunate enough to see many of the works of these talented artists at other shows, it will be a delight to revisit them and see new works too! The Saco Museum just gets better and better.

Contact Camille Smalley, education and program manager, at 283-3861 x 115 if you have any questions.

-Kathryn

Artists' Survey

2010-01-07T07:36:00.000-08:00

We mailed 15 surveys to the art group Uncommon Threads & want to share with you responses from the 4 returned to us. We could wait for the others, but Artists are busy people and we cannot wait. Here is what we have learned about the creative process from these Artists, so far.

The first questions asked were, “Where did you study, or are you self-taught? How has that informed your art?” Each answer was as unique as the Artists answering the questions.

One Artist took life drawing sessions, attended Leighton Studio in San Francisco and credited self-study for a number of years with art being a big part of life, always. This Artist finds that good art is heartfelt and inspires emotion in the viewer. New Artists should enjoy the process because art is about self expression, beauty and sharing.

Another Artist attended the University of Southern Maine to learn self-expression, to create things that have never existed before and in response to a life threatening disease, creates every day. Art saved a life. This Artist finds good art in the strong, uninhibited natural art of children and advises new Artists to “just do it” and watch the magic begin.

The third Artist developed an expansive vision through studying at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and the University of Southern Maine. This Artist expressed art was always part of life and good art challenges norms, pushing the limits of work to express passion. New Artists should know there is a world to explore, always there for everyone to discover!

The final Artist was informed by her mother’s style and earned an Art History Degree in Maryland. While striving to become an Art Educator at Hirshhorn Museum, this Artist continued to evolve artistically. Good art is a sense of wonder: color, a balance of shapes, and the essence of design without becoming faddish and with the intent to keep on learning. New Artists should keep looking and inquire without judgment.

-Kathryn

Old Orchard Beach/Saco Adult & Community Education

2009-12-17T07:09:00.000-08:00

The Old Orchard Beach/Saco Adult and Community Education Booklet is out and classes begin in January. This session has some great offerings from local artists.

Introduction to Acrylics & Water-based Oils

Iona (Tate) Desmond is instructing this 5 week course for beginner or experienced artists on Tuesday evenings. Desmond is a MECA graduate with 38 years of teaching experience. She's an active member of the The Saco Bay Artists and her work has been shown in numerous galleries and collections. See a more detailed description of her class here.

From the book, A Mother's Dream by David Packhem, Jr and illustrated by Iona Desmond

Town Square Sanford, Pastel

Inspirations in Drawing

Russ Whitten is offering this 6 week beginner-advanced drawing class on Monday evenings beginning in February. Russ is also a MECA graduate and he continued his studies at Haystack, Heartwood College of Art and The Art Students League of New York as well as privately with artists in New York and Maine. He is also a life member of the Ogunquit Art Association, Maine's oldest artists' group. See more information about the course here.

Self Portrait with Adora

Power Lines, Saco Train Station

This is an exciting opportunity to learn from some of our best local artists. Both are so talented and well-known, the classes are sure to fill up so sign up early! Then swing by Sam's Place and we'll have all the supplies you'll need. Explore your artistic side and give us a call if you need any more information.

-Jenna

Talented, Caring Women

2009-11-28T06:48:00.001-08:00

Last week, volunteers from nonprofit corporation Designing Women exhibited work in Freeport. Donations at the door benefited the Coastal Studies for Girls Organization, a science and leadership semester school for 10th grade girls. The artisans and crafters presented an astounding array of gift items for giving to loved ones of gifting yourself.

December 12th, at Woodford's Church in Portland the Designing Women are at it again. The $2.00 donation at the door will benefit Women Unlimited, a nonprofit providing technical training and resources for Maine women, minorities and disadvantaged workers. There will also be a luncheon offer if you work up an appetite shopping. It promises to be a fun "girls day out".

The designing women, as you will see on their website, work in many mediums: soft sculpture, glass, note cards, jewelry, paper, soaps, pottery, wearable art, porcelain and fine art. The wonderful part is that their work is so individual. When you give a gift from Designing Women you know you are giving something original from a Maine Artisan. Not only do you gift with pride, you are also helping the Designing Women give back, with the donations made at the door to very worthy organizations.

