First Friday at the Farnsworth

Wyeth Center Now Open Peter Ralston Keeper, ca. 1988 © Peter Ralson. Courtesy Ralsongallery.comBy Design: The Worlds of Betsy James Wyeth is now on view in both the main museum and the Wyeth Center. Betsy James Wyeth (1921–2020) was a fascinating and largely overlooked ......More

Wyeth Center Now Open Peter Ralston Keeper, ca. 1988 © Peter Ralson. Courtesy Ralsongallery.comBy Design: The Worlds of Betsy James Wyeth is now on view in both the main museum and the Wyeth Center. Betsy James Wyeth (1921–2020) was a fascinating and largely overlooked maker of complex designed environments whose lasting legacy in visual art and landscape will be explored for the first time in this exhibition. Locations: Hadlock Gallery, Wyeth Study Center Gallery, and the Wyeth Center Quiet Riot: Making Ceramics in Maine  A show highlighting the story of artists working with clay in Maine. Many of the artists have been involved with the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Newcastle as faculty, students, founders, or leaders. Location: 365 Gallery Yard Games in the Sculpture Garden Come play in the sculpture garden and enjoy juice boxes and music.  Location: Sculpture Garden Snacks and Beverages  Enjoy chocolates from Olive Rose, white wine, water, and sparkling water in the museum library. Location: Library Exhibitions on view: By Design: The Worlds of Betsy James WyethMomentum 2026 | Benjamin Spalding: Go Bang!Maine: A Force within American Art (1890–2026)In Focus: Early American ArtFarnsworth Mural Project: James ProsekCost: Free and Open to all Supported by:

Farnsworth Art Museum, 16 Museum St, Rockland, ME, 04841-2867, United States

The “Founder’s Fresco” at Skowhegan: from Archive to Sap House and Back Again

The Annual Stephen May and Kathryn B. Wilson Lecture Skowhegan faculty artist Anne Poor painting the “Founder’s Fresco” on the Sap House, 1949.Courtesy Skowhegan School of Painting & SculptureGuest Curator Faye Hirsch joins us for our annual Stephen May and Kathryn B. W......More

The Annual Stephen May and Kathryn B. Wilson Lecture Skowhegan faculty artist Anne Poor painting the “Founder’s Fresco” on the Sap House, 1949.Courtesy Skowhegan School of Painting & SculptureGuest Curator Faye Hirsch joins us for our annual Stephen May and Kathryn B. Wilson Lecture. Her talk concerns aspects of the research she undertook in preparing several chapters of the forthcoming book, In the Company of Artists: A History of Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, the first major publication on the topic, which she co-wrote with writer and curator Ingrid Schaffner. Established in 1946 and ongoing today, Skowhegan is instrumental in promoting the teaching and execution of buon fresco painting within its multidisciplinary arts pedagogy. Anne Poor, the stepdaughter of one of the school’s four co-founders, taught at Skowhegan throughout the School’s first decades. Poor specialized in fresco, and was responsible for one of the campus’s seminal documents: a fresco depicting its founders and embodying its pedagogical ideals. While lesser known than the 1950s frescos Anne supervised at the nearby South Solon Meeting House, the “Founder’s Fresco” survives today in a conserved state on a loggia wall of an original building.  Faye Hirsch will discuss this aspect of the School and in particular the archival research that uncovered facts concerning the execution and content of Anne Poor’s fresco. A record of the school, and, by extension, the School’s broader emphasis on public-facing mediums evolved by its ongoing instruction, the so-called “Founders” or “Sap House” fresco is a significant record of Skowhegan and its ties to the wider American art scene. The Stephen May and Kathryn B. Wilson Lecture focuses on the art of the book, past and present. Katie and her late husband Stephen had a vision and passion to ensure the future growth and accessibility of the Farnsworth library, created through the bequest of the museum’s founder, Lucy Copeland Farnsworth. The library is the only publicly accessible library in the state of Maine devoted solely to art. Faye Hirsch, Faculty Portraits 2025Faye Hirsch is a writer, editor, curator and teacher who has published widely on contemporary art. She was chair of the master’s degree program in Fine Art at the School of Art+Design at Purchase College, SUNY, from 2012 to 2024, and served as a senior editor at Art in America from 2003 to 2014. The author of dozens of catalogue essays, articles, and books, she continues to write reviews on contemporary art and exhibitions for Hyperallergic and Brooklyn Rail. Her book on the painter Lois Dodd (2017) is in its third printing, and she is a contributor to the catalogue for Dodd’s recent career retrospective at Kunstmuseum den Hague. She has co-written, with Ingrid Schaffner, In the Company of Artists: A History of Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, the first major publication on the topic, and she has contributed an essay on Harmony Hammond’s monotypes to a forthcoming monograph. She lives in Western Massachusetts. Cost: $12 $10 for members. Tickets include museum admission.

