An Unlikely Combination

Pop quiz: what do the following things have in common? Stained glass + butterflies + shells + spiders. The answer is Jim Nutting, the owner of the Maine Art Glass Studio. This site was the destination for my 25th visit to every town in the state.

The building is easy to find. Head to 51 Main Street in Lisbon Falls, Maine. You can’t miss it. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you spot giant ants crawling up a former church building. That sounds like the beginning to a strange joke, but no kidding!

The building was constructed by Slovak immigrants in the 1920s. It now houses the studio, along with a butterfly and insect museum. As I entered the lower level, I found Jim busy on one of his latest projects — repairing stained glass windows from the chapel at Bates College. The school happens to be where Jim earned a biology degree back in the 1970s. The year after graduation, he took a stained glass class. In recent decades, he has merged his two interests into this one fascinating place. 

Some of us have hobbies that take up a bit of extra space at home or in our garages. And then there are passionate folks like Jim! He is one of the most prolific creators and collectors I have ever met. It is astounding to me that one person could produce and gather this many beautiful and intriguing items in a single lifetime.

There isn’t much open space in the 12,000 square foot, multilevel building. Typically I take pictures throughout my visit, but on this occasion I needed to pass through and try to take in the scene first. My second time through I attempted to capture some of the wonders for you. I could return and do so another dozen times, but still only scratch the surface. My time at the studio and museum reminded me of my trip to the Big Chicken Barn in Ellsworth; the scope was mind-boggling. This location needs to be added to your bucket list if you have any interest whatsoever in stained glass and/or insects. 

Already have a stained glass hobby and need supplies? You’re likely to find them here with over 1200 colors and textures of glass in stock. Thinking of experimenting with art glass for yourself? There are numerous workshops available to help you assemble, fuse, slump, paint, enamel, etch, or sandblast. Please don’t ask me to define these terms! Send all questions to Jim who has taught thousands of Mainers in this craft over the past decades. He even offers birthday party activities for kids who want to explore art glass.  

If you take your kids to the upstairs museum, be prepared for endless exclamations of, “LOOK!” There are butterflies in stunning colors from all around the world, as well as a vast array of beetles, scorpions, and spiders. They are encased in stained glass boxes made by — you guessed it — Jim!

There are a handful of live creatures. You might find yourself looking for a cat who occasionally meows, but that’s just funny Polla, the resident parrot who enjoys hanging out on Jim’s shoulder. 

My thanks to Jim for being a friendly and enthusiastic guide, as well as being generous with his time. You can follow his work and stay updated on developments at the studio by following their Facebook page. I highly recommend you pay a visit in person and see this one for yourself the next time you’re passing through the area. No written description can do it justice.

I’m on a mission to visit every town in Maine. Check here to see if I’ve featured yours yet: All The Visits. To learn more about this adventure, see the about page.