Here is a time to play with the possibilities of felting, beading slow stitching on a variety of fabric, including the felt you made!.
ArtWaves has a selection of textures: feathers, actual barnacles, beautiful beads and some techniques to explore. The camaraderie of sharing ideas makes it a wonderful experience.
Once you have a dozen or so barnacles ( caution :it is a tad addictive) see which fabrics and frames enhance them so you end up with your own unique piece they work as wall hangings, earrings and and patches for your favorite clothing! All materials , tools, and tea included. $42 workshop price - or $32 for members

https://www.artwavesmdi.org/ for more information

Join SkyeFitness us for an energizing Barre pop-up class that blends elements of ballet-inspired movement, Pilates, strength training, and mindful stretching. This low-impact, full-body workout is designed to build strength, improve posture, increase flexibility, and leave participants feeling balanced and empowered. Class will include a warm-up, guided barre and mat-based exercises, light sculpting movements, core work, and a restorative cool-down. All levels are welcome, and modifications will be offered so participants can move at their own pace. No dance experience is required. Participants should wear comfortable workout clothing and bring a water bottle. For more information visit www.artwavesmdi.org

Transfer reality to artistry with ink, wax and watercolor on delicate rice-paper. Learn ancient techniques, play with layering color and go home with two wonderful paintings. All materials and step by step instructions are provided at the spacious ArtWaves Studio in Town Hill.

Teens/Adults of all skill levels. The class is equally effective for beginners, professional artists and those taking the course multiple times. Information at https://www.artwavesmdi.org/

In this introductory workshop, immerse yourself in the meditative art of marbling on paper. Marbling is an art process with a long history and roots in many different countries. It involves floating paints on a liquid surface and using tools and the natural flow of the materials to create beautiful designs that can be printed on paper. Unleash your inner child and embrace the joy of experimentation! With your own marbling vat at hand, delve into a world of color and pattern play. 

Starting with the foundational stone pattern, we will explore some simple combing patterns and image-making techniques. By the end, each participant will depart with a collection of uniquely marbled paper sheets, several marbled greeting cards to be given to loved ones, and access to marbling instructions for continued exploration at home.

https://www.artwavesmdi.org/

Part 2 of a two day workshop is an introduction to the fascinating and historied art of water marbling. Marbling is a process in which paints are floated on a liquid surface and worked into patterns using different methods and tools. The pattern or image is then transferred to paper, fabric, or object. We will cover how to choose the correct materials and how to prepare them for the optimal marbling experience.
Then we will explore color theory by designing a personal color palette that will be used in our marbling lesson.
This is a two session class July 17th and 18th . For more information visit: https://www.artwavesmdi.org/

This 2 day workshop is an introduction to the fascinating and historied art of water marbling. Marbling is a process in which paints are floated on a liquid surface and worked into patterns using different methods and tools. The pattern or image is then transferred to paper, fabric, or object. We will cover how to choose the correct materials and how to prepare them for the optimal marbling experience.
Then we will explore color theory by designing a personal color palette that will be used in our marbling lesson.
This is a two session class July 17th and 18th . For more information visit: https://www.artwavesmdi.org/

Join Mah Jongg players from all around MDI for a fun afternoon of social play, lite lunch, raffle and Chinese Auction! Join us for a fun afternoon of social play, lite lunch, raffle & Chinese Auction benefitting and at The Neighborhood House. Bring your card, set and smiles! RSVP by July 8 as space is limited. Zelle or Venmo Wendy using 305-496-6025 and text her your name once you do.

Maine's Still Reading features 50 new portraits by photographer Buddy Doyle, capturing Mainers of all backgrounds curled up with their latest read in Adirondack chairs by the water, porch hammocks and armchairs in front of the fire. Each portrait includes original reflections from the readers themselves, sharing not just where they read, but why these moments and places matter to them. This volume goes beyond portraits to become your guide to Maine's literary landscape. Join us for insights on the project from photographer Buddy Doyle and contributors Jan Coates (Island Readers and Writers) and Martha Dudman (MDI-based author). Register: https://nehlibrary.libcal.com/event/17082539

