The 2023 Summer Art Classes and Workshops
Searsport Shores Ocean Campground and Art Space is partnering with Fiber College and the Makers Guild of Maine, 501c3 to bring you art and music events all summer long.
Many of the programs are free or low cost drop-in classes for campers and day visitors. Some artists are offering free drop in classes at the beginning of the week and a paid Summer Shorts Workshop Thursday-Sunday.
Anyone with the necessary attention span is welcome to join in the activities.
June 14-17, 2023 Knitting Classes
A fantastic knitting retreat created by the Knitwit Yarn Shop featuring classes by outstanding knitting teachers: @casapinka, @squidneyknits, @owlcatdesigns and @lauranelkin
This is a Knitwit retreat with loving endorsement from all of us at Searsport Shores! All non-camping inquiries should be directed here.
June 18-24, 2023 Rust and Botanical Printing Classes
Samantha Verrone of Regenerative Design
Sam says: "I'll be experimenting with the plants on hand with rusty objects and happy to talk to folks about regenerative design - how rust is the quintessential regenerative dyestuff that gives and gives and gives and that over-dyeing and mending garments and home textiles breathe new life into beloved objects and helps us to reframe consumption in a manner that demonstrates actual care of the planet."
Join Samantha on a journey of creating marks with rust and plants and pigments with Spring botanicals. Samantha will conduct a free to campers session Monday-Thursday and on Friday-Saturday will offer a Summer Shorts ($) for those who are serious about learning how to print with plants on silk, cotton and linen. Register Here
June 25-July 1, 2023 Collage Making Classes
Paula Cochrane the Unassigned Artist
Using the simplest of tools -scissors, paper, and glue, Paula's classes will take you back to the art form that was likely your first and return you to taking bits of paper to produce an amazing work of art. This art form is accessible to all ages and ability levels. By sharing this passion, you will bring home a self-made souvenir of your vacation into nature and creativity, and a new art hobby to explore and expand on when you get home. Most of all, we hope you will simply have fun!
July 2-8, 2023 Embroidery and Sewing Classes
Emma Morin, needle work artist extra-ordinaire!
Want help completing a project that you got stuck on long ago? Are you an absolute beginner or looking to refine your stitches? Emma will be conducting workshops that meet you exactly where you're at and you'll go home with a project to be proud of; whether you'd like to make a patch for your jeans, an ornament for your tree or a tiny doll that reminds of you of your vacation in Searsport.
July 9-15, 2023 Botanical Printing Classes
Mary DeLano Botanical Printing
Mary writes "I am blessed to have reached a stage in my life where I can focus my time and energy on my passion for fiber art. I love combining color, texture and patterns to create interesting new designs. Whether I am recycling old wool into new rugs, playing with dye and eco prints on new scarves and old linen, or adding texture to a piece with embroidered embellishments, I am delighted to combine color, texture and pattern to express my creativity and joy."
Mary will conduct a free to campers session Monday-Wednesday and on Thursday-Sunday will offer a Summer Shorts ($) for those who are serious about learning how to print with plants on silk, cotton and wool. Update: The Thursday-Sunday session is sold out.
July 16-22, 2023 Water Color and Cooking Classes
Mary Laury & Chris Toy
Acadian Arts Watercolor Retreat at the Shores with Mary Laury
This is a big and wonderful week at the campground. We have two artists in residence who will be working as a team this week. You can choose to spend time with Mary and develop your watercoloring skills or Chris and develop your cooking repertoire. Monday through Wednesday Mary or Chris will offer free to campers sessions and in this special "Summer Short" you'll be gathering for meals together Thursday-Sunday. Registration and details for this exciting retreat is through Maine Adult Education.Mary Laury is an artist based in coastal Maine specializing in watercolors. The dynamic nature and botanical subjects of Maine are Mary’s passions. You can see her paintings exhibited at various galleries along the coast of her home state. An experienced teacher, she has taught painting, drawing and dancing both in the classroom and in the field, for many educational programs.
Asian Fusion Cooking Retreat at the Shores with Chris Toy
Author of 6 popular cookbooks, Chris Toy cooks and teaches privately at local kitchen stores, and for several community education programs around Maine. Chris’s popular hands-on classes are built around his teaching skills and his deep appreciation for fresh, simply prepared food. Chris’ cooking incorporates straightforward methods, fresh ingredients, and combinations of unique flavors, all drawing family and friends together to enjoy great food and one another’s company. Registration and details for this exciting retreat is through Maine Adult Education.
July 23-29, 2023 Embroidery Art Classes
Sue Bleignier: Contemporary Stitching and Drawing
July 30-August 5, 2023 Acrylic Painting Art Classes
Dan Dolce: The Power of Color
Exploring color and how it forms relationships on canvas has always fascinated me. I play with unrealistic color in my own work in oil, but for this week, we will explore color using acrylic paint. This medium lends itself to quick work as opposed to the slow drying time of oil.
We will see what color can do to a composition and how it can change feeling, mood and perspective. We will use complimentary, harmonious and unrealistic color in Landscape, Still Life and Abstract painting studies. Learners will be able to create small painting compositions suitable for a larger painting on canvas.
August 6-12, 2023 Basket Making Art Classes
Sue Muldoon: Weaving For Everybody!
