80 talented artists and tradespeople who teach at Manor Mill.
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Baltimore County-based fiber artist inspired by nature. Degree in Studio Art, Fiber Art from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Self-taught in needle felting. Sources wool locally when possible. Prides self in making sustainable fiber art pieces.
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Amy Hopkins runs the monthly Old Time Jam at Manor Mill and operates a stringed instrument repair shop in the area. She brings together old-time music enthusiasts for an evening of traditional tunes and community.
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Multimedia paper cut artist based in Baltimore, Maryland specializing in intricate papercuts for illustration, surface design, and three-dimensional work. Has created work for Anthropologie, T. Rowe Price, Neighborhood Design Center, Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts, and University of Maryland Medical Center. Over 12 years of workshop teaching experience with diverse audiences.
Lifelong art enthusiast with wool interest beginning when sister purchased Border Leister sheep flock. Hooked on all wool-related activities (knitting, traditional rug hooking, rug punching). Avid gardener with graphic design background on Northern Baltimore County farm. Custom draws rug designs, dyes own wool. Certified Oxford Punch Needle Rug Hooking Instructor since 2019.
Common Tone music enrichment programming promotes authentic music exploration. Founded in 2024 by Beth Pacione and Mike Feathers, the organization encourages students of all levels to develop a love for music and a shared desire to explore its boundless possibilities through thoughtful curricula, original music, and interactive learning experiences.
I think this is the hardest part...telling why I do this. After hours and hours, spent writing it down, I read it and re-read it and it always falls short: too far to the left or right ... too self-conscious, over-thought, over-explained, under-explained ... and, in the end, it always just boils down to the simple fact that I do it because I can't help it. It keeps me happy, relatively sane and out of the funny farm ... or jail.
Bridgette Guerzon Mills… stitching together mysteries of life and time Interview by Katie Aiken Ritter Might it offend to say that artist Bridgett Guerzon Mills reminds me of…a spider? But not any arachnid—Bridgette brings to mind the beautiful, kind Charlotte of the children’s story Charlotte’s Web: prolific, observant, gently teaching, at once aware of life’s sadnesses but still hopeful—and capable of moving in many different directions at the same time, connecting those differing directions into a greater-than-its-parts collection of work that pulls you in and catches your imagination, making you long for something unexplainable, something…more. Let’s consider this list: Forests hold enchanting books she has crafted, mysterious objects with pages of moss and cloth, metal and beeswax and thread. If you happen across of these magical creations while wandering the woods, you cannot help but stop and stare for a moment, wondering of what IS that? You reach for it as if it is sacred, as if the thing holds the words of time itself, spoken in the language of trees—and you feel certain that you have come upon something otherworldly, something secret, a thing of the fairy folk; a tribute to the mystery and power and timelessness of nature and trees. You stand bemused, every sense alert, experiencing something different in the forest, something breathtaking that you have never seen before. She paints landscapes that not only show but let us feel the land by working in encaustic . “I was in Seattle and saw a small painting. It was a painting, but it wasn’t… it was sculptural. It was translucent. I could see colors underneath colors underneath colors. WHAT IS THAT?! I wrote in my notebook, and under it the word encaustic. That word led to some deep research. Inspired and entranced by ancient Fayum mummy portraits of long-ago Egypt, Bridgette is one of a small subset of artists who use encaustic—simultaneously a medium and a technique (beeswax and damar resin mixed with color)—in a process that involves torches and heat guns to constantly re-melt the mixture, building up layers, engraving through them, giving a sculptural quality to the work as sculptural elements take shape, and blending layers of jewel-like colors impossible to create any other way. It’s a bit dangerous; an artist can only breathe in the fumes just so long and so often. She creates abstract mixed-media pieces, fascinating compositions that convey without words the delicacy and strength of our natural world, our environment and our human dependency on it. These pieces might express the passage of time, or speak of strength we carry inside…and of the way humans yearn for quiet and aloneness as they simultaneously crave community. A visionary artist always has an idea behind each piece they create, something they are trying to convey. Bridgette’s work explores ideas as deep as silver veins that run through mountains—and running along those veins, her work imparts a deep sense of aloneness, of longing, of almost melancholy. But it also feels hopeful, offering promise: like the encaustic itself, there are layers upon layers upon layers of ideas upon which her work is built. She spoke of her journey to becoming an artist. “I got my degree in communications sciences, concentrating on communication disorders having to do with learning disabilities: autism, traumatic brain injury, stutterers. The work was intense. I was twenty-two years old and wanted to save the world, and I couldn’t.” Art provided