Voices of UMF: Saskia Reinholt

“UMF allowed me to explore my various passions.”

Saskia Reinholt has built a career at the intersection of art, education, and community engagement. A UMF Studio Art graduate, she is the founder and volunteer executive director of the High Peaks Creative Council and founder of the Maine Barn Quilt Trail. Through public art projects, school partnerships, and community workshops, she has helped bring creative opportunities to hundreds of people across Maine. She recently reflected on her journey and the role UMF played in shaping her path.

“My parents encouraged me from a young age to create art and to choose a career that I am passionate about. I transferred to Farmington’s art program from USM because I wanted to be close to Sugarloaf and love Farmington’s small-town appeal. I loved being able to be part of the ski industry program, learn about art education, and major in Studio Art. It allowed me to explore my various passions.

Having an art degree from UMF and taking art education classes while I was there prepared me to write grants, teach classes, and design beautiful pieces of art! One of the most meaningful experiences I had was my teaching practicum at Carrabassett Valley Academy. I really loved my time there teaching high school students. By the end, I realized that I might prefer to teach in alternative education settings such as private schools, art centers, and create special art projects in public schools.

In 2012, I started a nonprofit called the High Peaks Creative Council, initially funded by a Maine Arts Commission Creative Communities grant. Through this nonprofit, I wrote grants to work with over 600 children in five schools to create the first 24 Barn Quilt murals that established the Maine Barn Quilt Trail [network of more than 70 barn quilts located in Franklin and Somerset Counties].

I went on to secure more funding to host free community workshops across Somerset and Franklin counties to expand the trail of murals. Most recently, I’ve written grants to work with area schools to create Barn Quilt murals for the outside of school buildings. They are painted by every student at the school. The past two years, I worked with Day Mountain Regional Middle School, Phillips Elementary School, Stratton School, and Rangeley Lakes Regional School.

Outside of my nonprofit work, I host private Barn Quilt painting workshops all over the state of Maine. I work with community centers, grange halls, and other organizations to host one-day classes where participants create Barn Quilt murals while learning about the history of Barn Quilts, color theory, and the creative process.

Today, I serve on the Maine Arts Commission, which is really enjoyable because I get to be involved in the arts at a statewide level. Locally, I am the vice president of the Phillips Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing creative opportunities to children. I also serve as volunteer executive director of the High Peaks Creative Council, which continues to find ways to bring creative projects into the greater community.”