Join Emmy Award winning producer and history teacher David Felsen to discuss his new book "New York City Monuments of Black Americans: A History and Guide. New York City is blessed with an incredible array of public sculptures. One overlooked aspect of this collection is its monuments of Black Americans, each with its own remarkable story. With this book and presentation, David Felsen reveals the stories behind thirty inspiring monuments that have endured, as well as how they found their place in the city’s history. Books will be available for sale and signing. Register: https://nehlibrary.libcal.com/event/16634275

Transfer reality to artistry with ink, wax and watercolor on delicate rice-paper. Learn ancient techniques, play with layering color and go home with two wonderful paintings. All materials and step by step instructions are provided at the spacious ArtWaves Studio in Town Hill.

Teens/Adults of all skill levels. The class is equally effective for beginners, professional artists and those taking the course multiple times. Information at https://www.artwavesmdi.org/

Maestro Nathaniel Meyer of the New Opera Company of Boston will give a free behind-the-scenes look at the 2026 BHMF Opera Production - the Mozart double bill of Bastien-Bastiènne and The Impresario. Hear insights about the company's creative process writing the new libretto (the original was lost) and learn about the exciting award-winning cast of singers and actors, with striking analysis of the music and live performances by Isaac Bray, Katelyn Parker Bray, and pianist Christina Spurling. Register: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/barharbormusicfestival/2232364

This second session expands on the first workshop by focusing on living systems within Acadia’s ecosystem, again using found natural objects and visual references rather than field observation. Participants will examine materials such as feathers, shells, pine needles, lichen, and seaweed forms, discussing how these elements reveal patterns of adaptation, resilience, and interconnection. We will examine some of the indigenous species unique to Acadia National Park, with attention to their habitats. Through sketching and material exploration, participants will learn how to abstract organic forms—translating botanical and ecological structures into simplified marks, layered shapes, and repeated motifs

For more information visit www.artwavesmdi.org

Join us for an excerpt screening of the new PBS Documentary by Ken Burns exploring the founding of the United States of America, with a focus on the spirit of service as a core American value. A conversation reflecting on the film and the role of service in civic engagement will follow, facilitated by Library Director Amy Wisehart and a representative of the Town of Mount Desert. Register: https://nehlibrary.libcal.com/event/16859648

Fun, festive evening featuring an art show along with a steel drum dance. Come visit the ArtWaves campus and leave with an amazing project and some fun memories!

For more information visit www.artwavesmdi.org

In this hands-on workshop at ArtWaves MDI, participants will explore the textures, colors, and patterns of Acadia National Park through a curated collection of found natural objects—such as stones, driftwood fragments, dried grasses, bark, and sea-worn materials. Using these objects as visual and tactile references, we will examine how shape, repetition, contrast, and surface inform our understanding of place.

For more information visit www.artwavesmdi.org

In this engaging two-hour workshop, students will explore the expressive possibilities of soft pastels through bold, gestural mark-making. Using the innovative Mi-Teintes Velvet paper—known for its uniquely textured surface—participants will create a dynamic landscape full of movement, color, and depth and bring home a 9 x 12 pastel painting.

For more information visit www.artwavesmdi.org

With "McNamara at War: A New History," former New York Times Washington bureau chief Philip Taubman and Pulitzer Prize–winning author William Taubman deliver a captivating and authoritative psychological portrait of Robert S. McNamara. Informed by newly discovered diaries, letters, and interviews with those closest to him, the authors uncover an emotionally tortured man—a man who mastered everything in life, until the Vietnam War mastered him. "McNamara at War is the winner of the 2026 New York Historical Zalaznick Book Prize in American History. Books will be available for sale and signing. Register: https://nehlibrary.libcal.com/event/16538164

All of us are built to sing! Join pianist, vocalist, and music educator Christina Spurling for this community sing-along. All of us are built to sing! Join the pick-up choir at the library! This program is all-ages; children 8 years old and younger may attend with a guardian. Register: https://nehlibrary.libcal.com/event/16725297

 Summer is served! Create a set of truly one-of-a-kind ceramic dinner plates in this fun and inspiring three-part pottery workshop! Perfect for beginners and experienced makers alike, this class will guide you through the process of designing, building, decorating, and glazing your own handmade functional art.

