These beautiful Dreamcatchers are handcrafted by Abenaki artist, Lenny Novak. Dreamcatchers are traditionally a craft of the Ojibway Tribe but Lenny was not taught the traditional Ojibway way until later on. Before he was taught, he learned how to make his own web which he still uses to this day. He has been making Dreamcatchers since the 90's- his work is exhibited at the Abbe museum, entered both as a Dreamcatcher and as a Contemporary Native American Sculpture. Lenny's Dreamcatchers are one of a kind, artistically he describes them as:
 "Bending planes dance with nature
In positive and negative spaces
Bringing to life what you esteem
Both past and present in these laces"

Indigenous mothers would hang a Dreamcatcher over their back, to ward off evil spirits and protect the baby in the swaddle on her back. It helped the child have strong eyesight by watching it sway, then later hand eye coordination. Eventually it was hung over the child's bed to ward off evil things from invading dreams. The web traps the evil, allowing the good dreams to flow through the center hole and feather, then to the child. If you would like to see them in person, stop by the gallery!

Happy Halloween! We are wishing everyone a fun, safe and spooky Halloween! Here's a picking of the outdoor trick or treating from Halloween in Lovell last year. 

We recently received new work by glass artist, Ernest Porcelli. He has been working with glass for over 30 years- which is clear from the skill it takes to create what he does. Ernest makes a range of things with his glass knowledge; everything from doors and windows to plates and platters! His range of knowledge is impressive.
Much of his works consists of fusing glass, like the plates seen below. Fusing glass is done by taking small square rods or think strips of glass, then arranging them into the pattern and color of the artists choosing.

 

The piece is then put in the kiln where it is then fused during a process called ramping which is when the artist rapidly raises the temperature within the kiln. Then a process called soaking takes place which is when the artist allows the glass to stay at the same temperature within the kiln. To finish the piece it is cooled for a long time, during a process called annealing, which reduced the chance of  breaking.
Stop by Harvest Gold Gallery to see Ernest's work in person, or visit our online store and check it out!

As far as Maine staples go the loon is definitely one of them, especially here in Center Lovell. All summer the loons call and fill the night air with their beautiful calls, our local market even sells stickers of Kezar loons! What many people don't know is that loons actually migrate every fall before winter hits, depending on what part of the country they're in the migration varies. Here in Maine the inland loons migrate to the coast every winter to feed in the Atlantic ocean and in salt marshes. Young loons who have no reached maturity migrate to the coast and stay there until they are mature, when they then return inland. Loon mates migrate separately to the coast but find each other again in the spring. 

Art by Clint Jones

Anchor Bend glasswork is a glass art collaborative created by three lifelong friends Michael Richardson, Timothy Underwood and Justin Tarducci. Together they inspire and encourage one another to create the beautiful glass you see produced by Anchor bend. 
Michael Richardson first tried glass blowing in high school, which eventually lead him to attend St. Michael's College in Vermont to continue exploring art. Now his favorite part about being an artist is seeing the pleasure people get out of using his work. Justin Tarducci first blew glass when he was only 14, he later attended Rhode Island School of Design, then he was an apprentice under John Bolger Glass. His field knowledge and studies have really aided in the creation of Anchor Bend and he hopes to continue learning.Timothy Underwood has a great reputation in the industry due to his fine-tuned skills. He also mentors local high school students and spends his free time teaching his son about glass work.

At the gallery we carry both the wave and confetti glasses. Stop by Harvest Gold Gallery to see Anchor Bend glasswork for yourself!

Bill Housley began his career as an orthodontist, and spent decades as a cosmetic dentist. On the side, he began woodworking as a hobby, forty years later and now that's his main profession. After retiring from being an orthodontist, Bill began to study turning, a woodworking technique- specifically the Rose Engine lathe. This machine was popular in the 1800's, but due to the cost and complex design, only the most royal people used it.
Luckily for Bill, a machinist from Pennsylvania was able replicate the Rose Engine lathe of 1800s England but for a much lower cost. Bill Housley is the only person in Maine to own one of these neat machines. What the Rose Engine lathe does is carve away at the sides of the wood while it's spinning, resulting it different designs and patterns depending on what the woodworker does. Due to its versatile nature, Bill tries to make as many unique pieces as he can. He creates everyone from fine cheese knives and forks, to decorated urns and detailed wooden bowls. Stop by Harvest Gold Gallery to check Bill's work our for yourself. 

Gwen Nagel began oil painting as a teenager, her passion grew, leading her to attend University of Minnesota studying art. However, life lead her else where and she began studying English instead, later earning her Ph.D. in English at Tufts University. For years she taught writing and literature at Harvard, Tufts, University of Georgia and others. That was until 1997 when she decided to pursue art full time, since then she has studied pastels, oils and watercolors with many well known artists such as Frank Webb. Gwen is a founding member of Plein Air Painters of the South East and was once president, she is still a member of Southeastern Pastel Society and Oil Painters of America. 

Gwen "creates paintings to capture a sense of place, to preserve a vulnerable landscape, to record the quality of light, and to spend time with other artists in beautiful places."