Summer retreat
Spend some time on the shores of Lake Cobbosseecontee with some of your favorite artists, friends to be, and lots of loons. Pilgrim Lodge offers plenty of room to spread out, enjoy the lake, and make art! All cabins have their own bathrooms, showers, and porches, and are connected to the boardwalk to the Main Lodge. Come and hang out with other creatives to make art, swim, paddle, and relax. The 2026 Summer Retreat begins July 29th! Details coming this spring.
Highlights from Summer retreat 2025
By Allie Rimkunas
June 29th. Remember that beautiful day back when it felt like summer had barely begun and it stretched out ahead of us without a thought to the end of August? Now that most of us are back at school, that day is a distant memory. For me it was a day of intense excitement waiting for 50 teachers, artists, and friends to gather at Pilgrim Lodge for our 5th annual MAEA Summer Art Making Retreat. This year we had an influx of friends from Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and even California, in addition to our usual Mainiacs.
People came excited to spread out with their art supplies and have three glorious days to create. We had perfect weather for swimming, paddling, and porch lounging. Projects ran the gamut from drawing, painting, printmaking, and collaging, to clay, bookmaking, rughooking, weaving, and stitching.
Perhaps our most impressive collaboration was Snack Mountain, also known as Mt. Snackmore, a delicious venture that gradually disappeared as our appetites increased.
Artists were spread out from every part of the boardwalk, porches, the Lodge, and even into the Labyrinth. New this year we had an Artisan’s Market where folks could buy and sell their wares. On the last evening we had our final Art show, and of course, the Silent Auction. These were all wildly successful! Best of all we had many opportunities to make new friends, kindle old friendships, and create to our heart’s content in a beautiful setting.
Next year the timing will be different, starting on Wednesday July 29th, and going until August 1st with the option of going an extra day until August 2nd. The details have not been ironed out yet, but stay tuned!
I hope to see more of you next year for year 6 of the MAEA Summer Art Making Retreat!