Visit the Designing Women show December 12, 2009 from 9am-4pm at Woodfords Church at 202 Woodford Street.

View Larger Map

-Kathryn

Diane Bowie-Zaitlin to Offer Workshop

2009-11-24T06:49:00.000-08:00

Encaustic by Diane Bowie-Zaitlin

Local artist Diane Bowie-Zaitlin is offering an encaustic workshop at her studio December 5th & 6th from 10am-3pm. In this contemporary approach to encaustic painting, classes will work with color, transparency, manipulation and texturing of the wax surface, layering, oil stick, collage and mixed media. Classes are small and flexible to accomodate the various interests of the students.

Encaustic painting is also known as wax painting. Pigment is added to hot beeswax and applied to a panel with metal tools before it cools. This artform dates back to ancient egyptian mummy portraits! Paintings can be abstract and layered like a collage or can be similar to oil/acrylic in complexity and style.

6th-Century Encaustic Icon

For more information on the workshop, email Diane.

Priscille Verrier's Saturday Class

2009-11-16T08:05:00.000-08:00

You may know Priscille Verrier is teaching a "Hue Can Do It" class, for the Biddeford Adult Education. You may know she taught a "Learning to "See" Like an Artist" Watercolor Workshop recently, but did you know she is offering continuous Saturday watercolor classes at Highland Home Gallery? Highland Home Gallery is right across from Aquaboggin on route 1. The idea at Highland is for artists to learn tips and tricks to jump-start their creativity. If you've always wanted to try watercolor, this is a perfect way to get started with a teacher-artist who wants your imagination to soar.

-Kathryn

Why Archival Matters – Part 2

2009-11-14T07:46:00.001-08:00

When preserving your fine art, your child's masterpiece or a family heirloom archival is best.

Archival materials are best because they:

1. Slow paper degradation,
2. Neutralize acid by-products,
3. Protect against damaging pollutants,
4. Are fade and bleed resistant,
5. Buffered to maintain alkaline pH,
6. Are acid free and lignin free.

We can appreciate those precious treasures now and we can, with just a little knowledge, safeguard those same dear memories for our great-great grandchildren.

Why Archival Matters - Part 1

2009-11-14T07:44:00.000-08:00

Precious family treasures like Grammy’s Christening Gown, Great Auntie’s Sampler or Grandad’s Medals seem to be appreciated more in these trying times. While we are putting greater value on the links to our past, we realize that we need to preserve these heirlooms for the generations to come. To take the guess work out of that process, we need to know some simple things about protection.

First, you want to learn anything you can about the object: who made it, when, any interesting story that relates to the object, where it fits in historically, if that applies. For example, a 2nd cousin wrote down the story of how a 1st paycheck from the phone company at the St. Louis Worlds’ Fair ended up inside a goat. She illustrated the story with a photo of a 1900’s Switchboard, a Fair Program and a photo of the goat with our great grandfather. So remember to label paper times with a soft pencil. Then you should scan the photo. Take photos of bulky items and store them on CDs. If you make a few extras, relatives can store them too.

Secondly, purchase an inexpensive light meter and hydrometer, to check humidity and the amount of light. Store those treasures away from direct sunlight and in an environment between 40 – 50 % humidity, at 68 degrees. Books within those light and humidity guidelines can be stored on shelving if given generous space. Squeezing too many books in too small a space, can damage the book spines. Avoid basements, attics or outside walls. Use acid-free mats, backboards, acid-free albums and boxes.

Every six months, examine your heirlooms for holes and sawdust. Wear cotton gloves or handle as little as possible with clean hands. Never store your treasures in wooden chests, because the sap they exude can stain and spoil. Never store in plastic drycleaner's bags because they trap moisture. Remove all pins, paper clips and staples, to avoid rust. These Archival tips matter because your family’s story should be preserved. It matters to your generation and the ones to come.

-Kathryn

Bakery Blog

2009-10-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

Sam's Place hosted the Harvestfest's Pie Contest this past Sunday. It was organized by Saco Spirit Board Member Sally Howe. We were lucky to meet some of Saco's enthusiastic bakers, who were willing to share their pie recipes!

