Maine Fiberarts, an arts service not-for-profit organization in Topsham, is sponsoring The State of Fiber 2004: Exhibitions and Events Celebrating Maine Fiber. This is a yearlong event paying homage to the work, past and present, of Maine shepherds, quilters, knitters, felters, guilds and other entities that utilize or produce yarn, fabric and fleece. More than 75 exhibits and events in more than 23 towns are planned.

“All types of fiber media will be shown,” said Christine Macchi, executive director of Maine Fiberarts, “including woven work, quilts, handmade paper, artists’ books, surface design fabric, beadwork and Native American basketry. There will be gallery and museum exhibits, open farms and artists’ studios, lectures, demonstrations and workshops.”

Event highlights include:

. “Calico and Chintz: Early American Quilts from the Smithsonian American Art Museum,” which includes 20 appliqued, whole-cloth and pieced bed covers dating from 1818-1850. The exhibit runs from April 8 through June 6 at the Portland Museum of Art. Also at the museum, running in conjunction with “Calico and Chintz,” is “Another Layer: Maine Art Quilt Exhibition,” quilts by contemporary Maine artists; and “Album Quilts from Riverton Elementary School,” three quilts made by second- and third-graders from Riverton Elementary School in Portland under the direction of art teacher Emily Serway.

. “Contemporary Maine Fiber Art” juried show, April 10-May 30, at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockport. The opening reception is from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 10.

. Keynote address for The State of Fiber 2004, 7 p.m. Friday, April 23, Portland Museum of Art auditorium. Chicago writer and art critic Polly Ullrich will discuss “Fiber in the 21st Century: Reflections on Handwork in the Digital Age.” A public reception from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. will follow the keynote address.

Exhibitions throughout the year include the Boothbay Harbor Quilt Festival; innovative art, Turtle Gallery in Deer Isle; handmade paper art, University of Maine Presque Isle; the farm to art connection, College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor; fiber as sculpture, Hay Gallery in Portland; woven work, University of New England in Biddeford and Portland; hooked rug patterns, Maine State Museum in Augusta; cutting-edge fiber, Heartwood College of Art in Kennebunk; Native American baskets, Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor; and 19th century textiles and embroideries, Maine State Historical Society in Portland.

Information about Maine Fiberarts is available at www.mainefiberarts.org, or by calling 721-0678.

Snippets

A reader from Bar Harbor writes that Alice Starmore’s book “Aran Knitting,” published in 1997 by Interweave Press, is a great source of information and inspiration. She also recommends Priscilla Gibson-Roberts’ book “Knitting in the Old Way: Designs and Techniques from Ethnic Sweaters,” Nomad Press, for those who like to knit without patterns.

Knitters who visit www.meknit.com will find a free pattern for a rolled brim hat.

Weavers from Blue Hill, Orono and Bangor will meet at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 25, at Cityside Yarn in Bangor. They are in the process of forming a weavers guild. Call Diane at 990-1455 to learn more about the organization.

Members of the Bangor Area Sewing Guild will teach you to sew quilt blocks with circles inside from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17, at the Hampden Municipal Building. The cost is $15 for guild members, $20 for others, and includes materials and templates. Call 941-8815 to register for the class.

Ardeana Hamlin welcomes comments, suggestions and ideas. Call her at 990-8153, or e-mail ahamlin@bangordailynews.net.