Maine Fiberarts Present Showcase at Coastal Botanical Gardens

Maine Fiberarts will present a Showcase at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay and the public is invited to attend. Events start with an Opening Reception on Friday, Sept. 30 from 5-7 p.m. with free entrance to the Gardens, an exhibition and sale of fiber art and craft, and a wine and cheese party. The Showcase continues on Saturday, Oct. 1 and on Sunday, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with demonstrations in weaving, embroidery, spinning, crochet, sewing, natural dyeing, basketry and other techniques. The exhibition and sale will remain on view through October 10, with proceeds benefitting both Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Maine Fiberarts, and the artists.

At least eighteen different artists will be on hand throughout Saturday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. demonstrating different fiber techniques. These include: weaving on floor looms by Sybil Shiland and Ursula Smith, basketmaking with Peg Parsons, tapestry weaving by Barbara Burns, Maine wildflower dyes with Anne Williams, machine-stitched imagery with Susie Perrine, narrative embroidery with Maggie Muth, spinning for lace shawls with Linda Clutterbuck and others. Several members of the Southern Maine Chapter of the Embroiderers Guild will present temari stitching, needlework and embroidery; click here for a complete list of demonstrators. Fiber practitioners and enthusiasts will enjoy viewing different techniques and can learn first-hand from the artists, many of whom are masters in their work.

After the event, work from the Showcase will move to Maine Fiberarts' new Red Studio, located at 13 Main Street in Topsham, where it will be on display and offered for sale throughout November and December of 2011. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10-4 and Saturdays, 11-2. For more information about the Showcase, visit mainefiberarts.org or call 207-721-0678.