Sally Howe with Pie Contest winner Laura Mooney

Blue ribbon winner Laura Mooney won 9 Saco Spirit Christmas Ornaments for her Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cheesecake Pie. Red ribbon winner Dianna Hill won a gift certificate for Women's Terapeutic Massage. White ribbon winner Diane Lamber won a gift certificate to The Candy Garden for her Carmel-Pecan Pumpkin Pie.

Their recipes are as follows:

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cheesecake Pie

Crust:
1 3/4C Chocolate Wafer Crumbs
6 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, Melted
3 Tbsp Packed Dark Brown Sugar
Dash of Salt

Note: Do not use store bought pre-made crusts as they are too small for the amount of filling in the recipe

Filling:
6 Oz Cream Cheese, Softened
3/4 C Confectioner's Sugar
1/4 Tsp Kosher Salt
1 1/4C Smooth Peanut Butter
1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
2C Heavy Cream
1 Oz Dark Chocolate, Melted (for decorating top)
2 Tbsp Smooth Peanut Butter, Melted (for decorating top)

1) Make crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine wafer crumbs, butter, brown sugar & salt. Press mixture firmly into bottom & upsides of 9" deep dish pie plate. Bake 8-10 mins until set. Let cool completely on rack.

2) Make filling: Beat cream cheese, confectioner's sugar & salt with a mixer on medium. Speed until fluffy. Beat in peanut butter and vanilla.

3) In a seperate bowl, beat heavy cream until soft peaks form. Whisk 1/3 of whipped cream into peanut butter mixture, then gently fold in remaining whipped cream. Spoon into crust. Freeze uncovered at least 4 hours (or overnight covered with plastic wrap).

4) Before serving: Place melted chocolate in resealable sandwich baggie. Snip tip from one corner of bag to make a small hole. Hold about 5" above pie and drizzle over top. Repeat with peanut butter. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

Caramel-Pecan Pumpkin Pie

Crust:

1/2 Pkg Ready-made Pie Crust

Filling:

2 Eggs, Lightly Mixed

1 15oz Can Pumpkin Pie

1/4C Light Cream or Half/Half

1 Tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 Tbsp Flour

Topping:

1/2C Chopped Pecans

2 Tbsp Softened Butter

1/2C Brown Sugar

3/4C Sugar

1/2 Vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare crust and place in 8" or 9" pie plate. Fold, crimp & decorate pie edge. In large bowl, combine eggs, pumpkin, cream, spice, flour, sugar & vanilla until blended. Pour into pie shell. Cover pie edges with foil. Bake 20 minutes. Remove foil and cover pie filling with topping. Bake another 30 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Refrigerate 2 hours after cooling. Best served with ice cream or whipped cream.

Colors of America

2009-10-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

If you have been in the shop lately, you've noticed the moving of some displays. The goal is to have like items closer together, to make sense of the space. For example, the paint chip display is closer the actual California Paint products that it's representing now.

Following that logic, the massive "Colors of America" circular display needed to be closer to the paints as well. These Fres~Coat sample pots had to be taken down and then replaced to facilitate the move.

While putting the paint sample jars back, the system of color names proved interesting. Under the heading, "Historic Colors", were the standard reliable names the summon up stable thoughts of founding fathers and mothers: Asher Benjamin, Hawthorne Green and Lady Banksia. These shades welcome autumn back safely into your home and everyone admires them.

Then we have the "Color Revolution" heading. These are the names that tickel and surprise. Under the subheading "Hipster" there's a vibrant orange called Coctail Hour and a lush blue called Trust Fund Baby that gives that tasteful, prosperous vibe. Under "Empty Nest" there's What Inheritance?, a creamy cool butter shade and a peachy Breakfast in Bed color that flatters everyone's complexion. "Bachelor's" subheading offers colors like Alpha Male brown and The Ego Has Landed red that are fun.

For next summer(yeah, thinking that far ahead), the calm serenity of the "sancuary" colors is going to be my staycation inspiration. Nourish will be good for the woodwork, as it's that perfect greeny-blue that whispers summer. Calm is a basic white whit a hint of green that will make a great accent wall. Bask, looking like a blush, will make a great powder room tint.

This is the decade of purple, the industry's colorists crow. Until Refuge and Harmony appeared, there was serious doubt. But both these colors have a muted, peaceful hie that makes them seem karmatic.

