Closing Saturday: Out of an abundance of caution due to the extreme cold (frost quakes! exploding trees!), the Wendell Gilley Museum will be closed this Saturday, Jan. 24. We will reopen for our usual Friday-Saturday hours on Friday, January 30, at 10am. And we will be open this Friday, Jan. 23, from 10am to 4pm.

Delve into the art of paper-cutting with this nature Valentine’s workshop at the Gilley. You’ll make a heart-shaped piece of art from heavy paper and populate it with plants, birds, and wildlife using paper,  X-ACTO knives, and rulers. Learn easy cutting techniques and strategies for planning your picture. This will be taught by Bar Harbor artist Lynda Millar, who also teaches woodburning and beginner carving classes at the Museum. Space is limited and registration is required. Students must be at least 13 years old.

Join Maine master carver Joshua Brewer at the Wendell Gilley Museum for this one-day class to learn the art of making a precise pattern for any bird you would like to carve. Carvers use patterns to guide their knife-cuts when carving birds from wood. While there are many books of patterns available, this class allows you to customize the look for your carving. Space is limited and reservations are required. All tools and materials will be provided.

RESCHEDULED for Saturday, Feb. 28.

Expert needle-felter, fiber artist, and storyteller Hillary Dow of Binding Tales will lead this fun workshop at the Gilley, guiding participants through the process of creating a felted coral reef wall hanging. This workshop is suitable for all skill levels including beginners.

Learn needle felting techniques as you transform puffy piles of wool into a vivid and dynamic coral reef that features several types of coral in a variety of colors with dark shadows and 3D depth. Your wool supplies will include a 5x7 wool pre-felt; blue, purple, green and coral blended batts; and solid color roving. All the felting tools necessary to create your piece are provided, including several sizes of felting needles, single and multi-needle tools, finger guards, and a felting pad. The rich variety of prepared colors allows for a painterly approach to needle felting. All the wool used in this project is sourced from Maine fiber farms.

Hillary will display an author-illustrator showcase of original artwork as well as her children’s books, which will be available for sale. She is the author, illustrator and publisher of Binding Tales books, featuring pictures she has needle felted with wool sourced from Maine sheep. Born and raised in the western mountains of Maine, she now lives with her family in Hampden.