Arts Guide ~ Highlighting the Arts, Dining, Events, and more… Hancock and Sullivan, Maine

Let’s go for a drive… Hancock & Sullivan

Leaving Ellsworth on Route One, we head off into another realm – we may be heading “Downeast,” but that doesn’t mean we are leaving the arts behind. On the contrary, the territory east of Ellsworth is filled with creative people working in their studios on pottery, handwovens, fine woodworking, paintings, sculpture, and beautiful jewelry. Let’s hop in the car and cruise…

    Less than two miles from the turn onto Route One, we will see Route 184 to the right, which will take us to Lamoine and Marlboro. If you decide to take this route, you’re in for a treat. The drive is through some pretty country, and you can explore a bit as you make your way towards Rte. 1, maybe even stopping at the Marlboro Beach State Park.
    You can return to Route One via Mud Creek Road, or if you chose to bypass the turn to Route 184, just continue on Route One until you enter Hancock.
    Take a right onto Hancock Point Road; approximately 2.5 miles in, you will see Raven Tree Gallery on your left. Russell & Akemi Wray show their beautiful wood carvings, bronzes, etchings, and sterling silver jewelry here, and it’s a must-stop on this route.

KEY (click on highlighted advertiser links below to go to their website)

1. Barter Family Gallery
2. Down to Earth Pottery
(also in Blue Hill)
3. Glista Sterling Silver Jewelry
3. Shipyard Glassworks
4. Granite Garden Gallery &
Bourne Design Studio
5. Gull Rock Pottery

6 Hog Bay Pottery / Susanne
Grosjean Handwoven Rugs
7. Lunaform
7 Philip Frey Studio
8. Mark Herrington Studio &
Gallery
9. Moosetrack Studio
10. Raven Tree Gallery
11.Spring Woods Gallery

Download a PDF of the Hancock, Sullivan
Gouldsboro, Winter Harbor Drive here (206 kb).

Another must is Ragna Bruno Torkanowsky’s Studio/Gallery almost at the end of Hancock Point. Ragna’s paintings and sculpture are absolutely fabulous. She also shows work by some other fine artists.

As you are heading down to Ragna’s studio, you’ll see Crocker House Country Inn on your left. They are open nightly for dinner; this could be a good place to come back to at the end of the day, but make sure to reserve ahead!

Heading back out Hancock Point Road, watch for Eastside Road on your right. Take this turn to get back to Route One, and another great stop along the way. Gull Rock Pottery, the showroom of Kurt and Torj Wray, offers wheel thrown, functional stoneware pottery in their signature blue and white glaze, with local seascape, flora and fauna designs.

Once back to Route One, take a left and backtrack less than a mile to Manos Market on your left. They offer great sandwiches and deli foods, along with some nice gourmet grocery items. You could put together a lovely picnic here, or pick up things to take home.

After leaving the market, continue east on Route One toward Sullivan, and more galleries and studios.
Once you cross over the bridge, you will be in Sullivan. Take the first LEFT, less than 200 feet from the bridge, onto Taunton Drive.

Not far from the turn, you’ll see Art & Old Things on your left – antiques, collectibles, decorator items, and an art gallery in a big two story building.

Not too far ahead, on the right, take Track Road for a short distance to visit both Philip Frey’s studio and Lunaforms – both wonderful diversions.

Back on Taunton Road, watch for Quarry Road on your right. Taking this turn, you can visit the Granite Garden Gallery on Whales Back Road. Located in a beautiful setting in an old quarry, their specialty is stone benches, bird baths, planters, and oil and electric lamps.

Back out to Taunton Road, continue on until you reach the Barter Family Gallery on your right. This is one of the most fun and colorful galleries on the whole trip. Expect to be delighted by this stop.

If you continue on Taunton Road, you will come to where it meets up with Route 200. At this corner, you’ll come to Hog Bay Pottery, a great stop to appreciate Charlie Grosjean’s pottery and Susanne Grosjean’s wonderful handwoven rugs. The gallery space is very inviting.

Take a left on Route 200 and head for Down to Earth Pottery, where Keith Herklotz displays a host of interesting pottery.

Take the turn onto Shipyard Point Road, and visit Glista Sterling Silver Jewelry, and Shipyard Glassworks, featuring handcrafted lampworked buttons and beads, and bottles.

Take a left on Route 200 and head over to Mark Herrington’s studio and gallery – you might want to call ahead.

Backtracking along Route 200, you will encounter Moosetrack Studio on your left, where Camilla Stege shows her classic handwoven textiles; anything from delicate lace to wool area rugs.

Not far from Moosetrack, you’ll see Spring Woods Gallery on your left. Ann and Paul Breeden have created a tranquil garden setting, and the gallery holds their beautiful paintings, prints, and sculpture. The gardens are so restful, you may not want to leave.

But, you can continue on – off the map, so to speak – to Schoodic Peninsula (Winter Harbor and Gouldsboro) by heading back to Route One and taking a left, and moving on …

Gouldsboro, Winter Harbor and Schoodic Peninusla, which is home to a beautiful section of Acadia National Park–rocky shoreline, pounding surf, and screaming gulls will greet you on this trip.

Gouldsboro and Winter Harbor hold some interesting diversions, including galleries, artists’ studios, Bartlett Maine Estate Winery, Grindstone Neck of Maine (smoked seafood), as well as exquisite natural beauty, more winding roads, and occasional glimpses to the ocean. It’s well worth venturing off the map to explore this beautiful region.