BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Store at Spindleworks is the sort of craft boutique common in many New England towns.
Displays feature the handiwork of local weavers, potters, artists, poets, and musicians. The only difference here is that all the artisans happen to have disabilities.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, nonprofit Spindleworks serves 35 to 40 artists ranging in age from 20 to 76 in its weekday programs. Some come every day, while others attend once or twice a week.
"One of our artists, Rita Langlois, just retired at age 84," said Elizabeth McGhee, Spindleworks' director, during a fall tour of the center.
Some of the weavers have been producing rugs and other goods for almost two decades and two members have been weaving since Spindleworks was founded by local fiber artist Nan Ross,who set up a loom in a room above her studio back in the 1970s.
After outgrowing various spaces, Spindleworks moved into its current home five years ago when it purchased a 19th-century clapboard house on Lincoln Street. With a cheery sky-blue-and-cream color scheme, the downtown center is easy to spot just a block off Maine Street in this mid-coast town.
Affliliated with Independence Association, a community support organization for children and adults who have disabilities, Spindleworks has come a long way in 30 years. Today the center features 16 looms with a dozen set up in the main weaving room; a painting studio; a multimedia room; a ceramics studio; and a woodworking shop. When work is sold at the Store or the Whatnot Gallery's themed exhibits, the artists receive 75 percent of the proceeds with the remainder going to the center for art supplies.
Although the art world loves to pigeonhole and label work, Spindleworks avoids any designations such as outsider or folk art. "We don't consider it outsider art. We want to do away with disability as a label. We want it to be accepted as art and that they're accepted as artists," said McGhee, pointing out that the words disability or disabilities are never used here. "The core staff members don't see the disabilities piece. We all enjoy being in a creative environment. We believe that there are no disabilities."
The staff includes three to five full-time and part-time weavers, potters, woodworkers, and painters and printmakers.
In its early years, Spindleworks was known primarily for its handwoven clothing. Since then, the offerings have grown more diverse. The artists also produce a newsletter, Almost Maine Street News, four times a year.
"Now we're firmly rooted in what the artists want to do," said McGhee, a collage artist who joined Spindleworks five years ago. "We've gone back to a hands-off staff and put it in the artists' hands."
The growth in artistic opportunities became possible after renovations of the Lincoln Street property turned the two-family dwelling into one big house with rooms and open areas for all kinds of activities.
The center's main entrance opens into a foyer with the store off to the right and a painting room to the left. Whatnot Gallery is down the hall at the back. Upstairs are individual studios and the new media room where musicians can record their CDs. A Smith-Corona typewriter is put to good use by in-house writers, according to McGhee.
For the anniversary year, she has lots of celebration plans in the works. Among them is the debut of "Everything in Sight," a documentary on Spindleworks film and video programs that will be screened April 4 at 6 and 8 p.m. at Frontier Cafe and Cinema in Brunswick. Whatnot Gallery opens its season in May with "All Creatures Great and Small," an exhibit of animal art. The May 9 Friday night reception from 5 to 8 p.m., coincides with Brunswick's monthly Art Walk. As the year unfolds, Spindleworks will post more events on spindleworks.org.
Jan Shepherd, a freelance writer in Boston, can be reached at jshep@earthlink.net.