Farnsworth Auditorium, 16 Museum St, Rockland, ME, 04841-2867, United States

Summer Member Morning

Introducing Summer Member Mornings! All Farnsworth members are invited to visit the Museum before it opens to the public, 9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m., every Wednesday in June, July, and August. Enjoy our galleries before the crowds! The Museum Shop will be open during these m......More

Introducing Summer Member Mornings! All Farnsworth members are invited to visit the Museum before it opens to the public, 9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m., every Wednesday in June, July, and August. Enjoy our galleries before the crowds! The Museum Shop will be open during these members-only hours, and you’ll receive a Double Discount of 20% on your purchases! Not a member yet? You can explore Member benefits and enroll online, or call 207-390-6022.

Farnsworth Art Museum, 16 Museum St, Rockland, ME, 04841-2867, United States

Maine Coastal Excursion: Allen and Benner Islands

Time schedule to be announced. Patrons at the Director and President Circle levels are invited to experience the extraordinary island landscapes and historic buildings Betsy James Wyeth stewarded off the coast of Maine. The island environments she created profoundly inf......More

Time schedule to be announced. Patrons at the Director and President Circle levels are invited to experience the extraordinary island landscapes and historic buildings Betsy James Wyeth stewarded off the coast of Maine. The island environments she created profoundly influenced the work of her husband, artist Andrew Wyeth. For more information or to become a Patron Member, please contact [email protected].

Farnsworth Art Museum, 16 Museum St, Rockland, ME, 04841-2867, United States

Painting the Interior with Jude Valentine

In this two-day intensive, students will paint interior scenes, inspired by Betsy Wyeth and the exhibit, By Design: The Worlds of Betsy Wyeth. We will use watercolor or gouache watercolor and include both gallery sketching, studio painting, and a special visit to the Wy......More

In this two-day intensive, students will paint interior scenes, inspired by Betsy Wyeth and the exhibit, By Design: The Worlds of Betsy Wyeth. We will use watercolor or gouache watercolor and include both gallery sketching, studio painting, and a special visit to the Wyeth Study Center.  Over two immersive days, you’ll create your own interior-themed artwork inspired by the Wyeth’s creative process. The workshop begins with building a still-life setup in the studio, followed by a visit to the museum to view the exhibit and see sketches and studies of Andrew Wyeth based on Betsy Wyeth’s interiors and room designs. You’ll spend time sketching in the galleries from paintings in the exhibit, closely observing the paintings and their compositional elements, light and shadow, and other details. Back in the studio, students will begin building their paintings, focusing on composition, object placement, light source, and color mixing. On the second day, the focus shifts to attention to detail how to create effects of light and shadow, paint strokes, and much more. Students will also have the opportunity to revisit the galleries for renewed inspiration before returning to the studio to bring their paintings to completion. By the end of the workshop, students will have a finished painting and new tools to bring depth and atmosphere into their own work. This class is open to painters of all levels. Please note: This class runs over two consecutive days. This workshop will use watercolor paints, gouache watercolor is recommended but not totally necessary. As we have a two day time period, students can tackle a larger painting, 14 x 17” even 16 x 20”. Students will be informed with suggestions of items to bring for the set up. Jude Valentine completed her BFA at the Maine College of Art and MFA in Visual Art from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has received numerous grants and awards for her work including a Jerome Foundation Fellowship and an Individual Grant Award from the Council of Creative Arts, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. She has been the recipient of a number of residencies at the Vermont Studio Center Stephen Pace House as visiting printmaker at St. Michael’s Printshop in Newfoundland the Heliker-LaHotan Foundation the Joseph Fiore Art Center at Rolling Acres Farm and Monhegan Artists’s Residency program. She was also an invited participant at the international EMMA Collaboration in Saskatoon in 2018. Formerly Studio and Public Programs Coordinator at the Farnsworth Art Museum, she currently teaches at the University of Southern Maine. Cost: $260 $235 for members. Access rates available. To ensure the program can run as planned, a minimum of 6 participants is required. The supplies list for this class may be found here.

