STEAM Halloween 2017!

STEAM Halloween at the Portland Public Library this year. Mini pumpkin catapults, bike wheel zoetrope prints and pop up Jack O'Lantern cards!

Wheel weaving at the Bacon Street Festival, August,2017

Stop by this Thursday at the Community Bicycle Center in Biddeford to celebrate the annual "Lights on After School" and honor the valuable work of everyone who makes this wonderful program possible!

Bike Part Art will be there from 3 - 5 with hands on activities for all.

I did a demo of pewter casting at Homeport Pottery for Maine Craft Weekend, 10/14  10/15. Hope to schedule some pewter workshops soon.

A beautiful day for Applecycle 2017! The Acton Elementary School Woven Wheels really made the Kelly Orchard rest stop look festive.

Getting ready to install woven wheels by Acton Elementary school students for the Applecycle fund raiser in  support of the Community Bicycle Center in Biddeford! Wonderful  biking through western York county! October 14th!

The 21st Century Library is really changing! Enjoyed my residency at the Curtis Library in Brunswick. Kids coming to the Collaboratory made good use of the
bicycle chain spirogrphs!

This summer the Rotary Park wheel sculpture in Kennebunkport got a renovation to
repair the UV damage that occurred over the last five years. STEAM question of the month! Why was the blue Sterling rope more resistant to UV damage?
Thanks to the kids at Biddeford's Annual Bacon Street Festival for help restoring the wheels!

I do really love Maker events! This week it was Maker Day at the Portland Public Library while 1000 people supporting Science were marching by (and some of them dropped in later)

Bike Part Art had analog engineering in Pop-Up boxes and bike gear spirographs not just for kids only---many unaccompanied adults took part! 

Kids in my "Kinetic Toy & Design" class made a propeller car!

Another great invention by kids participating in "Kinetic Toy and Design" at Firehouse Arts
several years ago. "Rolypoly" is now on the Bike Part Art menu. Formed and riveted from 
recycled industrial scrap metal.

"Metals for Minors" Vacation Workshop

I'm very excited to offer "Metals for Minors" at the Community Bicycle Center in Biddeford during February vacation this year. The image below is some mini armour created by homeschool students at my class this Fall which was held at the Open Bench Project in Portland. Children always contribute new project ideas to this class. Mini armour is definitely a keeper!

 "Metals for Minors"  teaches basic metal skills using traditional tools and techniques. Children are guided through skill building exercises to create jewelry and small scale sculpture.

Schedule: Monday, 2/20 - Thursday 2/23  9 a.m. -12 p.m.
Tuition: $135 includes a $25 material fee.1

Instructor Bio: Ann Thompson is a studio metalsmith and Teaching Artist on the Maine Arts Commission roster. She has taught at Southern Maine Community College, The Open Bench Project in Portland, and many other school and community venues in Southern Maine. Ann is certified as an Ed Tech for the Maine Department of Education and has facilitated family workshops in local museums  and libraries as well as residencies in public schools.

To register email: littleriverworkshop@gmail.com