Maine Reef Exhibition Report

I've just returned home after a month away to manage The Fiber Center Exhibition and programs at Fryeburg Fair, and of course to see the last stages of the Maine Reef Exhibition to fruition. Now, I am finally sitting at my computer and sharing the outcome with you! PHEW! It was a long time coming but I couldn't be happier with the result!

 In the end more than 150 people contributed work to the tune of more than 900 pieces!

See Reef Element Photos by Peter O'Brien Here

See Reef Installation Photos by Peter O'Brien Here

See the Exhibition Photos by Peter O'Brien Here

Note: All photos are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission 

The Exhibition was a smash hit! Although we experienced a week of rainy weather and lower than usual attendance as a result, comments about the Maine Reef Exhibit abounded.

Our comment book entries included:

"Amazing!" "Awesome!" "Very Impressive!" "Incredible!""Wonderful!" "Beautiful!" Absolutely Stunning!" " A Truly Wondrous Collaboration!" "Well Done!" "WOW!" "I am Speechless!" "Breathtaking!" " Love It!"

And these statements about the Maine Reef Project from:

• Contributor Tamalie Paradis of Sarasota, FL - " Really Amazing. Not at all displayed as I expected - FANTASTIC!"
• B. Evans - "This is so creative and beautiful it needs to travel!"
• Brenda Downs - " I've been looking forward to this all year! Well Done!"
• Betty Landry - " The Reef Project; The BEST of the fair!"
• Anonymous - I'm no craftsperson but this work is AMAZING!"
• Anonynous - "One of the most beautiful exhibits in the world, EVER!"

Well my head will be reeling for a while after this and as I left the Fiber Center my head barely fit through the door! :-) 

We were lucky enough to have a great article written about the project by Jaime McLeod in the Sun Journal. Thanks for a great job Jaime.

I also owe a HUGE THANKS to everyone of you who made pieces and helped with the installation. I offer a special thanks to behind the scenes supporter, Maine Artist and Metalsmith Ann Thompson for all of her tireless efforts. You were my rock Ann! I couldn't have done it without you!

Now that the event is over, the Maine Reef is available for exhibition in other venues. Should anyone be interested in showing The Maine Reef Project, please contact me.

To learn more about The Fiber Center's new Fiber Art Project for the 2013 exhibition, Be sure to visit the Maine Mitten Project Blog to see how you can participate!

Spindleworks Fiber Artists Submitted work for the Maine Reef Project

"Handicap, i heard of it, 
but i aint got it now."







This week we received contributions from Fiber Artists from Spindleworks for our Reef Project. An AMAZING group of creative folks with an attitude we can all benefit from!

"Spindleworks is a non profit art center for adults with disabilities and a program of the Independence Association of Brunswick Maine, whose mission is to help children and adults with disabilities achieve full and inclusive lives in their chosen community. Artists in the Spindleworks program come from surrounding communities including Bath, Topsham, Bowdoinham, Portland, Westbrook, Auburn, Lisbon Falls, Richmond, and Freeport."

Contributing artists included:

Catherine Worthington
Maureen Block
Barbara Carter
Jennifer Beaven
Madeline Gielow
Katherine Harmon Harding
Angie Devenney




Thank you all for your great work ladies!


You bring our contributor count up to 102! Yay!

Maine Reef Project Exhibition to Open in 19 Days

We're down to the wire now! YIKES!

Less than three weeks to show time and 21 months from inception. Hard to believe it's almost here! What WILL I do with myself :-)

In case you are interested...... The next Fiber Center Project will be The Maine Mitten Project - Kind Souls making Mittens, Hats and Scarfs for Maine's Homeless Children. Families and Adults. Learn more about it HERE.

So we are down to the last pictures of new work and brings our number of contributors to 95 but we know of more coming our way including some things from Spindleworks in Portland!
Yay Spindleworks! Can't wait to see what you guys made.

From Jennifer Owen of Kennebunk, Me

From Faye Schwartz of Saco, Me, these Lovely Sea Horses

Jelly Fish

Base Rock with Coraline Algae and Plate Coral

This piece stands nearly 3' tall!

Maine Reef Project Just 7 Contributors Shy of 100!

Lou Ann Elias of Hampton NH is contributor number 93! 

Only 7 to go to hit 100!

Thank you Mary Lou! Fun Stuff! Looks like you were very busy. We appreciate it and see you at the fair!

Contribution From St Croix for the Maine Reef Project!

How about that!

89 year old Peggy Hopkins of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands created some work for the Maine Reef Project. Her daughter Luanne sent up the work which we photographed today! We've officially gone international with our contributions!

Thank You Luanne and Peggy! We so appreciate that you took the time and made the effort to participate from so far away....

Here is her work and a lovely note from Luanne.....

You bet her work will be included!

Deadline Brings in More Contributions for the Maine Reef!

Ok so we are nearing the end and I keep getting updates and pictures to post. At this posting our count rises to 91 contributors......

SO EXCITING!

New in from Florida, a 94 y.o. mother, Katherine Mullin, and daughter, Kathy Mullin Tavernia!

Shell From Linda Jackson of Great Barrington, Ma

Also from Linda Jackson. Thanks Linda!

UNE student Lin...... LOVELY jellies!

From Jennifer Haugen of Ft Lauderdale. Thanks Jennifer!

And last but not least today, a bin full from UNE. Unfortunately, most UNE drop offs didn't leave their names :-(  But we love you anyway! Thanks!

The Maine Reef Blog Is Only 34 Hits Away from 10,000 Visitors!

I never in my wildest dreams imagined that the Maine Reef Blog would reach this level of popularity! As of this moment we have reached 9966 Hits. Most of this is driven by the Patterns posted here but that still means folks are learning about our project.

And thanks to our creators and contributors, it's coming to fruition! 89 people have contributed in some way so far. WE WILL HIT 100!

Here are more pictures of submissions:

Some Jelly Fish made with recycled plastic bags and food containers, Clear hair caps, Plarn ( yarn made from plastic bags and Homespun yarn from Lion Brand.

A Great Kids project!  







From Julia Berg of Brownfield, Maine, a beautiful group of work! Thanks Julia!

Sorry the resolution is low on this photo so is showing up a bit blurry and small. But you get the idea :-)