Do you marvel over beautiful AND practical weaving? The creating stars and hearts and produce baskets is fun and surprisingly easy! This is your opportunity to sit in the garden and explore weaving for beauty and purpose with Sue. If you really want an extra special souvenir to enjoy, sign up for Summer Shorts ($) and weave a one-of-a kind backpack, complete with its own detachable wine bottle holder. Sue is a seatweaver by trade and a basketweaver by passion. Register Here
August 13-19, 2023 Harmonies & Story Telling
Back by popular demand...music and story telling! Jen & Eddie will host campfires, offer lessons in mandolin and guitar and provide a concert after the Wednesday night community jam.
The bio from their website reads: "Since meeting as singer-songwriters at a Chicago open mic In 2011, husband-and-wife duo The New Zeitgeist has been steadily building a reputation for tempting harmonies and lonesome spirituals, which have been said to “harbor the Spirits that dwell in the Hidden Hollows Of Appalachia”(Country Standard Time). Jen Reilly’s country gospel roots and Southern swing combine with the black leather electric and pop sensibility of Eddie Bluma to produce what Steven Wine Of Associated Press Calls"Music that connects Dublin And Austin...like nothing else being heard in roadhouses or pubs." They currently live in the Hudson Valley in Upstate NY
August 20-26, 2023 Macrame, Nautical Knots & Wooden Toy Classes
Santa Steve
Santa needs a vacation before the holiday season begins...but he shares his sparkle with us here at the campground. Join Santa to learn nautical knots, macrame survival bracelets and construct a wide variety of wooden toys...and if we ask nicely we think that he may even tell a campfire story or two!
Did you know that Santa is also passionate about chain mail? You know, the beautiful wire weaving techniques of the armor from the Middle Ages…and contemporary jewelry of today? You can join Santa for single day Short Short classes over Labor Day weekend
August 27- September 2, 2023 Monoprint Art Classes
Monoprints are one-of-a kind prints that capture your special moment in time. They can be simple or complex, done by a child or an active artist in short bursts. Debbie Dutton, a Texas-based paper artist will use different techniques including batik, gelli plate, and hand-cut stencils to show you how make your own unique art pieces. The skills you learn in the art studio are easily transferable to your own home.
Deb is also passionate about book making. Be sure to check out her single day Short Short classes over Labor Day weekend!
September 2 & 3, 2023 Art Workshops
Short Shorts Labor Day Weekend! Inexpensive, single day Fiber College Workshops just for the fun of it! When we think about these creative adventures, we imagine multi-generational families camping for the long weekend and mothers and daughters, grandparents and grandchildren, aunts and friends will all take classes. For those who aren't interested in art (gasp, but OK), there's plenty of hiking, biking, sightseeing and hanging at the beach so everyone can have a great weekend.
Workshops start at 9:00, include a homemade meal in the garden (vegetarian and gf options too), and you'll be back at your campfire by 5:00. All sessions are $295 BUT if you sign up for two sessions at the same time before August 1st and you're camping here, receive a $100 credit towards your camping fees at check in! Click here for more information and to register.
September 7-10, 2023 Art Workshops
Dive Deeply into your passion! Fiber College celebrates fiber in all its forms. The fiber arts connect us to the natural world, time-honored skills, the global community, and to each other. Our annual gathering, the week after Labor Day, is an established feature of the Maine arts calendar. We call our workshop series Touchstones because they speak to all that grounds us and give us a vision for the future. Come and share our passion, unlock your creativity and make something extraordinary.
Click here to go to the Fiber College website for details and registration.
September 15-17, 2023 Music Workshops and Basket Making Retreat
Strung Together Oldtime Music Campout & Native American Basket Making Class
The OT & Bluegrass Jam weekend begins Friday afternoon with an OT Jam and banjo workshop followed by our world famous Strung Together wood fired pizza bar and concert. The jams will take place in different areas in the park but close enough to give all participants easy access to both jam circles.
This year we are jamming around the grounds under tents, porches, trees and other canopies. Designated spaces will be laid out for each style of music, with unlimited spots to hold you own jam.
Special in 2023, we're offering a concurrent Fiber College Basket Making Retreat. While you focus on your handwork, others will be gathering for jams, lessons and performances of Old Time and Bluegrass Music in other parts of the campground. In your workshop, you’ll be part of a small, close knit group, and get all the skills, help and support you need to develop a beautiful basket. It's a chance to take a deep dive and hear your soul whispering while your hands are weaving. Details will be posted by May 1.
September 22-24, 2023
Samantha Verrone Tannin Baths and Rust Printing
Sam says: "I'll be experimenting with the plants on hand with rusty objects and happy to talk to folks about regenerative design - how rust is the quintessential regenerative dyestuff that gives and gives and gives and that over-dyeing and mending garments and home textiles breathe new life into beloved objects and helps us to reframe consumption in a manner that demonstrates actual care of the planet."
Join Samantha on a journey of creating marks with rust and plants and pigments with tannin rich autumn botanicals. Samantha will conduct a free to campers session Monday-Thursday and on Friday-Saturday will offer a Summer Shorts ($) for those who are serious about learning how to print with plants on silk, cotton and linen. Registration is open.
