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Member Open Studio Time
Every Sunday from 1 - 4 PM in the Kaleidoscope studio.
ArtWaves members are invited to get creative during our open studio times! Start something new, bring a project from home, or continue work that you started in one of our classes or workshops. Members are able to use our complimentary supplies for drawing, batik, painting, felting, printmaking, mosaic and more! Children are welcome with adult supervision.
Need more time on your work? Come back in on (most) Monday from 10 - 4 for additional member open studio time!
Open studio time is drop-in, no registration is required, and it is free for ArtWaves Members.
Downeast Community Dance
Sundays 10:00am - 11:30am, Dance Studio
Join us for the Downcast Community Dance, a recurring gathering designed to bring movement, music, and connection to Bar Harbor. Hosted at ArtWaves, this inclusive event welcomes dancers of all levels to come together and share in the joy of creative expression.
The dance takes place on Sundays from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays of the month, offering a rhythm to your week and a space for both beginners and seasoned dancers to feel at home.
$10 suggested donation.
For questions or more information, please contact susan.sassaman@pronton.me
Which Stitch?
Mondays from 10 AM - 12 PM in the Kaleidoscope studio.
Which Stitch? is a community group where participants bring their current fiber and needle projects to work and converse with each other. Participants are welcome to use ArtWaves' supply of materials to knit, crochet, sew, mend, embroider, weave, felt, cross stitch, and so much more! Beginning instruction can be provided and the occasional special guest will introduce new techniques and demo their work.
This ongoing group maintains an email list for people interested in receiving regular updates and information. If you would like to be included, please email office@artwavesmdi.org.
Which Stitch? is a drop-in group, no registration is required. It is free for ArtWaves Members and a $5 suggested donation for non-members
Which Stitch: Sew Down
The first Monday of every month from 10 AM - 12 PM in the Kaleidoscope studio.
Join us on the first Monday of every month for a Sew Down where the Which Stitch? group makes reusable produce bags! This is an easy way to make a difference by upcycling unwanted clothing and fabric that has a detrimental effect on the environment. Participants will leave with a bag to take home and hopefully leave some to share.
The Sew Down is organized by Claire T Weinburg and Paige Collins. They provide these bags free to the community as D.A.R.N. (Downeast Artist Recycle Now) bags. Claire can be reached at claire@dulseandrugosa.com
Which Stitch? (and the Sew Down) is a drop-in group, no registration is required. It is free for ArtWaves Members and a $5 suggested donation for non-members
Hatha Yoga with Abi
Wednesdays, 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM in the Dance Studio
Join Yogi Abi for a Hatha Yoga flow grounded in the principles of AYAMA. Applied yoga anatomy and muscle activation is the teaching philosophy of Abi's teacher, Yogi Aaron. It combines traditional yoga practices with muscle activation techniques proven to strengthen our ability to contract our muscles on demand. Practicing AYAMA will leave you feeling stronger and help to alleviate pain in the body.
This is a drop-in class. Registration is not required. The price per session is $15 (members) or $20 (non-members), which can be paid directly to the instructor via cash or check.
Please note, there is no class July 2nd, July 30th, or September 24th.
About the Instructor:
Abi was born & raised on Cape Cod Massachusetts. Abi has lived and worked in the greater Ellsworth area for the past four years. In May of 2024 Abi embarked on a journey to Costa Rica to study yoga as Blue Osa yoga retreat on the Osa Peninsula. There she received her 200 Hour yoga teacher training certificate. Yoga has been a big part of her life for many years and she believes that the healing power if yoga is something she is called to share with others through her work.
Weekly Figure Drawing
Thursdays, 12 - 3 PM in the Fine Arts Studio
This open figure drawing sessions features a live nude model performing a series of 20 minute poses with no instruction. Easels, charcoal, and basic supplies are provided. 18 and over, under 18 allowed with parental attendance! Drop-ins welcome.
Pricing per session is $15. Members can register at a discounted rate of $25 for the entire month.
Friday, August 1st, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
In this class, Mariah Reading will guide participants through her painting process with step-by-step instruction and Q&A, focusing on acrylic wildlife painting. Participants can work from their own wildlife inspiration photos or choose from images Mariah has collected from her travels in national parks.