So as each season arrives, the Colors of America circular display is a good place to look for new ideas in Fres~Coat and sometimes a giggle as well.

-Kathryn

Virginia Garrity's Dolls

2009-10-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

My Grammy, Virginia Garrity, has been creating dolls since the 70's. She was featured in Maine Today, in the "Where's Amy" segment on news channel 13 and has been taking ribbons at the Fryeburg Fair for over 30 years. Recently, her Michele Obama doll was featured August/September issue of Soft Dolls and Animals Magazine. She's got a Barack doll finished that I'll have to get some pictures of.

Grammy, or Ginny as her friends call her, is a member of local art group Uncommon Threads in Saco. They have had group shows at Dogfish Cafe in Portland and Ginny has shown her work at The Heart of Biddeford Community Center.

Congratulations Grammy!

Biddeford Chalk on the Walk 2009

2009-09-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

Photo by Samantha Milliken

Saturday, September 26 was the 2009 Chalk on the Walk Festival in Biddeford. Jim was featured in the Portland Press Herald. Here are the photos they took:

Jim's photo is also in the album up at Maine Today

Photo by Caraslifka

Dan Adam's (Buzz) robot won the contest, this is his picture:

Things To Do: September 19/20

2009-09-19T07:16:00.000-07:00

Saturday, September 19, 2009

An Evening with Maine's Finest Songwriters, 8pm, City Theatre, 205 Main St. Biddeford ($20 balcony, $25 floor)

Maine's Finest Songwriters including Pete Kilpatrick, Marie Moreshead, Pete Miller and Anni Clark will be in Biddeford performing original acoustic sets. Anni is terrific, she's been performing her folk music for years. You may have heard her singing her folky-bluesy songs at Bebe's in Biddeford or North Star on the east end of Portland and she works here in Saco. If you've got a couple bucks to spend, this show should be great and it's always nice to support your local musicians!

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David Wax Museum, 8pm, Hog Farm Studios 140 Main St Biddeford ($6)

Another show in Biddeford, Hog Farm presents a mexo-americana quartet, David Wax Museum. I wish I had some computer speakers here at Sam's Place so I could check these guys out! (hint hint, have any old speakers??) I don't know what this band's all about but I fully trust Hog Farms will bring a good show!

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Eric Bettencourt's CD Release, 9pm, Empire Dine & Dance 575 Congress St Portland ($5advance, $8door)

If you're looking for something to dance to, Eric won't disappoint. This is his second cd release this year!! He's got a great voice, can really play that guitar and his band, Giraffe Attack, is awesome too. Come out and enjoy this music...I can't say enought good things about Eric and his new albums.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Farmington Fair, 8:30a-?, Farmington Fairgrounds ($5, $1 ages8-11, free ages under 8)

Sunday is the opening day of the Farmington Fair. I know it's a drive, but if you've got the whole day free, do some early leaf-peeping and head to the fair. Here's the schedule for the day:

8:30 a.m. - Steer & Oxen Scooting Contest (boys and girls, ages 9 to 15) in the Pulling Ring

9:00 a.m. - Team Penning in the Show Ring

9:00 a.m. - Farmers Steer & Ox Scooting in the Pulling Ring

9:00 a.m. - (running until 6 p.m) Western Maine Beekeepers in the Museum

11:00 a.m. - 4-H Working Steer Show in the Worthley Arena

1:00 p.m. - Peter Tracy Homeowner Chainsaw training in the Worthley Arena

1:00 p.m. - Midway opens

1:00 p.m. - (running until 6 p.m.) Mike Chase "Alderun Wood Creations" in the Museum

1:00 p.m. - (running until 6 p.m.) Western Maine Blacksmiths in the Museum

1:00 p.m. - Lawn Mower Pull in the Pulling Ring

2:00 p.m. - Para Mutual Racing at the Race Grandstand

4:00 p.m. - Farmers Ox Pull in the Pulling Ring

6:30 p.m. - Miss Farmington Fair Pageant at the Stage

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Maine Roller Derby Try-Outs, 6-8pm, Happy Wheels, 331 Warren Ave Portland

If you can skate and want to meet some fun people while playing a crazy sport, think about roller derby. Here are some myths about derby from the Maine Roller Derby site:

Fishnets and/or skirts are required

It’s fake or staged. We are athletes who train rigorously to excel in our full-contact sport.

