The International Guild of Miniature Artisans’ Guild School to be Held at Maine Maritime Academy, Free Exhibitions Open to the Public June 8 – 12

Posted on: June 3, 2014

CASTINE, Maine – The International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA) will be hosting the 33rd annual Guild School at Maine Maritime Academy from June 7-14 with free exhibitions for the public Sunday through Wednesday, June 8 – 11 (9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) and on Thursday, June 12 (9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.).

The Guild School will feature 47 classes over six full days for miniature artisans of all skill levels to practice their craft and learn new techniques in a variety of media. The classes will cover everything from oil painting and copper sculpture to furniture-making and room construction. An estimated 200 miniaturists from all over the world are expected to attend the school.

Registration for the School is currently closed, however, anyone interested in miniatures are encouraged to attend the free public exhibitions to view the work of students and talk with other artisans.

Miniatures are scaled-down replicas of normal sized items which are made from a variety of media such as wood, leather, pewter, and other fine metals. The creation of miniatures as a hobby took off in the United States around the 1970’s. However, the art form can be dated as far back as the middle ages.

For more information on the Guild School, IGMA, and the history of miniatures, please visit the IGMA website at www.igma.org.

Maine Maritime Academy is a co-educational, public college on the coast of Maine offering 18 degree programs in engineering, management, science and transportation. For more information, visit mainemaritime.edu.