The Rufus Porter Museum and Elizabeth Miller of Parris House Wool Works provided a talk about traditional rug hooking in 2021, from its history here in Maine, the New England region, and in the Canadian Maritimes, to contemporary expressions of the art evolving in modern times. Elizabeth brought examples of the art, explained basic tools, materials, and techniques used, answered rug hooking questions, and offered a chance for participants to try their hand at hooking. The talk concluded with lunch.

Two youngsters enjoying the Museum's beautiful greenspace.

Tony Castro, top left, of Tony Castro & Company giving a presentation on wall mural conservation in the summer of 2019.

A program of the National Inventor's Hall of Fame® and in partnership with Stevens Brook Elementary School and the Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity, Camp Invention® is a nationally acclaimed STEM summer camp providing in-person and at-home opportunities to take on fun, hands-on challenges that build confidence, collaboration and creative problem solving K-6th grade kids.

Matt grew up in Yarmouth, Maine and had recently graduated from John Cabot University in Rome, Italy, where he earned a B.A. in Humanistic Studies and a M.A. in Art History. Matt’s special project created a kids activity program entitled Curious Arts and Interesting Experiments. This event was held on the front lawn of the museum weekly during the month of July and introduced kids to Porter-inspired projects such as making invisible ink and using stencils to create landscape scenes.

Two red birds from one of the Norton Murals painted by Jonathan Poor, Rufus Porter's nephew.

Roy Gedat, left, Board of Trustees member and Therese Johnson, President of the Board of Trustees, look at a wall mural painted by Jonathan Poor, Rufus Porter's nephew, which is on display in the Nathan Church House.

The museum's main exhibits, located in the John and Maria Webb House, features the story of Rufus Porter and includes a collection of miniature portraits in The Charles and Judith G.T. Vogler Portrait Room; models of some of his inventions, books and pamphlets written by Porter, and early editions of Scientific American in The Kendal C. and Anna Charitable Foundation Invention Room; special exhibit space; and our highly acclaimed museum store. The Webb House is on the National Register of Historic Places and received an Honor Award from Maine Preservation in 2019.

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The Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity promotes and preserves the life and legacy of Rufus Porter. Today, Porter is well recognized for his folk art, however, he was so much more than a painter. Porter was an inventor, a musician, and a founding publisher, editor, and writer for Scientific American, still in publication today.

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CELEBRATING THE LIFE, TIMES, AND LEGACY OF A REMARKABLE 19TH CENTURY NEW ENGLANDER THROUGH PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION OF CREATIVITY AND INVENTION.

"LOGIC WILL TAKE YOU FROM A TO B. IMAGINATION WILL TAKE YOU EVERYWHERE."

Albert Einstein

Upcoming Events

Readings and Q&A with Maine Poet Laureate Julia Bouwsma
Tue, Apr 04
Maine Poet Laureate Virtual Lecture
Apr 04, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Maine Poet Laureate Virtual Lecture
Julia will do a reading of new and published poetry followed by a Q&A session. Free with a suggested donation of $10.00
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Create a 19th-Century Style Floorcloth
Sat, Apr 29
Stevens Brook Elementary School
Apr 29, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Stevens Brook Elementary School, 14 Frances Bell Dr, Bridgton, ME 04009, USA
Welcome to Painted Floorcloths!
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Rug Hooking with Elizabeth Miller
Sun, Jun 11
Bridgton
Jun 11, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Bridgton, The Rufus Porter Museum or Art and Ingenuity 121 Main St, Bridgton, ME 04009, USA
Would you like to learn the art of North American rug hooking?
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