Come watch a bout and you’ll never doubt it again

Size is an issue

It’s “violent.” Roller derby is an organized, aggressive, full-contact sport with legal checks and blocks and ways to contact opposing players. Illegal moves result in penalties

Whatever you end up doing, have a good weekend and let us know what awesome things you've been up to!

-Jenna

Art Classes in the Saco Bay Area

2009-09-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

If you're interested in learning to paint or draw there are a number of classes in the area. We hear about these classes when art students come in to gather supplies (we offer a 10% discount on art supplies to art students and artists).

Judith Kinsman's "Watercolor: Beginners & Beyond" class starting this Wednesday, September 16th through the Old Orchard Beach/Saco Adult Education. Classes are held at Old Orchard Beach High School.

Judith also has a watercolor class coming up at the Saco Museum. Beginning October 7, Wednesdays from 9a-noon, the class will go for 4 sessions. You can go for all 4 sessions or just drop-in when you can.

Students rave about Judith's classes and take them over and over. She makes painting an art anybody can enjoy. She's had work in several solo and juried exhibitions. We try and keep all her supplies in stock so let us know if there's anything else you need!

Judith Kinsman's Watercolor, Hydrangeas

Russel Whitten's "Inspirations in Drawing" begins October 19th continuing for 6 sessions and is also through the Adult Ed. The class will emphasize tonal drawing, the perception and composition of the appearance of nature, and form drawing.

Russel studied at MECA and in NY among other places and is a member of the Art Guild of the Kennebunks and The Ogunquit Art Association.

Russel Whitten's Self-portrait

Biddeford Adult Education is offering "Hue Can Do It" by Priscille Verrier, an introducation to watercolor for those who might be a little nervous about it. No need, just sign up for this 12 week class starting Tuesday, September 15 from 3-5pm. Classes are held at the Learning Center in Biddeford.

If you know of any art classes, please let us know!
-Jenna

Not Another Color Blog: Mehndi

2009-09-12T10:46:00.000-07:00

I think I'll take a break from exploring color (though it is the quickest, least expensive way to change a space). Instead I am exploring Mehndi, thanks to Jim and Jenna. Okay, so I did not know what Mehndi was, though I am a huge Bollywood fan.

I have always been intrigued by the bride's (there's always a bride in a Bollywood film) painted hands. There seems to be such ceremony and affection, as the bride's hands are lovingly decorated with rich brown, rust or red henna shades by the women in her own family and those of her groom's. It is art and an intense communal effort at the same time.

So...Jim and Jen were making the rounds at the First Friday Art Walk in Portland. They met an amazing artist, Nev, and were totally enchanted by her and her intricate art. On their return to the shop, Jim showed me her promo card with her website: ReMarkable Blackbird and now I find myself immersed in her henna creations, researching Mehndi to my heart's content.

As I close this blog, I am going to steal a quote because it perfectly sums up my new found appreciation of an ancient art form: "Henna art is ephemeral and enduring...a journey of beauty, love, joy and luck." This is what Nev is exhibiting on her website and on her hands in her open studios on First Fridays in Portland.

-Kathryn

Note: All photos are Nev's. This is her beautiful work!

Feng Shui Bagua

2009-09-10T07:22:00.000-07:00

This blog is continuing the conversation about color, specifically Feng Shui Bagua. You know Feng Shui, but the Bagua component makes it easier to color your own home. The Bagua is a map for decorating, using a nine-panel grid breaking up your home into sections. These sections correspond to desirable aspects of life.

For example: the "front-middle" is the entrance of the house and it is also the "career & life journey" aspect of your life. So, if you want to enhance your life within a certain aspect, you color that area to attract that. The ideal Bagua is as follows:

The 9 Sections of Bagua in your Home

"Front-Left"

Wisdom & Knowledge

Add Calming Blue

"Front-Middle"

Career & Life Journey

Add Sophisticated Black

"Front-Right"

Helpful People

Add Universal Gray

"Middle-Left"

Community & Family Harmony

Add Peaceful Green

"Middle-Middle"

Health & Well-being

Add Sunshiney Yellow

"Middle-Right"

Creativity & Children

Add Centered White

"Rear-Left"

Prosperity & Abundance

Add Royal Purple

"Rear-Middle"

Fame & Reputation

Add Passionate Red

"Rear-Right"

Love & Relationships

Add Romantic Pink

So if you are feeling adventurous, or are just plain bored with your surroundings and cannot move house, do try this at home.