While class examples showcase Mariah's work on non-traditional canvases, participants are welcome to use their own non-traditional surfaces or opt for a provided traditional stretched canvas or board.
The goal is to have fun, get creative, and celebrate your favorite wildlife.
About the Instructor: Mariah Reading is an eco-artist and strong advocate for the existence, preservation, and accessibility of the National Parks. She was born and raised in Bangor, Maine where the surrounding landscape gave her a deep appreciation of nature’s beauty that was reinforced by her degree in Visual Arts at Bowdoin College. The 2016 National Park Centennial propelled her Recycled Landscapes, designed to bring attention to the need of preserving and protecting the environment. Having already visited 33 National Parks, she plans to continue her project in all 63 US National Parks. Mariah has dedicated herself to the field of eco-art through Art Residencies at Denali, Zion, Acadia, Guadalupe Mountains National Parks, working as an Arts In the Parks Volunteer at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, assisting in Yosemite Facelift efforts, developing a K-12 STREAM curriculum with University of California Santa Barbara Oceanography students, and creating conservation workshops with the Channel Islands National Park. She has exhibited work in San Antonio, TX; Seattle, WA; Fort Collins, CO; McKinley Village, AK; Brunswick, ME; and Kamuela, HI; Poughkeepsie, NY; Davis, CA; Rockland, ME; and Portland, ME. From April through September, Reading has worked as an environmental interpreter.
Botanical Eco Printing with Katama Murray
Saturday, August 2, 10 AM - 1 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
Hidden color exists all around us, waiting to be transformed into works of art. Eco printing is the process of bundling and steaming both plants and food waste onto either fabric or paper, allowing the natural pigments to transfer to the prepared substrate. All of the colors, shapes, and textures that bond with the fiber come from the materials themselves, leaving their incredible imprints for us to enjoy. Eco printing offers unique variations and a world of possibilities that allow for full exploration, while mindfully collaborating with the natural world!
About the Instructor: Katama Murray (she/her) is an artist, educator, naturalist, and small business owner from the Blue Hill peninsula now residing in Deer Isle, Maine. Her mixed media work and company, Teach Peace Prints, are inspired by place-based making and our interconnectedness to the environment. While living and studying throughout regions of New England and the Midwest, she has always been influenced by the outdoors and the ways in which we coexist with the natural world. Utilizing locally foraged natural materials, she layers print and fiber processes to visually communicate ideas, observations, and perpetual experimentation. Through hands-on techniques, Katama teaches regional workshops focused on mixed media methods that encourage exploration and foster life-long learning. Katama is also the Visual Arts Educator at the Blue Hill Harbor School. With a passion for multidisciplinary making, she enjoys inspiring others to become more connected to the earth through the power of art and community.
Tuesday, August 5th, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
Join Mariah Reading and learn to create your own charming felted bird! In this class, you'll use natural wool fibers and wire to dry felt a unique bird. Mariah will guide you through each step, from shaping the body and adding feather details to creating the legs. You can even personalize your bird with special touches like a non-wool beak or beads, and work from reference photos or your own imagination.
All instructions and materials are provided, and you'll take home a finished project ready to display!
Tuesday, August 5th, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
Capture the beauty of Maine's iconic lupine season year-round. Join Mariah Reading for a beginner-friendly painting class focused on creating a lupine-inspired landscape. Participants will leave with a completed painting. Step-by-step instruction will cover essential techniques, including setting up your painting, organizing your palette, mixing colors effectively, and various brush strokes.
Wednesday, August 6th, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
Beginners or seasoned glass mosaic veterans are all welcome to join. The process includes cutting glass, so a steady hand is recommended. The shards of glass will come together to create the feathers, face, and reflection of a loon with her chick- the perfect accent to a window or gift for your favorite mom.
Friday, August 8th, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
Brighten your kitchen with a handmade memory of Maine. Learn the art of fabric block printing on tea towels with Mariah Reading. This class will cover the fundamentals of the process, from carving your linoleum block to selecting and distributing inks, and finally printing your towel.
All materials and comprehensive instructions are included.
