A six-month pop-up shop at 200 Middle St., Suite 202, in Portland’s Old Port district is offering art installations, retail, a studio and a reading room.
Maeson Maine leased the 5,386-square-foot space from East Brown Cow. The shop opened late May and will run to late September, said Kristin Rocha, who set up the shop.
The goal of the “experiential” retail pop-up is to add a sense of creativity, experimentation and public life to downtown Portland, said Jacob Soley, East Brown Cow’s development director.
The layout overlooks Union Street and includes seating areas and tables stocked with paper and drawing supplies for customers to use. An installation was created by Rocha and sound designer Kari Rae Seekins and combines audio with textile sculptures.
The mission includes allowing people to use the creative supplies.
Rotating collection
Originally from Providence, R.I., Rocha moved to Maine in 2017. She’s a creative consultant with Portland communications consultant Longfellow Communications and co-founder of the Portland production company Hitched Willie.
The shop has a rotating collection of art and objects, a selection of books and supplies and items from thrift shop vendors such as Portland Flea-for-All.
Collaborations and programming will be planned through the summer, Rocha said.
“This current venture, Maeson Maine in Old Port Square, came from the impulse to expand beyond client projects and my own personal work, to apply my creativity in a way that could have greater impact,” Rocha said.
