PROGRAMS
Artist Residency
Inspired by an expedition on the Lower Mississippi River in 2017, The Village Canoe is borne of the experiences and people met across seven weeks immersed in the outdoors. Paddling in one vessel and camping every day became pared-down, fundamental expressions of the many dimensions of everyday life.
This unique venue of “floating artist residency” holds space for 6-10 participants — chosen through an open-call application — and one registered Maine guide to paddle and camp “expedition style” for 7-10 days. The route navigates the Lower Penobscot River, a tidal section coursing from Bangor and flows outward, to the Maine coastline, and finishing in Brooklin at the WoodenBoat School.
By fostering an interdisciplinary cohort of participants, The Village Canoe aims to become an accessible opportunity for new creative voices, both emerging artists and established career artists.
Outdoor Exhibition
THE STRUCTURE
THE ART EXHIBITION
Physically: Roughly 16' x 40’ Stimson Bow-Roof Shed (traditionally: boat storage, greenhouses)
Conceptually: Temporary, Pop-up, versatile
Practically: Affordable, simple, easy to construct, transportable
Stacking functions: Canoe workshop + Canoe storage + Exhibition venue + Community event space (seasonal)
Aesthetically: Kind of looks like an upside-down canoe!
Sustainability: Future dreams include a small solar array to power electronics (V.R. headsets, projector, audio equipment, etc.)
Taking place at an outdoor green space, adjacent to (or on) a waterfront in Maine’s Midcoast, the exhibition will become an arts destination and community-powered event.
With the help of a curator, the artists-in-residence will help install and exhibit their work from their time with The Village Canoe. Throughout the three-day weekend exhibition, programming includes: artist talks, panel discussion, live performance, workshops, demonstrations, and community interaction.
Canoe Build
“The task of commissioning or building a canoe can be a great achievement in the health of a small community, signalling the growth of organizational ability, the ability to inspire young people and impose discipline, and the growth of hope and pride.”
Central to this project is the form of the canoe as vessel. The canoe acts as a medium of exchange: between humans and nature, and between humans and other humans. As a boat, the canoe can be versatile on both rivers and ocean — perfect for Maine’s riverine and coastal water trails. The second phase for this project to build a canoe, with partial funding thanks to the generous support from the Maine Community Foundation Belvedere Traditional Handcraft Fund. Learn more about the next steps for the canoe build, how you can help, and more here.