The time has come for Maine Kiln Works to transfer experience and accumulated potential to benefit others.
I launched Artisan Lab in 2018—to re-purpose 5 decades of Maine Kiln Works infrastructure, equipment and material assets to provide experiential learning opportunities for 10 Finger Thinkers.
My effort is inspired by and attempts to interpret and honor the 49 year example of The Apprenticeshop — launched in 1972 and continually inspired by the vision and perseverance of Lance Lee. Now skillfully navigating unprecedented challenges — the determined team are adopting skillful ways and means to weather the storm. The Apprenticeshop is a vital source of courageous vision and steadfast determination forging educational alternatives for a constantly changing world.
January 2018—I established a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational enterprise to empower a new generation of Artisans to work with both hands & minds, despite enormous cultural and economic disincentives.
The success of this transformation will hinge on imagination & tenacity, the skill of my non-profit board of directors, and the generosity and encouragement of our community of supporters, who value and look forward to participating in the success of this new enterprise.
We invite you to consider joining our effort (if you’re enthusiastic, motivated, and have complementary skill sets). Please visit our Partners and Residents pages for more detail.
Our metamorphose is a carefully planned work-in-progress, to which, I dedicate the remainder of my life.
My deep trust—that progressive but unconventional endeavors complement and leaven mainstream assumptions—fuels this transformation. Our goal is to mentor attention, focus, presence, creativity, perseverance, reflection, adaptability, evaluation, flexibility, innovation, planning and growth.
Reorganization will progress as our resource base develops and will unfailingly honor the wisdom and encouragement and full-tilt examples of Kurt Hahn, Lance Lee, The Apprenticeshop, and numberless un-recognized defenders of community collaboratives—the root of common sense and equitable progress.
“I mention six decays, which surround and influence us all, young and old: There is the decline of fitness due to the modern methods of locomotion. There is the decline of skill and care due to the weakened tradition of craftsmanship. There is the decline of initiative due to the widespread disease of spectatoritis. There is the decline of self-discipline due to the ever-present availability of tranquilizers and stimulants. There is a decline of memory and imagination due to the confused restlessness of modern life. There is the decline––worst of all––of compassion, which William Temple called ‘spiritual death.’” — Kurt Hahn
“The world breaks everyone and afterwards, some are strong at the broken places”
— Ernest Hemingway