an escape. A move to Missouri led to work in a frame shop, where she could be surrounded by art and take a break from the emotional strain of teaching. “I saw how much people paid for artwork. I’d always been practical—paid my way through college, earned a living—so I’d never really considered art. But something in me started wondering why I was not allowing myself to even try it.” “It’s hard to envision now, but this was before Etsy, before PayPal. My husband is a web developer, so he offered to build me a website. At first, I couldn’t even imagine how that would help,” she laughs. “But one thing led to another, and then another. Teaching at retreats. Finding galleries who wanted my work, thanks to connections with friends. But the best thing was being able to be a mother at home with my children, painting while they napped, working my art around my family. It was demanding, I’ll be the first to admit—but I knew what a privilege it was to be able to live and work that way.” The word ‘connections’ comes up again and again in our conversation. Bridgette speaks of connections with past cultures, with past artists, with people who lived before us, now forgotten. “We—artists, whether visual or literary or music or dance—are so important. We once were the mages, the wise people, the keepers of the sacred. Now, much of society considers us expendable. Nice hobby you have, they say. But artists look at things differently in important ways. We ask important questions—and one of the questions I ask again and again is, what does it mean to be human and live on this earth? What does it mean to hold in one’s hand something another human created? What is our purpose—and what is our responsibility? Where does our strength come from?” She asks those questions by using in her collages ephemera left by people who lived before us: bits torn from books, remnants of metal, scraps of stitching that remind us of the interconnectedness and interdependency of all living things—and often as not, bare trees. Stripped to their essence to withstand winter, they impart an enduring strength that Bridgette wants to offer to others. We spoke of the evocative Portuguese word saudade; she uses the Brazilian pronunciation ( saw-DADGE) for a complex word that communicates a desire for restored wholeness, for the return of that which is gone, for connection—yes, there’s that word again. It’s saudade that her work evokes, the sense of longing and aloneness shining with hope for connection, whether in her landscapes or abstract works or forest installations. May I say it again, please? Charlotte spun her web knowing full well what was to come, bearing it with strength and grace while teaching her little friend Wilbur to understand. We need those among us who are strong enough to look ahead, to help us know what we must do. Bridgette does this in her work, if we but take a moment to look and listen. Lastly, we spoke of an internal this-just-happened connection for Bridgette: how this show at Manor Mill’s gallery represents an important first for her. “I’ve always shown my landscapes and my edgier mixed-media pieces in completely separate galleries. They’ve never mixed. This is the very first time I’ve exhibited these two sides of my art together in one show. The credit for that goes to the Mill’s gallery curator Lynne Jones. You think it will work? I asked Lynne, and she firmly said yes. I can’t express how much it means to me to connect my realistic works with my abstracted ones. It feels…complete.” Painter. Teacher and mother. Environmentalist. Wanderer, observer, healer, mystic—and connector, bringing all of these together, inviting us to connect with the earth, with one another, and the future…with hope. Come and experience Bridgette’s work by visiting Manor Mill Gallery during this August show—and attend her closing talk to meet Bridgette and learn more. By Katie Aiken Ritter IG @KatieRitterVikingWriter Bridgette Guerzon Mills is a multi-media artist. Her work incorporates a variety of materials including photography, paint, encaustic, and textiles, as well as reclaimed materials. Her artwork has been published in magazines and books and her work has been collected in the United States and internationally. She currently resides in Towson, MD with her family. As a mixed media artist, encaustic is a versatile medium that allows her to create depth in layers and serves as a means for further exploration in both form and meaning. She combines her photography with encaustic to create a bridge between two worlds, the real and the reconstructed. The canvas becomes a multilayered surface that speaks to both the visual and tactile senses. Her landscapes are an attempt to capture a feeling of wonder, recognition and kinship with the land. She explores landscapes in both oil paint and encaustic. Her outdoor installations, often created using foraged or recycled materials, focus on environmental issues and seek to engage and educate the public about these concerns. www.guerzonmills.com
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Working artist for 25 years showing paintings and ceramics nationally. M.F.A. from Pratt Institute. Founding member and President of Northern Baltimore County Art Foundation. Taught art for 20 years, currently art teacher for lower school at St. James Academy.
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Owner of Claire Jones Landscapes, LLC with garden designs featured in Chesapeake Home, Garden Design, Wall Street Journal. Plant geek leading garden-centric tours worldwide. Garden writer with award-winning blog "The Garden Diaries" and published book "The Beekeeper's Field Guide." Maintains apiary in meadow at Maryland home. Frequent presenter on garden topics nationally.
