First Fridays

 

Join us for Portland's First Friday Art Walk for an evening gathering of beaded art, fun, and conversation.

 

The Museum of Beadwork presents a series of in-person events on the first Friday of every month. These events will be a mix of lectures, workshops, and presentations as well as time to view exhibits and talk with staff, presenters, and other attendees. These events run from 5pm to 8pm unless otherwise stated below.

 

 What is a First Friday Art Walk?

A monthly arts and cultural event that takes place on the first Friday of every month throughout many cities in the US and internationally. Generally these events are promoted by a local entity; we have Creative Portland to thank for the promotion and organization of Portland, Maine's art walk every month. Follow the link to check out this wonderful arts based organization.

 

Want to sponsor a First Friday to help us keep them free?

Please contact us directly for information about this sponsorship program. Great for businesses, bead societies, and other groups looking to support a great cause!

 
 
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April 5th
Rebecca Combs Guest Artist Reception
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Join us in welcoming Guest Artist Rebecca Ann Combs and celebrating the opening of her new exhibit!
Rebecca Ann Combs is the author of three best-selling kumihimo books, Kumihimo Basics & Beyond, Kumihimo Braiding with Beads, and Kumihimo Jewelry Simplified. Rebecca’s designs explore the intersection of color, math, and engineering and for the past sixteen years she has been pushing the bounds of what is possible in beaded kumihimo.
The evening will have food, fun, and the first look at her brand new exhibition!
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May 3rd
Tentatively: Grandifolia
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June 7th
A Novel Tea opening
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July 5th
No event due to the Holiday
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August 2nd
Laura McCabe Guest Artist Reception
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September 6th
TBD
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October 4th
TBD
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November 1st
TBD
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December 6th
TBD
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January 5th
Enter The Stars!


This community project from 2022 combines the over 250 beaded stars we received from participants all over the country as well as internationally. This Exhibit will be on display throughout 2024.

 

February 2nd, 5-8pm
Starting From Here
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The Emerging Beader Program is a brand new program at the Museum of Beadwork that highlights artists who are in the first few years of their beading career. 
This First Friday event is the opening of the exhibition of this program: Starting From Here. Our first two artists are Jocelyn Garcia and Susanne Verallo.
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March 1st
Bead-neath The Sea
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Join us for a unique event, we are celebrating the kick off of the open call for our next Community Project: Wishes & Fishes, as well as having a bead-in where you can make a fish for the exhibition!
Every year we have a Community Project where we invite people to send in a beaded object of a particular theme. This year it's fish. These pieces then come together into a larger installation that visualizes the power of communities working together to build something bigger than the individual. For more information about our Community Projects, click here.
For those who wish to bead at this event, we will have a few different patterns depending on skill level, all materials needed (but feel free to bring your own), and a couple teachers on hand to help you along. By the end of the event you will have a fish to donate to the project or the skills to take it home and finish it at your convenience.
As always, First Friday events are free, but donations are always welcome. 
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