Subscribe to get notified about new events!

Magic Lantern Innovation Center

Better Together is a program for children and their adults that begins with a gentle exercise class in the lobby and then offers an art class in Web&#39;s Common. &nbsp;This is a unique and fun way to inspire you towards wellness.&nbsp; Multi-generational families welcome!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Better Together

Did you ever wonder why certain stones are associated with special months? &nbsp;Learn the history of birthstones in this intriguing workshop with Maine Mineral and Gem Museum.&nbsp; Every birthstone has a story, and maybe you can add to yours!

Birthstones with Maine Mineral and Gem Museum

Build a unique mobile out of painted shapes, beads and other findings. &nbsp;Learn how using bold colors and patterns can draw attention to your art, and actually make it look like ceramic.

Build a Crazy Paint Mobile

Make a folding accordion book and fill your pages with poetry and art.&nbsp; Join us for this inspiring workshop that will give you plenty of skills for gift-making.

Make An Accordion Book

Explore ancient worlds with Magic Lantern Innovation Center and the Maine Mineral &amp; Gem Museum&nbsp; Discover real fossils, ask questions, and get hands-on with specimens while learning how scientists study Earth&rsquo;s past. And then create your own fossil to take home.

Fossils with Maine Mineral and Gem Museum

Build a D &amp; D character from the ground up! &nbsp;Learn how to complete a character sheet and research other character groups. &nbsp;This is a great session for new and returning D &amp; D players.&nbsp; Appropriate for all ages!&nbsp; Indigo is a long-time D &amp; D player and can guide you expertly in this fun session.

Dungeons & Dragons: Create your own character

For youth ages 7-14. Did you know you can dye fabric with summer fruits like blueberries and raspberries? &nbsp;We will experiment with different fruits on silk to see what colors emerge. &nbsp;A great lesson in a time honored craft--and chemistry!

Dyeing Cloth With Fruit

For youth ages 7-14.&nbsp; Cyanotype is a kind of printing that uses the sun to imprint images on paper. &nbsp;It is a perfect process for using leaves, flowers, stems and other elements from nature. &nbsp;If we have rain, no problem--we will use UV lamps to develop our prints.

Cyanotype Printing: Using the Sun as Camera

Join guest artist Posey Moulton for this two-day workshop as we create a larger-than-life jellyfish from recycled plastics to exhibit at Magic Lantern Theater.&nbsp; &nbsp;For youth ages 8-14 In this workshop we will construct a giant jellyfish using old fishing nets, recycled plastics and found objects. &nbsp;Posey has exhibited her giant sculptures in Portland, Freeport and Norway, Maine. &nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.poseyart.com/" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.poseyart.com/</a> This will be a fun workshop where we all work together to create a piece of community art, funded by Maine Arts Commission. &nbsp;Both days included for one price of $15, with scholarships available. &nbsp;Contact Melinda for more information: melinda@themagiclantern.org

Guest Artist Workshop: Create a Giant Jellyfish

For youth ages 7-14.&nbsp; yGet your hands in the clay! &nbsp;Learn to form and pre-glaze your pieces to add vibrant color. &nbsp;Note: Pieces will go to the kiln for firing, so please allow at least one week before you come to pick up your ceramic pieces.

Hand-building with Clay

Drop in Science Thursdays is an informal way to learn new information and skills. &nbsp;Each week we will address a different topic and work on a related craft.July 2: &nbsp;Seaweed and Smoothies. &nbsp;Learn about Maine&#39;s diverse seaweed and why it is great for food and cosmetics. &nbsp;We will serve up a special seaweed smoothie!July 9 : &nbsp;Wings and Fins. &nbsp;What do birds and fish have in common? &nbsp;Aerodynamics and propulsion. &nbsp;We will study these while crafting a butterfly/fishing net.July 23: Build an Air Racer. &nbsp;Learn something about engineering while building a battery to power your air racer.

Drop in Science Thursdays

For youth ages 7-14. Learn a different way to make paper mache that gives you more control over what you are forming! &nbsp;Paper mache clay uses joint compound, glue and toilet paper for modeling.&nbsp; Note: It takes a while for the clay to dry so please plan to pick up your project when we notify you, and feel free to stay and paint your creation.

Paper Mache Clay

Get creative with fondant in this deliciously hands-on workshop. 🎂 You&#39;ll learn how to sculpt fondant, a stiff icing, into interesting forms.&nbsp; We provide the cakes and everything you need to make a delightful edible sculpture.

