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CONVENTION + VISITORS BUREAU / 25
PLAY
Art ATTACK
The pillar of the region's arts community, the PortlandMuseum of
Art, is finding new ways to connect audiences with its collection.
Several exciting components of a multi-
year process to reinvent the museum
were launched this year, with the
complete reinstallation of the collection
scheduled for 2017.
TheWorkshop is a new participatory
space in which visitors of all ages can
explore creativity and add their voices
to the stories told within the museum's
walls. Located on the lower ground
floor, TheWorkshop offers audiences
the opportunity to make meaning from
the PMA's collection and special
exhibitions through hands-on, interac-
tive activities based around play and
experimentation.
Projects in TheWorkshop will be
inspired by the museum's collection
and special exhibitions, and will change
several times annually. Activities such
as collaborative art making and
response walls will let both children
and adults exercise their creative sides
and explore art in fun new ways.
The Peggy L. Osher Art Study Room
is another new space on the museum's
lower ground floor. Designed by Scott
Simons Architects, the room itself is
a masterpiece, a space for close observa-
tion of art with glass windows
allowing visitors to view activities
inside the room from the PMA Cafe.
The Art Study Room is designated for
several purposes but one that is most
exciting to the public is the close exami-
nation of objects from the museum's
collection that are not currently on dis-
play. Individuals can request a private
audience with pieces of art for scholarly
or aesthetic purposes. It's not a spur of
the moment activity (the request pro-
cess takes a minimum of three weeks)
but, if there are one or more paintings,
photographs, or other art objects you
would like to view, with some advance
preparation, you can incorporate it into
your plans to visit Portland.
There is certainly no better way to see
most museum-quality artistic works
than in person at a museum. With over
18,000 works of art, ranging fromAndy
Warhol andWinslowHomer to Louise
Nevelson and Claude Monet, it would
take nearly 10 years of constant
gallery rotations to see everything in
the PMA—but now you can see it all, no
matter where you are; the entire
collection has been digitized and is
available for exploration online. If you're
tantalized by what's on display when
you visit, now you can explore more
of your favorites from the comfort of
your home.
Photo: courtesy Portland Museum of Art
Historic Sites & Museums
BEYOND GREATER PORTLAND
BOOTHBAY RAILWAY VILLAGE
586 Wiscasset Rd, Boothbay, ME 04537
207-633-4727
Experience a steam train ride, an outstanding
collection of over 60 antique automobiles, all
in an historic village setting with an exciting
events schedule. Open Memorial Day-Oct.
BRICK STORE MUSEUM
117 Main St, Kennebunk, ME 04043
207-985-4802
Discover fascinating history and art in
Kennebunk’s historic district with a collection
of 70,000+ items. Exhibitions and programs for
all ages are offered year-round. Open Tue-Sat.
FARNSWORTH ART MUSEUM AND
WYETH CENTER
16 Museum St, Rockland, ME 04841
207-596-6457
Collection of 10,000+ works tracing the
development of art in Maine within the larger
context of American art. Campus includes 9
museum galleries, 3 Wyeth Center galleries,
adjacent Victorian Homestead.
MAINE MARITIME MUSEUM Map 1, I4
243 Washington St, Bath, ME 04530
207-443-1316
Lighthouse cruises, trolley tours,
demonstrations, historic shipyard, pirate play
ship, hands-on fun, and a beautiful, 20-acre
waterfront campus. Coming Summer 2015:
Maine’s largest lobstering exhibit.
See ad pg. 26
OWLS HEAD TRANSPORTATION
MUSEUM Map 1, H5
117 Museum St, Owls Head, ME 04854
207-594-4418
Features an operating collection of antique
aircraft, automobiles and more. Special events
include car rallies, airplane shows, Model T
rides and family activities. Kids under 18 are
free. Open daily, year round. See ad pg. 27
POLAND SPRING
PRESERVATION PARK
115 Preservation Way, Poland Spring, ME 04274
207-998-4142
Preservation Park houses a dedication to
the growth of Poland Spring Natural Spring
Water through scientific displays and vintage
memorabilia. Open free to the public Columbus
Day-Memorial Day.
SABBATHDAY LAKE
SHAKER VILLAGE Map 2, B11
Rt 26, 707 Shaker Rd,
New Gloucester, ME 04260
207-926-4597
Shaker Village has been an active community
of Shakers since 1783. Guided tours. Gift shops.
Workshops, crafts demonstrations, special
events. National Historic Landmark.
See ad pg. 26
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