SCARBOROUGH —The Guild Fine Craft Show, which features fine craft exhibitors, and was to be held on the grounds of Ketcha Outdoors in Scarborough, has been canceled due to the predication of Hurricane Lee. The show won’t be rescheduled this year, but there will be an upcoming show in Brunswick Oct. 28 and 29. The show features fine craft designs for special occasions and everyday use handmade by the Guild members of the Maine Crafts Association.

Some of the exhibitor’s  display ceramics, fiber, jewelry, wood, glass, paper, stone, mixed media and more. Ten of those exhibitors were specially invited guest. Gallit Cavendish of Bowdoin-based Loveline Baskets makes hand sewn baskets made from hand dyes, changing the colors seasonally. Christine Caswell Ceramics of Portland, is a potter making unique vases. Based in Bath, Emi Ito makes scarves at her home studio using the Saori method. Victoria Varga of Cumberland Foreside makes jewelry combing sterling silver, 23 karat gold leaf, resin, and crushed stone.

“The Scarborough Guild Fine Craft Show is one of three Guild shows (the other two are in Bar Harbor and Brunswick) that feature the Maine Crafts Association’s juried Guild level members,” said Lizz Brown, director of Guild Fine Craft Shows.” The guild shows are a well-established artist marketplace welcoming the public to see, collect and learn about the highest quality craft objects made by a membership of dedicated, talented, and trained craft artists. In 2021 and 2022, we held the show completely outdoors (all were cancelled in 2020).”

The guild shows have a dedicated following and are well known for the high quality of craft, according to Brown.  “They are not your average craft fair, made up of a group of extremely dedicated and talented craft artists working in Maine,” she said.

The Maine Crafts Association (MCA) is a 501 c3 nonprofit organization that provides educational programs, storytelling initiatives, community and public events, artist promotion and other resources to connect emerging, mid-career and established craft artists, other makers and the general public through craft, according to the organization. “We have a membership base of about 600 people annually, about one-sixth of which are our Guild level members. The Guild membership is our only juried level of membership,” said Brown.

“The MCA works in tandem with its partner organization, Shop Maine Craft, which is a host to our retail-based initiatives such as our craft shows, markets, and two retail galleries (Maine Craft Portland and Center for Maine Craft in West Gardiner),” Brown said.

Usually about 1,000 people attend throughout the weekend, she said. As of Sept. 14, the event was canceled due to impending storm — which was milder than expected. It will not be rescheduled, but is planned to be held next year. Another event is coming up in Brunswick for those who doesn’t want to wait until next year, the next event is the seventh annual Guild Fine Craft Show in Brunswick, held at the Fort Andross Mill Complex, 14 Main St., Brunswick, on Oct. 28 and 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The entrance fee of $5 is good for both days.

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