Fun with Fondant

Magic Lantern is delighted to welcome renown ceramicist Martha Grover to teach a hand-building clay workshop. &nbsp;Youth ages 7-14 will learn about the properties of clay and glaze, and will have the chance to craft several pieces that will then go to the kiln for firing. &nbsp;Learn more about Martha Grover:&nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.potterystudiobethel.com/about" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.potterystudiobethel.com/about</a> This workshop is funded in part by Maine Arts Commission.

Introduction to Ceramics with Artist Martha Grover

Use stones, sticks, moss, bark and other natural elements to help us create an enchanting fairy village outside the Magic Lantern on the banks of the stream. &nbsp;This class is appropriate for ages 6 and up.

Create a Fairy Village

Learn to weave using sticks and yarn or fabric scraps. &nbsp;Create a colorful and interesting decoration for you wall in this workshop that uses supplies that are readily available.&nbsp;

Stick Weaving

Get your hands in the clay and see what you can create. 🎨 In this hand-building workshop, you&rsquo;ll learn how to shape your clay and pre-glaze it to add vibrant color.&nbsp; You will be able to create several pieces.&nbsp; Note: &nbsp;Items will be taken to kiln for firing. &nbsp;Please allow a week to pass before coming to get your creations. &nbsp;

Turn bits of broken china and sea glass into unique and functional stepping stones. &nbsp;Note: Stepping stones will take 24 hours to dry so please plan to come at a later time to pick up your amazing creation to take home.

Create a Stepping Stone with Broken China

Give new life to everyday items at our &ldquo;Upcycle with Decoupage&rdquo; workshop 🎨. Learn simple decoupage techniques to turn bottles and flower pots into useful, creative pieces you will be proud to display.

Upcycle with Decoupage

Learn how to craft fabric strips into a fun and useful coil basket. &nbsp;Includes a beginner lesson in sewing machine stitching and hand stitching.

Create a Fabric Coil Basket

Learn to use fiber scraps to make a fun and useful coil basket. &nbsp;This workshop includes beginners instruction in using a sewing machine and hand sewing. &nbsp;If you don&#39;t finish (or want to create more coil baskets) come back on June 23 for free time.

Create a fabric coil basket

Learn how to paint watercolor waves around your favorite rock. &nbsp;In this fun art exercise we will talk about the &quot;ripple effects&quot; of kindness and how every time you help someone, that person then goes on to help someone else. &nbsp;Bring your favorite rock or look for one on our grounds.

Watercolor Art and the Ripple Effect

Learn how bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and bats &nbsp;keep our ecosystem healthy and strong! &nbsp;This hands-on class includes videos, games and even the chance to help us plant a pollinator garden outside the theater that will bloom next spring. &nbsp;

Pollinators! (STEM track)

Bending wire into shapes is relaxing and fun. &nbsp;In this class we make a copper wire tree of life with leaves and roots that can be hung in a window or against a wall. &nbsp;There is the option to add shiny beads to make it shimmery in the sunlight--just like real leaves.

Make a Copper Wire Tree

You can create an entire region using the Enviroscape 3-D model, adding farms, roads, buildings, factories and animals. &nbsp;In this workshop we will build the area and then see how various liquids used for manufacturing, agriculture and daily life impact the water underground. &nbsp;This is a great activity to introduce ecology to our young people.

Enviroscape Build - STEM track

Discover the art of collage by decorating a metal hinged box--the perfect size for your small treasures. &nbsp;Choose from a wide variety of images and build them into a story that is unique to you. As one of Maine&rsquo;s four 4‑H Learning Centers, we blend creativity, learning, and fun in a welcoming community space. No art experience needed&mdash;just curiosity and a willingness to try something new. 🎨

Collage Box

Explore the science behind the sky in our &ldquo;All About Clouds&rdquo; STEM workshop. We will investigate how clouds form, experiment with weather concepts, and connect what they see on the big screen to real-world science. &nbsp;We may even create some new cloud names! Hosted at the Magic Lantern Innovation Center, a 4‑H Learning Center in Maine, this hands-on session blends curiosity, creativity, and teamwork. Students will observe, build, and test simple models while learning to ask questions like real scientists.&nbsp;

Magic Lantern Innovation Center

Magic Lantern Innovation Center

Events

Events

Watercolor Art and the Ripple Effect

Get your tickets

Pollinators! (STEM track)

Get your tickets

Make a Copper Wire Tree

Get your tickets

Enviroscape Build - STEM track

Get your tickets

Collage Box

Get your tickets

All About Clouds: STEM track

Get your tickets

Powered by