Over decade in agriculture/horticulture career spanning foothills of Appalachia to Alaska peony fields. Returned to Baltimore 2017, founded Spore and Seed farm in 2018. Committed to providing local community high-quality fresh cut flowers, dried flower products, mushrooms grown honoring nature.
Graphic artist and musician Dave Dilworth was never one to pick one kind of music and stick with it. When young, he listened with a single earplug hooked to a transistor radio late at night from faraway cities when he was supposed to be sleeping. He began filing away tunes for reference. Later, while attending the University of Maryland in College Park, Dave discovered WHFS radio in Bethesda, which played literally all types of music. That spoiled him forever and he soaked it up like a sponge. Dave delights in letting other people hear music that excites him—especially if it's music they might not have heard before.
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Researched own family history 25+ years. Immediate past president of Baltimore County Genealogical Society, currently treasurer. Member of Maryland Genealogical Society Board of Directors. Teaches genealogy courses at Community College of Baltimore County, local senior centers, libraries, genealogy societies. Given numerous talks on genealogy, DNA, foreign research throughout Maryland.
Upcoming Classes
Upcoming Classes
James McFarland is a Professor of Art + Design at Harford Community College in Bel Air, Maryland, and teaches Ceramics, Sculpture, and Fundamentals of 3D Design classes. Jim grew up in Essexville, Michigan. He has an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Delta College, and his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees in Studio Art from Michigan State University. Jim exhibited regularly in Michigan and the Midwest while in Michigan. His sculpture was exhibited in the National Small Sculpture Exhibition at Central Michigan University, the 6th Michigan Artists Competition at the Battle Creek Arts Center, the All Area Exhibition at the Saginaw Art Museum, and the Whirlpool Sculpture Competition Traveling Exhibition , among others. After moving to Maryland, Jim continued to exhibit. He has been included in the International Sculpture Center Sculpture Exhibition Series at Arnold and Porte r and the Art in the Atrium series at Columbia Square, both in Washington, D.C.; the Baltimore Area Sculptors Exhibition in Philadelphia, PA; the Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh, PA; the Maryland on View series at Maryland Art Place and Elements at School 33 Art Center, both in Baltimore, MD; the Contemporary Ceramic Sculpture Exhibition at Catonsville Community College, Catonsville, MD; and Three Sculptors: Mixed Media at Hodson Gallery at Hood College in Frederick, MD, among others. He is also a recipient of a Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award. Jim has two commissioned sculptures on campus at Harford Community College. Harford Landscape is installed in the campus library. Counselor , is in Darlington Hall. Jim’s relief sculpture, Contemplation , is also part of the HCC permanent collection. It is on view in the administrative suite on the third floor of the Library. His curatorial work includes, Observation and Exploration: Recent Work by Marcia Wolfson Ray and Michael Benevenia; Forms from Life and Nature: Ceramics & Other Media, Brad Blair & Rich Kaste; Ceramics Sculpture Exhibition ; Functional or not: Ceramics by Four Mid-Atlantic potters ; Brent Crothers: Sculpture ; Contemporary Clay as part of Tour de Clay organized in conjunction with the National Council for Education in the Ceramics Arts conference held in Baltimore, and Collections Contained: An Exhibition of Artists’ Books, among others. Jim also co-curated the recent Brent Crothers Memorial Exhibition with Gina Pierleoni at Harford Community College. Currently, Jim is a member of the Public Art Committee in Havre de Grace, MD, has been working to develop a ‘Sculpture Trail’ through town, and has been instrumental in bringing several permanent sculptures to the city. His most recent curatorial project is Constructed Stories and Fabricated Forms: Assemblage Sculpture by Eight Regional Artists , currently on exhibit at Gallery 220 in Havre de Grace, MD. Jim is married to artist and curator Kathleen O’Brien. They live in Havre de Grace, MD. Instagram ID: JamesMcFarlandSculpture Contact gallery@manor-mill.com Instagram: @manormillgallery Master calendar Legends ~ The Monkton Hotel RESERVE the Miller’s House ~ RESERVE the FISHING LodgE AT THE MONKTON HOTEL Open to the public: Wednesday - SUNDAY 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM (410) 842-5590 Sign up for our newsletter 2029 Monkton Road - Monkton, MD - 21111 info@manor-mill.com | Download our Brochure Voted Best of Baltimore for classes 2024!
