Fiber Arts
Maine has always inspired the best from local and visiting artists for centuries and it is no surprise that the state has an incredibly rich community of fiber artists. This art form includes spinning, knitting, weaving, sewing, embroidery, quilting, beadwork, and basket making. Fiber arts range from the functional to the thought provoking. Many artists raise their own sheep and alpacas for wool and you can visit the farms, see the animals and learn how the wool is turned into beautiful skeins of color.
Renowned fiber artists, like Angela Adams, have made their mark on Maine. Angela Adam’s shop in Portland sells handwoven or hand-knotted rugs that are functional pieces of art. Jill McGowan, of the famed “white shirt,” has been making fine women’s clothing in Maine since the 1990s. Brahms Mount's classic blankets and towels, handmade on antique shuttle looms, still carry on the centuries-old manufacturing tradition.
Maine Fiberarts has a statewide digital self-guided tour, listing dozens of craftspeople, fiber-producing farms, and galleries and exhibits so you can see all there is in this diverse craft.
If you’re short on time, go on the Fiber Art Mini Tour of Midcoast Maine, with top artists' studios, fiber farms, shops and galleries and a locally owned restaurant.
The Maine Fiberarts gallery in Topsham features a new exhibit every two to three months with a stunning variety of pieces.