First Fridays
Join us for Portland's First Friday Art Walk for an evening gathering of beaded art, fun, and conversation.
The Museum of Beadwork presents a series of in-person events on the first Friday of the month (specific dates listed below). These events will be a mix of lectures, workshops, and presentations as well as time to view exhibits and talk with staff, presenters, and other attendees. These events run from 5pm to 8pm unless otherwise stated below.
What is a First Friday Art Walk?
A monthly arts and cultural event that takes place on the first Friday of every month throughout many cities in the US and internationally. Generally these events are promoted by a local entity; we have Creative Portland to thank for the promotion and organization of Portland, Maine's art walk every month. Follow the link to check out this wonderful arts based organization.
Want to sponsor a First Friday to help us keep them free?
Please contact us directly for information about this sponsorship program. A great opportunity for businesses, art enthusiasts, and groups of all kind to support community and creativity!
2026 Schedule
June 5th, 2026
Welcome Reception for Guest Artist Sherry Serafini
Please join us in welcoming renowned artist Sherry Serafini and celebrating the opening of her newest exhibit!
Sherry’s beaded art is known internationally and is owned and worn by Grammy winner Melissa Etheridge, Lenny Kravitz, and singer Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas. Sherry was voted one of the top 10 instructors in the United States by Bead & Button magazine. She lectures and teaches throughout the world, has been published and written articles for several well-known magazines, including being a featured artist in the 2024 Belle Armoire.
Her new exhibit will open June 5th and run through December, but for tonight only will you be able to meet her is person! As always we will also have wine & NA beverages, snacks, an open gallery, lively conversations, and free parking!
July 3rd, No event
August 7th
September 4th
October 2nd
November 6th, No event
December 4th, Holiday Bash!
Celebrate the opening of our 2nd annual beadwork challenge, A Novel Tea, with a tea party complete with a little madness. From 5-8pm come have a spot of tea, vote for your favorite entry in the exhibition, and wear your best hat for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the museum. (Also, free parking!)
The MOB challenge is a competition open to bead artists around the world with a different theme every year. This year’s theme is “A Novel Tea: a spot of beads and whimsy”. There are eight different awards decided by judges as well as a coveted People’s Choice award that is decided by museum attendees starting at this event!
At every First Friday we have a raffle for a museum SWAG bag, and this time we will also have a pair of tickets to the museum for the guest with the best hat!
So come, join the tea party, wear your best hat, and decide which piece in this new exhibit is the “Queen of Hearts”.
Throughout her thirty-year career, Laura McCabe has developed a style of woven beadwork that celebrates form and function. The work is extremely intricate and labor intensive. She also makes use of materials such as semiprecious stones, shells, insects, computer parts, hardware components, and even glass eyeballs.
"Eyes are a recurring theme in much of my work, drawing upon traditions dating back more than 6,000 years. While perhaps initially unsettling, eyes have long been considered icons of good luck and protection. The use of glass doll's eyes and antique human prosthetics add a sense of life to my work.”
In anticipation of our Guest Artist later this month, we thought we'd share a taste of bead embroidery to anyone who'd like to give it a try. Materials will be provided! Artists Holly Bean will be teaching 2 classes on the 28th and 29th, so come along to our First Friday event on the 6th and see if this is a technique you are interested in learning more about.
As always, free gallery admission (though donations are greatly appreciated), light snacks, snappy conversation, and free parking!!
We will have cider, and Ugly Sweater contest, and our usual snacks, raffle, and of course, beadwork!
If you'd like to be part of the Ugly Sweater Competition, just show up in your favorite ugly sweater- holiday themed or otherwise! Judging will happen at 7 for a chance to win a Swag Bag and Enamel Pin Set.
Please come and celebrate the holiday season with us and bring a friend. And as always, free parking!