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Bey-Her Baskets grew from Louise and June being co-workers, friends, and taking basketry classes together. They were intrigued about how you could make something so strong, long-lasting and useful with just your hands and minimal tools. That began their love of basketry and their love of sharing basketry through classes they teach, interacting with the public at craft shows and other venues, and becoming active members of a basketry guild. Their passion grew to designing original baskets and experiencing different material. Over the past twenty-five years, they have grown their skills and basketry knowledge to include many different basket styles, taking classes from basketry teachers from all over the country. . The reward of hearing praise about their craftsmanship, the delight of a beginner weaver taking one of their classes and interacting with the “basketry community” has led to hours of pleasure for them as they continue to pursue the art of basketry.
Facebook: Bey Her Baskets
Watercolor Artist Kas Rohm enjoys creative realism in her watercolors, often with the use of waterproof ink to bring out the details. Living most of her life not far from the Manor Mill Gallery, Kas finds inspiration from the local community and environment, often infusing a splash of whimsy into her paintings and illustrations.
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Pyrographer and mixed media artist, Maryland native, behind K. L. Kriss Studio. Work inspired by nature and storytelling magic. Grew up in northern Harford County. Degrees from Washington College and JHU, multiple MDDC Press Association awards. Discovered pyrography in 2016, opened Etsy shop during pandemic. Explores various canvases including wood, fabric, cork.
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Upcoming Classes
Discovered everything potential craft material while 'knitting' with grass at age four in creative family. Art class studies at Lidová Škola Umění in Czechoslovakia deepened love for artsy-craftsy pursuits. Especially happy working with yarn, fabric, fun socks. Made first sock monkey 2009, hooked ever since. Incorporates crafts into child psychologist work at St. James Academy in Monkton, MD.
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Marcie is a yoga teacher, early childhood educator, and mother of two. She holds a BS in Sociology and an MS in Special/Elementary Education, along with a 200-hour YTT plus certifications in Children's Yoga, Yin Yoga, and Mindfulness. Her classes focus on reconnecting our bodies, healing our hearts, and awakening our souls.
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My wife, Amanda, and I live in Boring, MD on a 30-acre farm with our three dogs Wesley, Arlo, and Tela. We both grew up in Baltimore and Carroll County and love the area. I have my master's in teaching, went to culinary school, had my real estate license and was a land surveyor before settling into my tie dye business. When I am not tie dyeing, you can find me listening to records, seeing live music (jam bands and blue grass), playing lacrosse, snowboarding, or hiking.
Maxi Cif Designs one-woman company striving to create simple, ethical sterling jewelry inspired by earth and moon. Formally trained in metalworking and digital object design. BFA in Interdisciplinary Object Design from Towson University concentrating in CAD and metalworking. All wire forms and components designed and fabricated by maker, lovingly handmade in Baltimore, MD.
Mel Edden is a British poet who is passionate about sharing poetry. Her own poems appear in Gargoyle, The Loch Raven Review, Meat For Tea, WWPH Writes, Welter and in various anthologies. She is a 2025 Best of the Net Nominee and one of Grace Cavalieri's featured poets on FotoSpecchio.com. Mel also edits our poetry anthology Poets of Manor Mill which is available for purchase in our gift shop, online and in local bookstores. A Romance languages graduate (Swansea University) and a postgraduate in art education (University of South Wales), Mel has a particular interest in translation, ekphrastic and immigration poetry. She lives in Monkton with her husband and two rambunctious little Americans. She enjoys swimming, reading and photography and will jump at any opportunity to go to the beach. Find out more and read her work at www.meledden.com
I draw inspiration from nature and the surrounding landscape. What interests me as an artist is not only the formal qualities of solving the puzzle, but how creativity and the arts lead to the unknown and connect the dots in unexpected ways. Michael lives in Monkton with his wife Joanne. He is a MICA graduate and has been a lifelong artist/educator.
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Early interest in mechanical things from childhood. Trained in engineering with teaching career exceeding a decade, becoming nationally recognized STEM educator at NASA. Taught hundreds of students welding in classroom engineering curricula. Currently balances education nonprofit work, small metal-art business, and lots of time outdoors
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Only eight years ago, Nancy considered what activities she might choose to fill her hours once she retired from a 40-year career in real estate. She is a long-time resident of Northern Baltimore County, Maryland. She has taken numerous classes and workshops. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Notre Dame College.