Gamble Education Center, 9 Grace Street, Rockland, ME, 04841-2867, United States

Painting the Interior with Barbara Thomas

In this two-day intensive, students will paint interior scenes, inspired by Betsy Wyeth and the exhibit, By Design: The Worlds of Betsy Wyeth. We will use watercolor or gouache watercolor and include both gallery sketching, studio painting, and a special visit to the Wy......More

In this two-day intensive, students will paint interior scenes, inspired by Betsy Wyeth and the exhibit, By Design: The Worlds of Betsy Wyeth. We will use watercolor or gouache watercolor and include both gallery sketching, studio painting, and a special visit to the Wyeth Study Center.  Over two immersive days, you’ll create your own interior-themed artwork inspired by the Wyeth’s creative process. The workshop begins with building a still-life setup in the studio, followed by a visit to the museum to view the exhibit and see sketches and studies of Andrew Wyeth based on Betsy Wyeth’s interiors and room designs. You’ll spend time sketching in the galleries from paintings in the exhibit, closely observing the paintings and their compositional elements, light and shadow, and other details. Back in the studio, students will begin building their paintings, focusing on composition, object placement, light source, and color mixing. On the second day, the focus shifts to attention to detail how to create effects of light and shadow, paint strokes, and much more. Students will also have the opportunity to revisit the galleries for renewed inspiration before returning to the studio to bring their paintings to completion. By the end of the workshop, students will have a finished painting and new tools to bring depth and atmosphere into their own work. This class is open to painters of all levels. Please note: This class runs over two consecutive days. This workshop will use watercolor paints, gouache watercolor is recommended but not totally necessary. As we have a two day time period, students can tackle a larger painting, 14 x 17” even 16 x 20”. Students will be informed with suggestions of items to bring for the set up. Barbara Thomas is a lifelong art practitioner. She currently lives and works in Eastern Long Island, painting, and working in alternative media. Barbara’s work centers on the natural world and man’s relationship to it. She teaches a variety of art making workshops all around the east coast. During Covid, Barbara taught a tempera workshop on Zoom with The Farnsworth Museum, and has led many winter and summer workshops with The Farnsworth. Barbara studied at The Art Students League, Pratt Institute, and earned her MFA degree at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Cost: $260 $235 for members. Access rates available. To ensure the program can run as planned, a minimum of 6 participants is required. The supplies list for this class may be found here.

Gamble Education Center, 9 Grace Street, Rockland, ME, 04841-2867, United States

Sunday Stroll - Art!

Join us for Rockland’s Sunday Stroll August 16. We’ll be set up on the corner of Elm and Main Streets and will be doing projects with sidewalk chalk and making drawings with a picture frame that you can take home. Come join us!

Farnsworth Art Museum, 16 Museum St, Rockland, ME, 04841-2867, United States

Summer Member Morning

Introducing Summer Member Mornings! All Farnsworth members are invited to visit the Museum before it opens to the public, 9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m., every Wednesday in June, July, and August. Enjoy our galleries before the crowds! The Museum Shop will be open during these m......More

Introducing Summer Member Mornings! All Farnsworth members are invited to visit the Museum before it opens to the public, 9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m., every Wednesday in June, July, and August. Enjoy our galleries before the crowds! The Museum Shop will be open during these members-only hours, and you’ll receive a Double Discount of 20% on your purchases! Not a member yet? You can explore Member benefits and enroll online, or call 207-390-6022.

Farnsworth Art Museum, 16 Museum St, Rockland, ME, 04841-2867, United States

Summer Member Morning

Introducing Summer Member Mornings! All Farnsworth members are invited to visit the Museum before it opens to the public, 9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m., every Wednesday in June, July, and August. Enjoy our galleries before the crowds! The Museum Shop will be open during these m......More

Introducing Summer Member Mornings! All Farnsworth members are invited to visit the Museum before it opens to the public, 9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m., every Wednesday in June, July, and August. Enjoy our galleries before the crowds! The Museum Shop will be open during these members-only hours, and you’ll receive a Double Discount of 20% on your purchases! Not a member yet? You can explore Member benefits and enroll online, or call 207-390-6022.

