ROCKLAND—Steel House, an art, design & technology collective that started in 2014, expanded their presence on the Rockland coast with a grand opening May 13 to unveil Steel House South, a renovated building that shares waterfront campus space with The Apprenticeshop. The space features oceanfront office views, conference rooms, a gallery and additional classroom and event space.

Nathan Davis, co-founder and CTO of Steel House was on hand to give tours. The gallery, a spacious, light-infused room, displayed an interactive video installation, where the gallery participants were projected in real time up on a white wall as the exhibit itself, via a computer screen and camera. “We’re going to use this gallery, not just for video, but for more experiential projects as we go,” said Davis.

The building used to be The Apprenticeshop’s office space, but since it was underutilized and the Steel House’s programs and offerings were expanding, the Steel House made a deal to take over the building and renovate it.

Steel House and Steel House South have met a need that has been booming in the Midcoast over the past decade with a thriving artist, maker and technology culture. Both spaces provide “multidisciplinary art space providing access to contemporary artists, thinkers and technologists through exhibitions, workshops, talks, events and more.”

From the modernist approach of designing electronic clothing and custom made skateboards with graphics and artwork to a revival of older style art forms such as creating letterpress posters, designing and making crankies and learning how to shoot a film camera in manual mode, Steel House and Steel House South are set to offer innovative summer courses, an ambitious exhibit schedule and a new residency program.

Photos by Kay Stephens

For more information visit: http://www.rocklandsteelhouse.com

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com