Lewiston, ME — The Industrial Heart: Enterprise, Innovation, and Creativity opens to the public beginning Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at Maine MILL. The original exhibition focuses on the textile, shoe, and brick-making industries and features highlights from Maine MILL’s collection – including both unusual objects and the very human stories of the community’s workers.

With The Industrial Heart, Maine MILL aims to engage people throughout Maine in connecting with our industrial heritage, while also providing a forum for Maine artists to respond to its collection, tying our rich history to the issues of our present and future.

The first three sections of the new show focus on the textile, shoe, and brick industries. Each heirloom object is paired with a selection from the museum’s oral history collection. The fourth element showcases the work of three Maine artists: Amy Stacey Curtis, Djamal Maldoum, and Kelly Jo Shows, each of whom created original pieces in response to Maine MILL’s collection. Visitors to the exhibition will also have the opportunity to participate in creating a community mandala, a project overseen by artist and educator Sarah Haskell.

“All of the works in this new show are drawn from Maine MILL’s collection or were created directly in response to it. We are excited to show visitors a fresh take on the highlights from our holdings alongside new work from a diverse group of Maine artists, connecting our history to the present moment. Visitors will connect back to our roots while they get a glimpse of where new shoots and branches are growing, and we think that combination is rich with creative possibilities for the future.” said Rachel Ferrante, Museum L-A’s executive director.

For more information about Maine MILL and its events and exhibits, call 207-333-3881. The museum is located at 35 Canal Street in Lewiston. Current visitor hours are Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment.

#MuseumIndustrialHeart

The exhibition is made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional support is provided by the Maine Humanities Council as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Champoux Insurance, and New Balance. The Community Mandala is made possible by Maine Community Bank. Materials for the exhibition were provided by Sherwin Williams, Marquis Signs, and Rancourt Shoes. Photography by Rene Roy.