The Workshop

Join John Sundling, Artist, Designer, plant enthusiast and Owner of Plant Office in Portland, Maine for an afternoon floral workshop. Learn the art of floral arranging by combining seasonal flowers sourced from local farms with branches, plants and flowers foraged on the Tarbox property. Take a walk through the wooded pines down to the salt marsh and gather native botanicals to build your wild bouquet. Back at the Inn, fresh local flowers will join our found treasures as we compose blossoms and arrange stems in to beautiful take-home arrangements. In addition, participants will receive a photograph of their work. Experience the magic of early evening on the coast of Maine, wrapped in the scent and wonder of flowers. Beverages and light fare will be provided.

Tickets: $90 or 2 for $75

About John Sundling

I’m as surprised as anyone to end up a florist, though it is just the latest medium in a life full of art and design. My professional life began in set design for theatre, working in Chicago, New York, Santa Fe, New Haven, Maine, and beyond. This is where my love of collaboration comes from.

In an attempt to realign myself and my practice, we moved to Maine in 2010. Soon after I was washing buckets at a flower shop, and about the same time found myself in the woods creating my first art installations. I struggled for a long time with my identity: am I an artist? Florist? Designer? But as the years have passed I realize that I am only myself, and that I love all these things equally, and that my advantage is being able to combine these together. 

My other pride-and-joy is Institute for American Art, an itinerant art museum-style project that I run with my husband, Chris Stiegler.

Plant Office

John’s floral installations enrich the spaces of award winning restaurants in Portland, ME including Eventide Oyster Co., Hugo’s, The Honey Paw, Drifter’s Wife and Cong Tu Bot. Visit his new plant shop at 17 Marion St, Portland, ME 04101. Follow @plant.office | plantoffice.net

Join us for an elegant evening of delicious classic French food and fantastic French wine, served in the most serene setting at the historic Squire Tarbox Inn Barn. 5 Courses prepared by Chefs at The Thistle Inn and wine pairings presented by Justin Wardwell of Wicked Wines and Jim Elston of Chemin des Vins.

THE MENU
Sole Meuniere
Nicoise Salad
Ratatouille
Coq au Vin 
Creme Brulee

THE WINE
(Presented by Jim Elston of Chemin des Vins and Justin Wardwell of Wicked Wines)
Metz Cremant d'Alsace
Chateau Toutigeac Bordeaux Blanc
Chateau Fantou Cahors
Chateau de Lagorce Bordeaux 
Metz Pino Gris

TICKETS: $95 per person (Gratuity Included)

Solo Art Exhibition

Join us for a Solo Art Exhibition with Maine’s acclaimed artist and painter Brian Kliewer. This event is free to the public. Brian will share his story and speak about his process. We look forward to gathering together as a community to champion a local artist. Art will be available for purchase.

Join us after for a family style dinner from our wood-fired brick oven.

About Brian Kliewer

Art is my life. I decided to forgo a traditional bio. Instead, here's where my work comes from along with a few thoughts on painting... I'm self taught, been drawing and painting since childhood. I don't really think of myself as a "landscape" painter, per se, though I do enjoy it. However, due to an inherited condition that limits the time I can spend on my feet, I don't do much plein-air (on location) painting. For me it's not much of an option. I can do some but I have to be careful. Doctors warned me early on, "sedentary employment or nothing."  So how do I work?

I'm largely a studio painter. I often paint local subjects (within walking distance), using either photographs or sketches for reference. Rather than being a slave to photography I try to interpret my photos, adding from memory or leaving things out as I go.  I'm not driven by beautiful landscapes or grand vistas. While I might enjoy it, that kind of subject matter doesn't really interest me for painting. I need more and feel my best work comes from the places I know well and have a strong connection to. So I don't really feel limited by not getting around as other artists do. In fact, I see it as an advantage. How?

My condition slowed me down and forced me to look more closely at things. It caused me to become keenly aware of the light at a certain time of day or season; to understand the decay and dignity of a tree. It's given me a greater appreciation and perspective. It helped me develop my memory skills. I think it's also why I prefer grittier scenes to "pretty" ones.  With many of the scenes and subjects I paint there's an intimacy I can't really explain, but feel is directly tied to my background.  It's for this reason that I think it's benefited my work greatly.  Life, like art, often requires a certain tenacity.  I like to think that's reflected in my artwork. 

Work

View Brian’s work at briankleiwer.com | follow @briankliewerart