49 Oak

About

49 Oak is a flexible, experimental space where students gain real-world experience presenting their work to the public. Through pop-up shops, exhibitions, and project-based programming, students build essential professional skills; curating, installing, promoting, documenting, selling, and staffing exhibitions, under the guidance of Artists at Work and faculty mentors. During the summer, 49 Oak shifts its focus to showcasing work by the College’s alumni, strengthening professional networks and career pathways.

Current

Post Mortem: In The Wake of Craft

On View: November 6 - 17

Opening Reception: Friday, November 6 5:30 - 7:00pm

Open Hours:

Saturday, November 7, 12:00-4:00

Sunday, November 8, 12:00-4:00

Monday, November 9, 3:00-5:00

Wednesday, November 11, 10:00-2:00

Friday, November 13, 12:00-2:00

Saturday, November 14, 12:00-4:00

Sunday, November 15, 12:00-4:00

Post Mortem: In The Wake of Craft represents the final group exhibition for the five MECA&D Craft majors: Ceramics, Metalsmithing, Printmaking, Textiles, and Woodworking. The show reflects a broader national and global trend away from Craft practice. In such a state of transition, we are compelled to examine the past, present, and future of our disciplines, question the presumption of Craft’s decline, and reassert the importance of our skilled labor. Post Mortem simultaneously mourns the cultural and institutional erosion of our fields and celebrates the enduring nature of Craft traditions. We are under no illusions; the institutional, national and global outlook for Craft appears bleak. As emerging makers entering into this reality, we look to the future with some apprehension. This exhibition is our answer. Equal parts survey, memorial, and manifesto, bringing together a collection of diverse viewpoints from across our disciplines, it questions the wisdom of the world’s current trajectory. Post Mortem implores us to consider what is lost when we lose Craft.

Featuring: Sally Ames, Abby Bailey, Katie Clark, Apollo David, Brooke Ferro, Lilah Grove, Alec Grover, Jules Herrera, Seven Hinnov, Anastasia Jackson, Poppy Lord, Maple Newlin, Danielle Prestia, Kassidy Quinlan, Max Rubinstein, Vivian Sorce, Zachary Wogalter

Upcoming

Handmade Holiday Pop-Up

December 4-13

Emerging ceramic dynamos team up with invited regional pros to bring fresh, handmade ceramic wares and one-of-a-kind clay art straight to Portland's Arts District for two festive weekends.

Phinn Bouffard, Apollo David, Cullen Denehy, Maddie Mann, Sol Marrocco, June Romagnoli, Maya Scott, Ella Wiggs

● Weekend 1:

○ Friday, December 4: 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Opening celebration during First Friday Art Walk!)

○ Saturday, December 5: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

○ Sunday, December 6: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

● Weekend 2:

○ Friday, December 11: 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM

○ Saturday, December 12: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

○ Sunday, December 13: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Location: 49 Oak Street, Portland, ME 04101

For sneak peeks of fresh-from-the-kiln inventory and studio stories, fo low @meca_ceramics on Instagram.