Maine Programs

Community-based artist residencies have been offered from time to time and with Haystack’s Center for Community Programs, the school has begun to expand these programs to offer them regularly, once each spring and fall. Past residencies have included the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, visual artist/ceramist/muralist, Eddie Dominguez, Maine-based knitter and sculptor, Katharine Cobey, and environmental artist Bryant Holsenbeck.

Spring 2010

Losang Samten creating a Wheel of Life sand mandala.

From May 31–June 6, the Venerable Losang Samten, Tibetan scholar and a former Buddhist monk, created a "Wheel of Life" sand mandala in the gallery at Haystack’s Center for Community Programs. He is the spiritual director of Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia; Chenrezig Tibetan Buddhist Center of Middletown, Connecticut; and Chenrezig Himalayan Cultural Center of El Paso, Texas. Losang Samten travels extensively, sharing his knowledge of Buddhist philosophy and meditation, and his skill in the Tibetan ritual arts, while incorporating the qualities of practicing loving kindness, patience, and understanding.

During the creation of the sand mandala, the Center for Community Programs was open to the public for anyone to view Losang while he worked. When finished, a dismantling ceremony was held during which the colored sands were swept up and distributed to onlookers and put into the environment (typically, a body of moving water) as a blessing. This closing ritual was held to symbolize the impermanence of all that exists.

The residency complemented last fall’s residency with environmental artist Bryant Holsenbeck, who worked with high school students and community members to create a mandala 10 feet in diameter using bottle caps and lids. Community members, students from the Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary and High Schools, Haystack faculty and students, and visitors came to observe and talk with Losang Samten as he worked throughout the week.

Losang Samten’s residency was supported by a grant from the Hancock County Fund of the Maine Community Foundation, the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, the Quimby Family Foundation, and from Haystack's Program Endowment. www.losangsamten.com

Fall 2009

After a lot of sorting, students from the Island get the mandala started.

Haystack hosted a community-based artist residency with environmental artist, Bryant Holsenbeck. From November 2-6, students and community members worked with her on two projects - a mandala and "flowers" and "butterflies" - using a variety of used items, such as plastic bottles, caps, lids, rope, paint, etc., collected locally. Bryant Holsenbeck uses items such as bottle caps and lids to make temporary installations documenting the "stuff" of our society - items used once and thrown away, to bring awareness to waste and to transform the objects. Caps and lids are re-used in each new installation. In all cases, Holsenbeck's works are made with assistance from the local community in which she is working.

The mandala installation will remain on view through November 20th.

For this residency, a mandala was created by Deer Isle-Stonington High School students and community members in the gallery at Haystack's Center for Community Programs in Deer Isle village (across the street from Bar Harbor Bank and Trust). Additionally, "flowers" and "butterflies" were made by students at the Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School. Read more in the November 10, 2009 Bangor Daily Article.

Haystack's Community-Based Artist Residencies are supported by the Maine Arts Commission's SMART (Schools Make Arts Relevant Today) grant program, the Hancock County Fund of the Maine Community Foundation, the Quimby Family Foundation, and Haystack's Program Endowment Fund.

Spring 2009

Bangor Daily News Photo by Gabor Degre

One thing led to another..., a May 12 Bangor Daily News article, featured Chain Reaction 2009, which was hosted by Haystack. The story, which was accompanied by a video, covers a chain reaction created during a week-long Community-Based Artist Residency at Haystack with Arthur Ganson, a kinetic sculptor and past Visiting Artist with Haystack, and presented in the courtyard of the high school on May 8. Arthur worked with students from Deer Isle-Stonington High School and community volunteers to create the work.

Machine with 23 Scraps of Paper, 1998, by Arthur Ganson, who was Haystack's artist-in-residence in May. Collection of the artist.

Arthur Ganson's residency was coordinated as part of Haystack’s expanded programming, but also to tie into work being done in the applied engineering program at the Deer Isle-Stonington High School. Ganson’s emphasis on mechanics fits particularly well with Dennis Saindon’s industrial arts program and with his students’ interests. As with past residencies, community members volunteered in workshops and presentations. Following the residency, there was a reception for participants, their families, and local community members at Haystack's Center for Community Programs, where two of Arthur’s kinetic sculptures were on display.

Arthur Ganson created the popular foam construction toys Toobers and Zots and his work is regarded as playful, intricate, and thought-provoking. He has taught at Haystack’s core summer programs, is a former MIT artist-in-residence, and his work has been included in numerous exhibitions. www.arthurganson.com

Arthur Ganson’s residency was generously supported by a grant from the Island Education Foundation, the Maine Community Foundation, and from the Maine Arts Commission's SMART (Schools Make Arts Relevant Today) grant program.

For a look at our 2008 residency, visit Past Residencies.