Merrymeeting Community & Adult Education
Topsham, ME
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Merrymeeting Community & Adult Education Classes
Oyster Tales: Exploring Aquaculture with Blackstone Point
with Maine Tasting Center, Merrymeeting Community & Adult Education

Dive into the flavorful world of Maine oysters with our friends from Blackstone Point Oysters! Join their expert farmers as they reveal the secrets of oyster cultivation in the renowned Damariscotta River - learn the art of shucking, savor the flavor of fresh Maine oysters in a taste test comparison between oysters from different farms on different parts of the river, and discover the stories of the Mainers responsible for bringing this coastal delicacy to your plate. Bring your questions—they've got the answers! If you've been curious about Maine oysters - or aquaculture - but don't know where to begin, this introductory class is for you! By the end of the class, you will have a new understanding and appreciation of oyster cultivation and the ways farming techniques impact quality and flavor - you'll be ready to go out into the world and act as an ambassador for one of Maine's most prized aquaculture products! Taught by Blackstone Point Oysters, Presented by Maine Tasting Center.
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Travel Sketchbook Workshop
with Deena Ball, Merrymeeting Community & Adult Education

Learn to create your own special record of your travels through art. Drawing and painting during trips creates more vivid memories than photographs alone. Students will meet on location to learn how to create a watercolor sketchbook memory. All materials will be provided: watercolor paints, pencils, pens, erasers, watercolor pencils, and brushes. You'll receive a hardcover Watercolor Journal with professional-grade paper (30 sheets) to take home. This one-day workshop features two sessions with a lunch break in between. Morning session: 9am–12noon. Afternoon session: 2:30–5pm. Participants will have time to explore Brunswick and enjoy lunch during the break. Total workshop time: 5½ hours. We'll meet at two different locations—ideally combining a natural setting with a town center. Possible locations include the Maine Maritime Museum, Head of the Tide Park, downtown Brunswick, Candance River Preserve, or Thompson Point Beach and Campground. A materials fee of $45 must be paid to the instructor on the day of the workshop. *Rain Date: 6/15.
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Pine Needle Baskets
with Zack Rouda, Merrymeeting Community & Adult Education

White pine, Maine’s state flower, and Red pine, are ubiquitous throughout the state and provide a vital pool of resources for human and nonhuman Mainers alike. Pine needles are beautiful and strong! They can be coiled and sewn together to make hats, lovely usable baskets, and/or adorably tiny ones. Learn to identify, regeneratively gather and harvest, properly store and process, and weave with pine needles. We'll cover the basics of coiled basketry, which is a global, ancient human skill, and create a wonderful pine-needle basket. Every participant will make a basket to take home.
Oil Painting in the Wild ’25
with Ed Higgins, Merrymeeting Community & Adult Education

It’s summertime, and for Ed Higgins’ students that means one thing: plein air season is here. Ed thinks nothing is more healthy for artists than to get outside and work in the wild. We will meet at a different location in and around the midcoast. In case of extreme weather, we’ll have an alternate indoor location, but for light drizzle and such, we’ll try to meet at spots with a covered shelter option. Material requirements are a plein air easel or French paint box or pochade, palette and palette knives, brushes, Liquin original gel oil painting medium, odorless thinner in a sealable plein air container, a set of oil paints (landscape colors), and plenty of rags. Wear a hat and old clothes, bring sunscreen, insect repellent, hydration, and lunch. **Special note about art materials: Please do not call our office about materials. Come to the first class with your favorite sketchbook and drawing pencils & pens. Suggested materials will be discussed by the instructor on the first day of classes. Thank you.
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Abstract Studio: Creative Application of Paint
with Ed Higgins, Merrymeeting Community & Adult Education

In this iteration of Ed Higgins’ abstract class, The atelier will explore new and exciting ways to get paint onto the canvas. Everything from working on the floor and casting paint, to inventing innovative delivery systems, building our own custom brushes, gravity tubes, and pouring vessels. You will need to wear old clothes, bring a drop cloth (or two), assemble surfaces to paint on, and collect all your half-used paints, because my guess is, you’ll use them up! We will continue to spotlight and discuss an abstract artist at the end of each class. **Special note about art materials: Please do not call our office about materials. Come to the first class with your favorite sketchbook and drawing pencils & pens. Suggested materials will be discussed by the instructor on the first day of classes. Thank you.
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Self-care for Your Hands
with Mary Woodbury, Merrymeeting Community & Adult Education

Do you, or someone you know, suffer from chronic pain in the hands, wrists, elbows or shoulders? Please join Mary Woodbury, OTR/L CHT for a discussion about self-care - easy-to-perform techniques, exercises and home-use devices to ease discomfort in our hands and arms. Some of the many hand and upper extremity conditions benefiting from self care are osteoarthritis, tennis elbow, trigger finger, and carpal tunnel. Self-care is conservative care and often the first line of care prescribed by Physicians and Occupational Therapists. This program is brought to you by Hand Therapy Treatment and Education Center, LLP.
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Beginning Ceramics
with Heather O'Neil, Merrymeeting Community & Adult Education

Ever wanted to take some time for yourself and play with clay? Learn the basics of hand building and wheel throwing in this 6 week class. This class is geared toward the beginner. The first 10 people to sign up have priority on the wheel. Please let admins know if you prefer to hand build or wheel throw so we can keep an accurate account. Glazing will also be covered so that you can leave with finished pieces. $65 materials fee is due to the instructor on the first night of class. *Purchasing additional clay: The fee is an additional $65 to cover the firing, glazes and other consumables used during class. Please note: If you miss a class, you cannot make-up the class at another time. The ceramics schedule is very tight and these classes are usually full. Thank you for your understanding!
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Open Studio Ceramics (Tuesday Sessions)
with Heather O'Neil, Merrymeeting Community & Adult Education

Are you comfortable with your clay abilities and just looking for a place to work and improve your skills? Join us in the Morse High School Ceramics Studio and start making all those things you have been dreaming up! This is not an instructor lead class, but the instructor will be on site working in case you need something. $65 for materials and studio fee, payable to instructor, must be paid on the first night of class. *Purchasing additional clay: The fee is an additional $65 to cover the firing, glazes and other consumables used during class. Please note: If you miss a class, you cannot make-up the class at another time. The ceramics schedule is very tight and these classes are usually full. Thank you for your understanding!
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