Cheesemaker and Charlottetown Farm owner raised on Monkton MD farm. Learned agriculture and local eating importance. Made cheese from goats for family and friends for eight years before turning into business. Charlottetown Farm serves many restaurants, farmers markets, community festivals, going strong 10+ years.
Young experimental photographer blurring genres including international travel photography and photojournalism. Previously taught nature photography at Irvine Nature Center. Documented stories from migratory bird population deaths to renewable energy battles. Maryland-based nature photography published by NeighborSpace and Precision Camera. Combines photography with creative writing.
Singer, songwriter, instrumentalist from Hereford. Lifelong musician who started teaching Voice, Piano, Guitar, Ukulele, Music Theory about decade ago. Teaches privately in Northern Baltimore County area, former Music Director at EMC Performing Arts Studio in New Freedom, PA. Long-time Music Minister at Our Lady of Grace. Rita is also a Jane Austen enthusiast. She is a life member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, and is a Regional Coordinator Emerta for the Maryland Region. She currently coordinates the Maryland Jane Austen Fest at Oldfields and Manor Mill. Rita is also interested the Ceramics.
Art teacher for 26+ years teaching wide variety of mediums from drawing and painting to fiber and clay arts. Philosophy that everyone possesses creative spark needing only open mind to artistic expression possibilities. Lives on small alpaca farm near Bel Air, Maryland. BFA from Philadelphia College of Art. Middle school art teacher at St. James Academy.
Stained glass artist based outside Baltimore. Found deeply satisfying, therapeutic nature in all stained glass process steps, especially beautiful glass colors and textures. Specializes in modern stained glass design. Pieces traveled into homes worldwide, especially Baltimore with locally themed pieces like popular lemon stick. Started as hobby, became full-time career and passion.
Sarah Karp is a Certified Master of Medical Qigong, Rapid Transformational Therapy Practitioner (Hypnotherapist), and Cacao Ceremony Facilitator. She facilitates physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing through medical qigong, qigong (group classes and personalized flows), acupressure, cupping, hypnotherapy, cacao ceremonies, meditation, and other health + wellness events. Sarah also emphasizes building supportive community during every class + event.
For more details on healing services, classes, and events, visit www.QigongHW.com or connect with her via email at QigongHW@gmail.com.
Stephanie is a 500-hour registered yoga instructor trained in Anusara, Ashaya, and Hatha methods. She specializes in mindfulness, pranayama (breathing), and meditation, integrating tantrika yoga teachings with sound healing and alignment-based instruction.
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Susan Keatley is a writer living in Phoenix, Maryland. While getting her Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she would look longingly at copies of Science magazine and wish not to be published in the research section, but in the section upfront where someone wrote about what the research meant. Susan has written about science and other topics for the New York Times, the Simons Foundation, and the Princeton Alumni Weekly, and has been a moderator at the Newburyport Literary Festival in her hometown of Newburyport, Massachusetts. She is the creator and host of the Science Fare podcast, which connects what scientists do to what high school science students are learning. Her first novel is on submission and she is working on a second. She loves meeting and talking to writers and is thrilled to host the Manor Mill Writers Guild Prose night.
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Former owner of Breathe Books who authored three Ayurveda books and contributed to magazines and online forums. Certified Ayurvedic practitioner and Certified teacher of the Gateless Method of Writing.
Abstract artist born 1983 in Baltimore. Started mixing own acrylic paints and experimenting with resin in 2018. Studio based in Timonium, MD. Recent exhibitor at American Craft Made Baltimore convention. Work displayed and available at Femme Fatale DC store in Washington DC. Offers in-person acrylic paint pouring classes.
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Followed creative process fluidly and intuitively since childhood. Each wallhanging made with intention, patience, love. Uses only natural materials reflecting earth's organic process. Chooses ethically-sourced, non-mulesed merino wool ensuring peace of mind. Although many share similarities, no two pieces exactly same.
Artist and educator, proprietor of Bowerbox Press specializing in woodcut and letterpress prints, bookbinding, custom design and printing. Teaches Letterpress and Bookbinding at Towson University, offers related workshops. Maryland Institute College of Art graduate living in Monkton, MD.
Vanessa Eskridge founded Manor Mill Playhouse with the mission of creating a vibrant space where local actors, designers, and theater enthusiasts can produce and enjoy high-quality theater. Her performance career has taken her from New York City to London to Baltimore, and her extensive experience directing and producing for theater, radio, and television has deepened her belief that nothing compares to the magic of live performance.
Upcoming Classes
Upcoming Classes
