Art Class Making, Selling Mugs to Benefit Hirundo

An advanced art education course taught by Constant Albertson at the University of Maine is making and selling ceramic mugs to support educational programs for children at Hirundo Wildlife Refuge in Alton, Maine. Students in the course are collaborating to make the mugs, manage a blog, market, budget, sell and write a research paper on the project.

The mugs are $10 and being sold at upcoming events, including from 6–7 p.m. Friday, April 5, during the opening of “Making Art” the annual student exhibition at Lord Hall on campus and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 27 at the Hirundo Table during the Hope Festival at the New Balance Student Recreation Center.

For future sale locations or for more information, call Albertson, 207.581.3251 or visit the students’ website.

The goal of the four students in the class is to make and sell 500 mugs, and to work together to spread knowledge and inspire the community. Each handcrafted mug features a unique design inspired by nature.

Hirundo Wildlife Refuge is a 2,400-acre nature preserve 10 miles from the UMaine campus. The Hirundo land was deeded to UMaine in 1983, cementing a long-term collaboration based on research and scientific studies, according to its website.