En Plein Air with Christine Lafuente
Monday - Thursday, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, August 11 - 14
Join Christine Lafuente and experience the magic of Mount Desert Island as you paint En Plein Air. On the first day, a basic review of outdoor set-up, palette organization, composition, and atmospheric color theory will be covered at ArtWaves; however, most of the time spent together will be “hands-on” in the field with individual instruction at four select locations on the Island’s beautiful coves and shores.
The half-day sessions provide you the opportunity to work in the mornings with the instructor, leaving you the afternoons to continue to work independently and process the day’s lesson. We encourage participants to pack lunch, water and snacks for when they are in the field.
*Please note: materials are not included or provided
A native of Poughkeepsie NY, Christine received an A.B. in English from Bryn Mawr College in 1991. She then moved to downtown Philadelphia to earn a Certificate in Painting and Printmaking from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. There she was awarded a Louis S. Ware Memorial Scholarship for European Travel. While Artist-in-Residence at the Fleisher Art Memorial from 1997 to 2002, she began teaching and studied at the Barnes Foundation. In 2003 she moved to Brooklyn NY, where she earned a Master's Degree in Fine Arts at Brooklyn College. In November 2023, Christine did an Artist Residency at Scuola Internazionale di Grafica in Venice, Italy. With the exception of 2020 when she sheltered-in-place in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, Christine lives and works in Brooklyn throughout the year and spends summers painting in Maine.
Tuesday, August 12th, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
Join us for an intro/ intermediate impressionist landscape painting class to ring in spring! Painting will be done on a 16x20" stretched canvas board with acrylic paints of a sunset view from the top of Cadillac Mountain facing the Porcupines. We will work with BIG and GESTURAL strokes focusing on color relationships unique to Mount Desert Island. A sparkle of painted detail can be added at the end, but this class will be a wonderful opportunity to let go of expectations while focusing on what we see and feel. Hope to see you there!
Wednesday, August 13th, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
Transform a beloved landscape into a unique piece of art in this Felted Landscape Pennant Flag class with artist Mariah Reading!
You'll learn the fundamentals of dry needle felting, including essential tips and tricks for working with various wools and fibers to create depth and detail. Using a 12" x 24" pre-shrunk wool pennant flag as your canvas, you'll felt a landscape inspired by your own reference photo or one provided by Mariah from her extensive travels through national and state parks.
All materials and instruction are included. No prior felting experience is necessary!
Friday, August 15th, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
Join Mariah Reading to create a unique lobster-themed glass mosaic. This class offers a fun opportunity to transform Maine's iconic seafood into a personal work of art. Suitable for both beginners and those with some experience, all necessary materials and instruction will be provided.
Participants can choose from a variety of lobster designs and mosaic sizes, ranging from 5x7 inches to 11x14 inches.
Saturday, August 16th, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
About the Instructors: Dave and Lisa Roy have been stained glass artisans for over 20 years. For 10 years, they owned and operated a full service stained glass studio in Bucksport. Their work can be seen in hospitals, churches, and many private residences across the world. You can see more of their work at www.stubborncowglass.com
Long Pose Figure Drawing
Saturday, August 23rd, 1 - 4 PM in the Fine Arts Studio
We are reviving our long pose figure drawing sessions. Like our Thursday sessions, the long pose sessions will feature a live, nude model and there will be no drawing instruction provided. The session will start with a series of gestural warm ups and then will feature a pose that spans the majority of the time, with the model taking a break about every 20 minutes.
$15 per session
Monday, August 25th, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
Join us for an exciting opportunity to add some color outside! We will be making barn quilts for your barn, home, or shed out of a 20 x 20 inch square of plywood, paint, and sealer. These bright, geometric designs, serve as a form of art, storytelling, and a way to celebrate local heritage. Come with a pattern in mind or make a traditional quilt pattern your own in the class. All experience levels welcome!
Tuesday, August 26th, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
Join Mariah Reading to create your very own unique ocean-themed wreath, perfect for indoors or out! Mariah will guide you step-by-step using collected ocean materials including twine, rope, shells, and driftwood.
No experience needed, and all supplies are provided.
Feel free to bring any special beach finds you'd like to add!
Tuesday, August 26th, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
Join artist Mariah Reading to create your own original State of Maine flag using a variety of materials. You'll learn to cut, adhere, and finish your mosaic project.
Choose your project size, ranging from 5x7 inches to 8x11 inches. All instruction and materials are provided, and you'll leave with a finished piece.