-Kathryn

Color Personalities

2009-09-03T13:53:00.000-07:00

How do the consultants to the rich & famous zone in on their clients color personalities?

Tom Scheerer looks at the wardrobe and the closet for clues to their color affinity. Once their favorite color is identified Tom chooses a complementary color, to keep the color scheme from being too obvious. A color wheel is a good tool, so he can cull the opposiste color and build out their colored space from there.

Alessandra Branca sends her clients off to museums. Their environment is their living art. She encourages them to look for feelings of balance, flow and happiness in these public spaces and report back to her so she can start to build their color preferences into the space she is decorating for them.

Phobe Howard starts with portfolios, divided into neutrals and colors. If that leaves the clients still unsure of color, she has them sort through bundles of fabrics in various colors. If they are still feeling color shy, she walks them through a retail space touching colors and saying, "like", "don't like" until they've figured out ther color preferences..

Here are some questions to ask yourself when thinking about color from House Beautiful. We answered most of them just for fun.

What color would you like to try, but are scared to? (Red! Jenna says she isn't scared of colors, some she just doesn't like)
What color makes you grind your teeth? (Jenna and I agree on neon colors)
What color calms you? (peach, Jenna says a zen-like green)
What color brings you down? (I'd say black, Jim says medium grey, Jenna says black or combinations of black and red)
What color makes you happiest? (Aqua makes me happiest, Jenna says sunset colors, Jim says turquoise)
What is your favorite flower? (Mine is peach colored rose, Jenna's is a tiger-lily)
What's your favorite gemstone? (Mine is a diamond...so...silver? Jenna's is a black pearl which is more grey and isn't a gem stone at all)
What color was your prom dress? (I didn't go! I wore an aqua blue dress to several weddings though. Jenna's was black, but not your basic black. Think I dream of Jeanne in black and rhinestones...kind of)
What color is your car? (Mine is forest green, Michael's bronze, Paul's is blue, Jenna's and Jim's silver)
What color was your favorite crayon as a child? (Mine was red or purple because I didn't get to wear those colors much! Jenna's were pink, blue and purple- all pastel colors she hates now, Trista always reached for red)
What color are your sheets? (Mine are off white, Jenna's are dark orange, Jim's teal blue)
What color was your bedroom when you were growing up? (Jenna and Trista had a jungle mural on the wall)
What color is your lipstick? (We wear chapstick...so very little color at all!)
What color gets you the most compliments? (Mine is navy blue, Jenna says colors she hates like pink)
What color do you wear when you want to feel pretty? (I wear soft blue, Jenna likes a dusty rose but doesn't actually own anything that color, Jim always feels pretty)
What color do you never wear? (Yellow! Jenna won't wear easter egg colors.)
What color do you wear the most? (Jenna, Michael and I all wear a lot of brown, beige, green, grey and blue, Jim wears black and blue jeans exclusively :)
What color are your eyes? (Mine are a deep blue like ultra-marine, Jenna's a grey-blue outlined in navy, Jim's are blue with other shades of grey and flecks of lighter blue, Trista's are blueish/greenish with yellow which makes them appear more green.)

-Kathryn

Jenna's Picks for Super Fun this Weekend

2009-08-28T09:14:00.000-07:00

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Friday, 8/28/09
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Biddeford Art Walk, Biddeford 5p-8p. Visit their site for a map of participating galleries.

Oh Baby Cafe (140 Main St) will have live, low-key music and new art
HFS Annex (140 Main St, 107 back alley) has music starting at 8pm after the walk...$6 cover, should be fun. Coco and Gil always are.

