Maine-based artist Heidi Geist will come to Wilmington as part of a year-long journey to create artwork for breweries in 48 states.
Geist’s mass art project, appropriately dubbed The 48 Beer Project, will include a stop at the newly opened Wilmington Brew Works at the end of October.
Geist has designed labels for nearly 20 craft breweries over the last three years at her Portland studio.
When her lease expired, she purchased a mini-school bus from eBay and converted it into a mobile studio. Geist spent three months renovating the mobile studio, which she named ‘Fearless.’ She then came up with the idea of a national event.
The art collaboration is just one element of The 48 Beer Project’s larger mission. According to Geist, “Along the way, I will be talking with brewers, grains growers, other label designers, etc., about their role in the craft industry, and recording the stories of not just beer lovers, but strangers and friends from all corners of the country.”
Geist selected breweries who shared a similar collaborative approach
“When this building had fallen into disrepair it was a drag on the neighborhood and the city. We are excited to add purpose and meaning to such a beautiful building, and bring the spirit of experimentation back to this space! Partnering with the 48 beer project is an exciting way to begin an arts program here, where we can collaborate with local artists for future projects,” said Craig Wensell, CEO and Head Brewer at Brew Works.
Having already completed projects in the New England states, New York, and New Jersey, Geist stop in Pennsylvania prior to her arrival at Wilmington Brew Works on Thursday, Oct. 25.
Her work in Delaware will have a bit more permanence than the labels she created as earlier parts of the project. During her three-day stay, Geist will be creating artwork on two of Wilmington Brew Works’ wooden barrels. The artwork will become semi-permanent fixtures on display in the brewery taproom.
Wilmington Brew Works is the first production brewery to be located in Wilmington’s city limits since 1954.