Using slab construction techniques, you’ll learn how to hand build beautiful plates for serving or dining with organic shapes and personal style. We’ll explore surface design ideas from the very beginning, so your pieces become both functional and expressive.

For more information visit www.artwavesmdi.org

Join artist and sculptor Ryan Kelley for a two-hour workshop where you'll learn to create your own wire tree sculpture. Ryan will guide you through the process of transforming wire into a unique tree, mounted on a rock you provide (about the size of an adult closed fist, or roughly 3.5" x 3.5").

If you don't have a suitable rock, we can provide one for you.

Price includes $15 materials fee. All participants must be 21 years+ to sip alcohol | BYOB

For information visit www.artwavesmdi.org

Create a ceramic wall niche filled with warmth, texture, and personal style in this inspiring hand building workshop.

Designed to hold a contain what you value, a ring, a tea light candle, these decorative wall pieces feature pierced patterns that allow light to shine through, casting beautiful shadows and creating a cozy atmosphere in any space.

This workshop is beginner friendly and no clay experience is needed. Students will be guided step-by-step through the process of transforming raw clay into a finished ceramic piece while learning foundational slab construction and handbuilding techniques.

For more information visit www.artwavesmdi.org

Free gear provided by community donors and assistance mending your much loved belongings. Accepting advance donations of sports gear in good condition during open hours starting May 16. Repairs offered will depend on final list of volunteers, but currently include appliances, bicycles and small furniture. Offered in collaboration with Mount Desert Sustainability Committee and A Climate to Thrive. More info and donation guidelines: https://nehlibrary.libcal.com/event/15857510

 Help support the Wild Gardens of Acadia by shopping at the Wild Gardens plant sale on June 13th from 9 a.m. to noon at St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church in Bar Harbor. Native Plants, Perennials, Veggie Seedlings, Annuals, and more. Proceeds from the sale fund the maintenance and operations of the Wild Gardens of Acadia, which display more than 400 of Acadia National Park's native plants spread over 13 habitats. For more information, visit the Events page at www.friendsofacadia.org

What if you could create your own mosaic pieces ? Each student will work with clay to create and paint thin tiles appropriate for mosaics. Instead of relying on commercial materials, students will learn how to design and make custom ceramic components that reflect their own ideas, stories, colors, and textures.

Participants will be introduced to the basics of glazing bisque ceramic tiles as well as hand-forming clay tiles using a variety of decorative and surface design techniques. Through carving, texture, stamps, layering, words, imagery, and colorful glazes, students will create original mosaic elements that cannot be found anywhere else.
For information visit www.artwavesmdi.org

Lisa Mechaley (a lifelong sustainability educator and naturalist) and Andy Revkin (an environmental journalist, including 21 years at the New York Times) will draw on decades of experience in education, news media and music to describe fresh ways to engage with audiences, boost community resilience and foster clean energy progress. Too often, the goal is telling a better story - a one-way process - when what’s most needed is better conversations. Lisa will describe teaching models that engage students and teachers in a co-learning journey. Andy will offer ideas gleaned in his many years of hosting difficult discussions that can make your online experience more productive. And he’ll offer some musical ideas as well. Register: https://nehlibrary.libcal.com/event/16751992

Transfer reality to artistry with ink, wax and watercolor on delicate rice-paper. Learn ancient techniques, play with layering color and go home with two wonderful paintings.
For more information visit www.artwavesmdi.org

An exploration of contemporary and modern techniques with a focus on choreography. The class begins with a warmup that includes stretching, light cardio and across the floor sequences. Students will then learn and create choreography, emphasizing collaboration, creativity and community.

Modern / Contemporary: Students should wear athletic clothing that’s comfortable for full range of movement. We will dance barefoot and occasionally in socks. Hair should be tied back and out of face.

More info available at www.artwavesmdi.org

An introduction to classical ballet techniques for dancers of all levels. This class begins with barre exercises and moves to center work including across the floor combinations. Students will develop a strong understanding of ballet positions and terminology, while building strength, coordination, and musicality.

Recommended dress code: Students should wear ballet slippers and form fitting clothing to best see body alignment. Hair should be tied back and out of face.

More info available at www.artwavesmdi.org