Yoko Ono & WBLM Present: Come Together: A Message of Optimism: The Art Work of John Lennon at the Dunaway Center, Ogunquit (23 School Street) 12p-7pF, 11a-7pSa, 11a-6pSu, $2 suggested donation.
This is where I'll be tonight, but if you can't get away this evening the show goes all weekend. I am really excited to see his work...it's the largest collection in the world and it's been travelling for 15 years raising money for various charities.

Alison Violette at Blue, Portland (650A Congress St) 7p-8:20p.
Blue is Portland's most intimate music venue featuring Celtic, Middle Eastern, Blues, Old Time, Jazz, and Folk music. The Maine Arts Commission says: Alison is a Native Maine Singer/Songwriter who began writing songs at the age of 18. In 2001, she released her debut album, ''Melancholy Blue'' (available at Acoustic Coffee, Portland, Maine, and through contacting her) and has since graced venues from coast to coast with her soothing and, sometimes eerie, vocals and steady guitar playing.
She's also one of the nicest and funniest people you'll ever meet, so introduce yourself during a break.

Sol.Illaquists of Sound at Space Gallery, Portland (538 Congress St) 9pm, $10 advance/$12 door.
If you're into hip hop, this show should be awesome. Space says: Backed by a powerful message of self-awareness, the Sol.Illaquists combine rapid-fire lyricism, jazz-tinged vocals, insightful poetry, and innovative live electronic performance.

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Saturday, 08/28/09
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LL Bean Sports Weekend at LL Bean (duh), Freeport (95 Main St, but you cannot miss it) Fri/Sat/Sun.
25% off a lot of stuff at LL Bean this weekend. Check out the schedule of events...there are a ton of workshops and demonstrations going on. My pick? Saturday from 11a-3p Geo-caching: Adventure Treasure Hunt. Yeah, it's a little nerdy, but I love me some gadgets and hidden treasure.

Dominic and the Lucid at Empire Dine and Dance, Portland (575 Congress St) 9pm, $5.
Portland Phoenix says: Lavoie and company have done something difficult in carving out a fairly unique sound that dabbles in everything from ’60s psychedelia to ’70s lounge to contemporary jam and brit-pop.
Anyway, these guys are really fun. Again, introduce yourselves if you get a chance. They're really friendly, down-to-earth dudes. The show should be a good time...music you can dance to. Also, they always know about after-parties.

Greetings from Lesbos, Maine at The St. Lawrence Arts and Community Center, Portland (76 Congress St) 8pmF&Sa $8/$5students.
The world premiere of a play by Maine playwright Carolyn Gage, adaptations of lesbian literary works and a choreographed trapeze act.
The first work is about Natalie Clifford Barney whom I adore. Reading about this woman is like a soap opera...except it's all true. She used to vacation in Bar Harbor and ride her horses bareback! This should be an interesting evening.

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Sunday, 08/30/09
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If you want to relax after a busy weekend, maybe catch a matinee and save a couple bucks. Taking Woodstock comes out Friday and I want see it NOW. Right now! Or maybe Sunday since I'm at work. This film stars Demitri Martin (my favorite comedian ever!) and the ruggedly hansome (ok, hippie looking) Emile Hirsch. This movie isn't a comedy as you might expect from Martin, but it does look like great film about the people, the time and the place around the music festival. Let me know what you think if you see it.

-Jenna

Frame Enhancement

2009-08-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

Last time I blogged, I was learning about preservation of work. Now I’ve learned about the choices that have to be made, to get the optimum appearance for your art.

Jim our resident framer, meets clients over his consulting table, to choose the type of glass, the matts (and how many), the molding (which we typically think of as the frame), the fillet or other specialized applications (more on that later).

Glass is just glass, right? Surprisingly, besides regular picture glass, there’s uv clear, uv non-glare types. (Plexiglas comes in uv clear and uv non glare too.) Then there’s museum glass which pulls you eye right into the artwork.

Matt choices enhance a piece of art through different texture (like suede, print…) or color (maybe a contrasting color on the bevel, which is the edge of the mat). Multi mats can be staggered over each other to bring out the colors in the art.

Another specialized application, the fillet can add depth to a work. It is a thin bead metal that rests between the image and the other layers, or matts. Think of fillet as a mini frame within the frame, as it is very thin.

