Art connects us, inspires us, and reminds us of both our humanity and our immortality. As artists and makers who share our art and selves with our communities, we offer a valuable service to those around us every day. Being self-employed, we also connect with each other to establish our networks, build the local economies around us, and make a positive impact on the creative economy as our web of art and artists grows. We bring our items and our art to craft fairs, retail fairs, retail stores, websites, Etsy shops, galleries, and customers directly. In this scary time, it’s easy to worry about all of that collapsing.
What can you do to take care of yourself? Your household, studio, family, and loved ones? As you listen to yourself, what do you hear yourself needing—and how can we help you?
Now, more than ever, we want you to know that Archipelago is here for you. To help provide support specifically for Maine’s small businesses, including our artists and makers, we’ve compiled a list of resources just for you. We’re collecting whatever we hear about that might be helpful for you right now, so if you know or hear of anything that isn’t on this list, please let me know by email or Facebook Messenger and I’ll add it!
The health of our society depends upon the ability of our artists and makers to create and bring those creations into their neighborhoods and the world. Maine’s economy depends upon the creative economy. At Archipelago, we are currently planning and preparing for a busy summer, fall, and holiday season—cleaning, painting, and yes, buying. While we may shape the nature of our orders a bit differently to bring more products online, we are anticipating ordering at similar levels to last year. Today, that is our plan.
More broadly at the Island Institute, the Small Business team’s primary concern is ensuring that goods and services are moving between the mainland and island communities. We are prioritizing support for ferry services (both public and private), which are essential to the flow of uninterrupted food, medical supplies, fuel, and other services to our islands. The Island Institute is also working to connect small business owners and independent contractors on islands and in coastal communities to loan and disaster relief programs at the local, state, and federal level that can provide funds for sustaining their businesses throughout this pandemic.
In the meantime, Archipelago is making calls and reaching out to see how you’re feeling, what you’re going through, and how we might be able to support you. We’re here to help however we can or, if nothing else, to simply offer a friendly ear, some kind words, and someone to talk to. Our friend Susan recently shared the following with us:
“Right now I’m ok. I’m mostly worried about loss of income this year. Who knows who will buy pots, who will travel, and when. My concern is that we craftspeople are such small businesses that we will be overlooked [in relief funds].
For years I’ve wanted to have the significant impact craftspeople in Maine make on our economy recognized. We bring people here from out of state, give them something to do, and also are the ones who always donate and support our local community fundraisers. We deserve some love!
I am concerned that if the government sends out checks they will somehow miss us. Also, what about the small businesses, maybe ones just starting out. What if they don’t file taxes? Will money go to them too?
Thanks for all you are doing. Just knowing you are thinking of us helps.”
In addition to some virtual small business events and resources in development, we are also working on blog posts and stories focusing on how Maine artists and makers are responding to the current challenges and using their talents to help their communities. Stay tuned for more on all of that very soon!
For now, just know that we are all in this together. Archipelago will be trying to reach out to you in the coming week, but if you have any questions or want to chat in the meantime, feel free to email me at lvietze@islandinstitute.org. I’d love to hear from you!
Until then, stay safe, practice self-care, spread sunshine in the day, mix with paint, clay, and fabric, and be well.
My best,
Lisa Mossel Vietze
Director, Archipelago
Dominique Ostuni’s solo exhibition, “Would an Angel Apologize for Spilling Champagne,” is on view through Oct. 3 at Dowling Walsh Gallery in Rockland. A centerpiece of the exhibition is “Excess Comes Naturally,” an elaborate mirror standing more than 8 feet tall. The work begins with an ordinary functional object, then overwhelms that function with porcelain, […]
Waterfall Arts will invite the public inside more than 40 artist studios during the Lincoln Street Center Fall Open Studios from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 17 at 24 Lincoln St. in Rockland. During the free event, artists will open their studios and welcome visitors into their creative spaces. Guests can explore Rockland’s historic former […]
“Made in Maine,” the Maine Art Gallery’s annual member show, features more than 100 works of art across two floors of the historic Old Academy building in Wiscasset. The exhibition is on view through Oct. 18. Sara Stites of Thomaston, a new member, is showing at the gallery for the first time. Her oil painting […]
High Peaks Artisan Guild in Kingfield features Western Maine watercolor artist Karen Jordan Paul throughout September. Paul draws inspiration from wildlife found throughout Maine, particularly wild birds and fish. The guild celebrated Paul as its featured artist of the month during the Sept. 4 Kingfield Art Walk. High Peaks Artisan Guild is at 245 Main […]
Turtle Gallery in Deer Isle presents “Material Storytelling,” a three-artist exhibition featuring new work by Sheep Jones, Michele Ratté Delphin and Barbara Sullivan, through Oct. 11. The three artists use distinct materials and techniques to explore narrative, light and the quiet poetry of everyday objects. Jones brings her signature combination of oil and cold wax […]
Photographer Melonie Bennett will discuss her exhibition and debut monograph, “Holy Cow!,” from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Maine Museum of Photographic Arts in Portland. The event will include an interview, reading and book signing. Photographer and writer Robert Diamante, a friend and fellow photographer, will interview Bennett. “Holy Cow!” presents an […]
Centre Street Arts Gallery in downtown Bath will open its fall show during the Bath Art Walk from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 18. The gallery represents 20 local artists and will feature new work in its fall exhibition. Visitors can meet the artists, explore the show and enjoy refreshments during the reception. Centre Street […]
Maine artist Daryne Rockett will present “Restoring Liberty,” an exhibition of monotypes and mixed-media work, from Oct. 2 to Nov. 24 at the McDade Gallery at Bangor Public Library. The exhibition brings together two interconnected bodies of work examining freedom, democracy, justice and hope. In a series of layered monotypes, the Statue of Liberty appears […]
Maine Craft Weekend, an annual statewide celebration of craft, community and creativity, will return Oct. 3 and 4. The free, self-guided tour invites visitors to discover the people, places and stories behind Maine’s craft communities. Hundreds of participating artists and locations will host open studios, workshops, pop-up markets, exhibitions, fairs, artist talks, special events and […]