Farnsworth Art Museum, 16 Museum St, Rockland, ME, 04841-2867, United States

Plein Air at the Olson House: Framing Perspective Through Windows and Doors with Jude Valentine

©John Whalley, Basket at Olson’s, 2015, egg tempera on panel, 24” X 18”.This class is eligible for access rates. Come join us for an immersive, hands on drawing plein air class. In this, students will build on your drawing skills to find a fresh way to use perspective i......More

©John Whalley, Basket at Olson’s, 2015, egg tempera on panel, 24” X 18”.This class is eligible for access rates. Come join us for an immersive, hands on drawing plein air class. In this, students will build on your drawing skills to find a fresh way to use perspective in compositions!  The effective use of perspective—a sometimes challenging drawing aspect to master—can offer an engaging way to compose a drawing. Drawing inspiration from one of Andrew Wyeth’s compositional devices, and one of his favorite subjects, the Olson House and surrounding grounds, this workshop offers an opportunity to explore the windows and doors of the Olson House for compositional inspiration. You’ll learn tips and tricks of perspective that can offer you new ways to create dynamic arrangements. We’ll combine the use of linear and empirical perspective, as well as value, to explore inventive new points of view. The first part of the day is devoted to drawing, with the second half of the day open to other media. There will be lots of individualized instruction and time for class critique. Bring your sketch pad, drawing and water media to this workshop to explore multiple approaches to using perspective in composition.  As a starting point to the class, we will look at Andrew Wyeth’s works composing with doors and windows of the Olson House, as well as other properties, to draw inspiration and insight. Class schedule: Pre-class zoom: Wednesday, August 26th, 3-4 pm. Zoom will be recorded and sent to any registrants not able to join.Workshop day: Thursday, August 27thRain date: Friday, August 28thStudents should bring their own drawing supplies, alternative media you wish to use, easels (if desired), stools, water, snacks, bagged lunch, and bug/tick protection. Please be aware there are no bathroom facilities at the Olson House and plan accordingly there is a lunch stand and a general store nearby that have facilities. Please note: The ability to draw plein air will be weather dependent. Jude Valentine completed her BFA at the Maine College of Art and MFA in Visual Art from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has received numerous grants and awards for her work including a Jerome Foundation Fellowship and an Individual Grant Award from the Council of Creative Arts, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. She has been the recipient of a number of residencies at the Vermont Studio Center Stephen Pace House as visiting printmaker at St. Michael’s Printshop in Newfoundland the Heliker-LaHotan Foundation the Joseph Fiore Art Center at Rolling Acres Farm and Monhegan Artists’s Residency program. She was also an invited participant at the international EMMA Collaboration in Saskatoon in 2018. Formerly Studio and Public Programs Coordinator at the Farnsworth Art Museum, she currently teaches at the University of Southern Maine. This workshop is open to all ages 12+, and we encourage intergenerational art making! Children under 16 must be accompanied by a registered adult. Cost: $125 $110 for members. Access rates available. To ensure the program can run as planned, a minimum of 6 participants is required. Click here for the materials list.

Olson House, 384 Hathorne Point Road, Cushing, Maine, United States

First Friday at the Farnsworth

Wyeth Center Now Open Peter Ralston Keeper, ca. 1988 © Peter Ralson. Courtesy Ralsongallery.comBy Design: The Worlds of Betsy James Wyeth is now on view in both the main museum and the Wyeth Center. Betsy James Wyeth (1921–2020) was a fascinating and largely overlooked ......More

Wyeth Center Now Open Peter Ralston Keeper, ca. 1988 © Peter Ralson. Courtesy Ralsongallery.comBy Design: The Worlds of Betsy James Wyeth is now on view in both the main museum and the Wyeth Center. Betsy James Wyeth (1921–2020) was a fascinating and largely overlooked maker of complex designed environments whose lasting legacy in visual art and landscape will be explored for the first time in this exhibition. Locations: Hadlock Gallery, Wyeth Study Center Gallery, and the Wyeth Center Quiet Riot: Making Ceramics in Maine  A show highlighting the story of artists working with clay in Maine. Many of the artists have been involved with the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Newcastle as faculty, students, founders, or leaders. Location: 365 Gallery Yard Games in the Sculpture Garden TBD Location: Sculpture Garden Snacks and Beverages  TBD Location: Library Exhibitions on view: By Design: The Worlds of Betsy James WyethMomentum 2026 | Benjamin Spalding: Go Bang!Maine: A Force within American Art (1890–2026)In Focus: Early American ArtFarnsworth Mural Project: James ProsekCost: Free and Open to all Supported by:

Farnsworth Art Museum, 16 Museum St, Rockland, ME, 04841-2867, United States