Art Galleries near Friendship, ME

“I’m in awe every time I visit this store, antique treasures galore! I always have to make sure to plan ample time to look around. So many beautiful items, big and small, all displayed perfectly. I’m always excited to see what’s arrived from across the ocean and feel like a kid in a candy shop @The Art of Antiquing. Not only is the store packed with wonderful quality antique treasures, the women who work there are so knowledgeable and amazing!”

“You can find the Langlais Sculpture Preserve at 576 River Rd, Cushing, ME 04563. It's proximity to the Olson House makes it an ideal location to explore on the same day. Parking is in a small lot out front.Bernard Langlais was an interesting "found object" sculpture artist who has installations all over Maine - many of his pieces are representations of animals with a scattering of people thrown in for good measure - I especially like the whimsy in many of them as he would try to use the "found object" and allow it to speak of the animal hidden within.The Langlais Sculpture Preserve was his final home and contains several standing sculptures plus his original workshop - which has been left pretty much as it was when he passed away in 1977 - tools and half-finished projects are still standing, as if he had just walked away and they're awaiting his return.You walk around the garden which features several elephant sculptures originally designed to be climbed much like a standing tree-fort for kids (I don't believe they're offered up for this type of entertainment today). Besides the various animals there's a large finger (I think of it as "giving the finger" but my local friend liked to think of it as pointing to the heavens, as in "the sky's the limit") and also an open hand. There's an interesting representation of Christina from Andrew Wyeth's Christina's World, and out in the swamp-pond a Richard Nixon giving his double-peace sign - quite fun. The day we visited it workshop wasn't open to the public - not sure about hours, etc. - we just enjoyed the Preserve and went on the short nature hike behind the sculpture paths. It was very peaceful and allowed me to get a better perspective on this significant Maine "folksy" artist.”