Are you interested in new art or beadwork techniques but you’re not quite ready to invest in all the tools and supplies? Looking for a quick starter session just to see if it will grab your interest? At this event we will have several stations with various types of beadwork for you to try out with a partner. You can bring a friend, a date, or get paired up with a new pal who’s also there to dip their toe into beadwork.
This is a hands-on, fast paced event to give you a little taste of various beadwork styles. It’s a great date night for partners, new couples, friends, or anyone looking for one of those with a shared interest. Who knows what could happen?! Snacks, wine, education, world class artwork, artists, and as always, free parking. That’s a pretty great combination for a date night!
This is a free event with a suggested donation. We do ask you register just so we can make sure we have enough teachers on hand.
Send us an email or register here.
See you February 7th at 5pm!
Not only have we spruced the place up, we have added five more cases and a new wall space to our gallery! Come along from 5 to 8 pm and see not one, but two new Guest Artists, Nick Heller and Sabrina Frey. We're also showing off some clothing, vintage handbags, and many of the masks from last year's Gala, so if you missed that event, come see these spectacular pieces now!
As always, free gallery admission (though donations are greatly appreciated), light snacks, snappy conversation, and free parking!!
Join us for the opening of Maracole Bijoux's new exhibition here at the Museum of Beadwork! Food, wine, conversation, artwork, and as always, free parking!
Born and raised in Italy, Maracole graduated in Rome with a specialization in Drawing Animation and game design from IED. She worked in the animation industry until 2008, when she took a chance on relocating to Los Angeles, CA. She started making visual art and exhibiting her work in local galleries, specializing in Pop Surrealism. Mara experimented with many mediums over a decade, and since 2019 Maracole Bijoux – a line of high end handwoven jewelry– is her main endeavor.
The Maine Bead Society will be in full force tonight to kick off their bead-retreat and the general public is welcome to come join in the festivities and see what the MOB is all about.
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In addition to our usual fair, we will have guest vendors in a sort of Friends of the Museum Holiday Bizarre!
Come shop, have snacks, tea & wine, celebrate the holiday season and of course check out our gallery full of amazing artwork! And as always, free parking.
Grab a friend, and come celebrate with us!
Back by popular demand!
Are you interested in new art or beadwork techniques but you’re not quite ready to invest in all the tools and supplies? Looking for a quick starter session just to see if it will grab your interest? At this event we will have several stations with various types of beadwork for you to try out with a partner. You can bring a friend, a date, or get paired up with a new pal who’s also there to dip their toe into beadwork.
This is a hands-on, fast paced event to give you a little taste of various beadwork styles. It’s a great date night for partners, new couples, friends, or anyone looking for one of those with a shared interest. Who knows what could happen?! Snacks, wine, education, world class artwork, artists, and as always, free parking. That’s a pretty great combination for a date night!
April 3rd, 2026
Spring Time Tea Party
Break out the fancy hats for our Spring Time Tea Party! Come celebrate the ending of winter with a spot of tea from 5-8pm on April 3rd.
As always, there will be open gallery admission (though donations are greatly appreciated), light snacks, snappy conversation, and free parking!! Wearing your best hat gets you a chance to win a pair of tickets to the museum, and enjoying a cup of tea will only enhance the sparkle and splendor of the artwork.
We currently have 4 Guest Artists, a beadwork completion, community projects, permanent installations, and a dozen other cases filled to the brim. So join us in a cuppa and smile your way into spring!
May 1st, 2026
Beaded Braids!
We're hosting our first ever bead retreat and we are inviting everyone, even if you are not attending the retreat, to celebrate its kickoff!
As always, there will be open gallery admission (though donations are greatly appreciated), light snacks, snappy conversation, and free parking!! We will have staff and guest artists on hand to talk to you about the marvels of Kumihimo OR just talk to you about the incredible art on display in our gallery!
We currently have four Guest Artists, a beadwork completion, community projects, permanent installations, and a dozen other cases filled to the brim. So join us and see something incredible!