'Tis the Season for Art Sales in Portland

[1]

Portland abounds with opportunities to purchase work by local artists, crafters and designers for the holiday season In addition to getting some unique handmade gifts, many of the sales provide a chance for you to meet your maker. Try that at the mall.

The Studio Building Open Studios [2]
December 5, 5-8 p.m.
536 Congress Street

Nearly 40 artists maintain studios in this building and several times a year, they blow open the doors and invite the public to see the work hung throughout the hallways and visit each individual studio. A true behind the scenes treat held in conjunction with the First Friday Art Walk of December.

MECA/SEA Holiday Sale 2008 [3]
Dec. 5, 6 to 9 p.m.
Dec. 6, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Dec. 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
East End Community School, 195 North Street, Portland

Organized by Maine College of Art and the Society of East End Arts, this annual sale of handmade arts and crafts for the holiday season brings more than 140 vendors together for a weekend of unique gift shopping. Free admission and parking. I am a sucker for the handmade underpants, stuffed monsters and soap with captured plastic livestock.

30 Romasco Lane Art Sale
Opening reception: December 6, 2 to 9 pm
Gallery hours, December 7 to 12, 4 to 7 pm
30 Romasco Lane

This is a new art sale model. It’s neither an auction to support an organization or a gallery sale to make a profit. Held at the studio of artist Joe Kievitt, the sale is meant to provide more direct profits to artists. It features the work by nearly 40 emerging artists including Gideon Bok, Patrick Corrigan, Karen Gelardi, Justin Richel and yes, my husband Henry Wolyniec.

Tanja Hollander Open Studio [4]
Open studio and half price sale
Sunday, December 7, 12-4 pm
Dana Warp Mill, 90 Bridge Street, Westbrook, Maine

It’s been a few years, but photographer Tanja Hollander has reinstated her open studio and half price sale. There will be special editions prints, magnets, cards and multiple sized photos.

Shop-a-do Craftastic Art Sale [5]
December 10, 4 to 10 pm
Space Gallery, 538 Congress Street

Designers, printers, t-shirt makers, paper junkies and vintage experts collect at Space for one night of indie shopping with Ferdinand, Field, Olive’s Vintage, Pinecone+Chickadee, Record Books, Salty Kiss Press, and Strong Arm Bindery. With music by BAM BAM.

Photo A Go-Go [6]
Friday, December 12, 6-8pm
Preview: December 8th thru 12th, 12-8 pm
Dana Warp Mill, 90 Bridge Street, Westbrook

Each December, Bakery Photographic Collective hosts its annual fundraiser, Photo-A-Go-Go, a silent auction featuring works from established and emerging photographers at incredible prices. Members, interns and photographers from all over the country donate framed photographic prints. This year’s signature image is a picture of Obama playing pool, taken by Maine photographer Samantha Appleton, who covered the primaries for the New Yorker.