If a piece has various sized items that need to be displayed, Jim can create a shadow box effect by building windows with in the matts. This particular application is good with family heirlooms and personal treasures.

Another specialized option is aptly called, “floating” an item. This is great for displaying team jerseys and memorabilia. Recently a customer had Jim create a frame for his girlfriend with a window for tickets, a double matt of the play’s program and float a prop newspaper headline from the play.

We at Sam’s were impressed with the customer’s choices and thoughtfulness towards his girlfriend and her gift. But not nearly as impressed as SHE WAS when he presented his framed memory to her.

-Kathryn

Some Window Treatment FAQ

2009-08-25T06:54:00.000-07:00

My response to the 64 thousand dollar question, what is a window treatment? A window treatment is a window dressing that serves multiple purposes: light control, heat control, privacy and most of all aesthetics; yes a thing of beauty. The function of the window treatment can change with the control such as a "top-down, bottom-up" feature which allows the shade to be raised from the bottom and lowered from the top. This gives the versatility of covering one area, say the bottom for privacy, and leaving the top open for light.

And "Just what is R-factor?" you might ask. R-factor or R-value is the measurement of a product's ability to resist heat flow. Since today's homes typically have R-values of up to 25 in the walls and only 3.5 in the low-e double glazed glass, the windows become an energy sieve losing energy to the outside in winter and gaining energy in summer. So now we may have this consideration when choosing a window treatment. The best class of window treatments for R-factors is the honeycomb shade, also known as the cellular shade.

It is important to note that all window treatments have some R-factor and it is worth weighing all their features when making a decision about a window treatment.

-Paul

Review: Open House & Artist Reception at Bay View Company, August 20, 2009

2009-08-21T13:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening, Phil Grime held an open house for his new Bay View Company. There wasn’t a trace of the former tenant, Rosebud Tattoo Shop, anywhere. Phil has appointed his gallery space with the art of many talented local artists in various mediums, as well as some fine antique pieces. People were smiling over cheerfully appointed mirrors, and vibrant land and seascapes. There were scattered signs everywhere instructing, “please touch” the glazed pottery. One whimsical folk art piece constructed out of an umbrella, a haying scythe and some open-toed shoes encouraged lively discussion. When not taking in the sights, gallery goers reconnected with each other and sampled some stellar refreshments. If you’re in Saco, Phil’s at 5 Elm Street is worth a stop.

Bay View Company

5 Elm Street, Saco, Maine 04072

207-283-0074

-Kathryn

Preservation & Framing

2009-08-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

Protecting Heirlooms

Recently I had the pleasure of watching Jim our custom art framer work on an antique frame. I mention it because it was unusual. It had a pieced wood frame - forming an oblong octagon. Another unusual feature: over the cherished hand tinted family photograph was the convex glass, that Jim gave a polish.

Jim explained that along with enhancing valuable pieces of art, framing is for protecting heirlooms. Jim uses archival conservation material – which are acid free, to prevent the dustcover (backing) from eating away the photograph over time. So when Jim sends a piece out he says, “Barring household accidents & acts of nature, bring it back in a hundred years, for a refit!”

-Kathryn

This Summer's Hot Seller: Down East Doormats

2009-08-18T14:16:00.000-07:00

Down East Doormats

Handwoven doormats made from recycled lobster trap float-rope

After seeing these terrific recycled doormats on tv, Kathryn had to order some for Sam's Place. These mats are virtually indestructable and easy to clean! Each mat is one of a kind and handwoven by Maine crafters. The float-rope used to make these mats used to entangle whales and litter the ocean. Maine lobstermen are now required to use sink-rope and this is a wonderful way for them to recycle and keep the float-rope out of our landfills.

The Maine Float-Rope Co. also donates a percentage of its earnings to non-profit organizations and programs that protect whales and other marine life.

Come in and check out the selection! Support this amazing Maine company!

-Jenna

New Web Site

2009-08-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

After taking an intensive web design class over the first weekend in August, I thought I could whip up a web site in no time at all.

It's proved to be a little more complex than that...but we've got a site up! I'll be working on improvements (constantly), but at least we've got some info up and lots of fun links.

We'll also be updating this blog and maintaining the facebook page so keep in touch and give us some feedback!

Thanks,

Jenna @ Sam's Place