Gloria Avner has been a professional artist and art educator for over two decades, specializing in the batik style of painting. Her courses are highly sought after by both beginners and professional artists alike. Ms. Avner's extensive travels and 35 years as the owner of Aquarius Artifacts, an art gallery in Town Hill, have deeply influenced her work. Her paintings are featured in galleries in Florida and private collections nationwide. She is also renowned for her captivating Pet Portraits. Explore her work on Facebook, Instagram (@gloriavner), and Fineartamerica.com.
Handheld Weaving & Natural Dyeing
Thursday, September 4, 4 - 7 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio.
Learn to weave by hand using small, handheld wooden looms and explore the basics of natural dyeing with plants and food waste! This method of weaving allows the process to become more accessible for makers of all experience levels, while the smaller scale affords further opportunities for creating on the go, wherever you may roam. During this workshop, students will learn the basics of simple tapestry weaving on a mini loom using organic, foraged materials and naturally dyed fibers, as well as dye a cotton bandana using seasonal color from local plants. Each student will warp their very own loom and experiment with "bookmark" weaving techniques to create texture, color stories, and patterns on the frame. We will embrace our surroundings and settle into stillness as we tune into the meditative qualities of weaving. Inch by inch, row by row, participants will gain an understanding of the creative capacity of small-scale weaving. Children 10 and over are welcome with an accompanying adult.
About the Instructor: Katama Murray (she/her) is an artist, educator, naturalist, and small business owner from the Blue Hill peninsula now residing in Deer Isle, Maine. Her mixed media work and company, Teach Peace Prints, are inspired by place-based making and our interconnectedness to the environment. While living and studying throughout regions of New England and the Midwest, she has always been influenced by the outdoors and the ways in which we coexist with the natural world. Utilizing locally foraged natural materials, she layers print and fiber processes to visually communicate ideas, observations, and perpetual experimentation. Through hands-on techniques, Katama teaches regional workshops focused on mixed media methods that encourage exploration and foster life-long learning. Katama is also the Handworks Teacher teacher at The Bay School and Visual Arts Educator at the Blue Hill Harbor School. With a passion for multidisciplinary making, she enjoys inspiring others to become more connected to the earth through the power of art and community.
Saturday, September 6th, 1 - 4 PM in the Fine Arts Studio
Saturday, September 20th, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
Friday, October 10 | 4 - 6 PM Saturday, October 11 | 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM Sunday, October 12 | 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Join us for a vibrant 3-day plein air watercolor workshop capturing the spectacular autumn colors of Mount Desert Island. This workshop is designed for advanced beginner and above watercolor artists who want to enhance their skills while immersed in the stunning fall landscape of Acadia National Park. This is a great chance to try Plein Air painting because Art Waves has some easels that students can borrow.
What You'll Learn
What's Included
About the Instructor: Deena Ball
Deena's passion for nature, science, and art converges when she paints outdoors. Intrigued by the natural world, she is a perpetual student of nature. Through her paintings, she aspires to make others see, appreciate, and preserve the beauty of our environment.
Deena is nationally renowned for her landscape paintings, which are known for their innovative use of watercolors in combination with textured ground and specialized surfaces. Recently, She has also started painting in oils on copper panels. The majority of her work is painted Plein Air or derived from sketches and observations while she is immersed in nature. Her goal is to create simple but expressive paintings inspired by nature, capturing a moment in time and striking an emotional chord with the viewer.
Deena earned her BA in Art History and Studio Art from Colby College in Waterville, Maine. She furthered her studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and Tyler School of Art. After her formal education, Deena participated in numerous workshops and studied under the late Domenic DiStephano.
For more info, check out https://www.deenasball.com/
Monday, October 13, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
Enjoy a fun filled short introduction to painting in watercolor. Learn a little about the history of watercolor, master basic color mixing, washes and glazes, brush strokes and water to pigment ratios.
A three hour class, using provided professional quality materials, in a fun environment.
Students will be learning a basic three layer method to paint a basic landscape. No experience necessary.
Saturday, October 25th, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
Saturday, November 15th, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM in the Kaleidoscope Studio
1345-A State Highway 102Bar Harbor, ME 04609207-266-0010office@artwavesmdi.org
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