Our Mission
Bishop’s Garden & Studio will preserve the artistic legacy of the Bishop family by sharing the joys of creativity with visitors. We will provide cultural experiences to Maine’s southern Aroostook county region.
Located in Island Falls, Maine, on Micmac and Maliseet land, Bishop’s Garden & Studio was established in 2021 by Alexandra Bishop.
Our gardens will contain original sculptures created by Harley Bishop and a unique mix of plants in a garden designed by Patience Bryant. Our facilities will include an art studio where we will offer art educational programming and special events. All grounds and facilities will be fully-ADA compliant and wheelchair accessible.
Our History
The history of our garden and studio begins with the original inhabitants and stewards of our land, the Micmac and Maliseet communities.
Photo courtesy Maine Memory Network
In 1893 the Exchange Hotel was built on our plot of land by Ellis and Wallace Tozier. It was purchased by E. E. Morse in 1896 and later sold to E. D. Davis in about 1928. In 1946 the hotel burned down and operations stopped. You can read more about this era of our history in "A History of Island Falls, Maine," by Nina G. Sawyer, 1972.
Photo courtesy Camp Roosevelt
The property was purchased by Harley and Eva Bishop in 1967, when they established a general store named Bishop’s Market. The Bishop family operated the market until 2015.
Today, we are launching an arts organization in honor of this property’s history.
Our Values
Ancestral land
We acknowledge that we are located on Wabanaki land.
Sustainability
We are committed to designing our garden and studio with sustainable and native materials.
Local economic investment
We are committed to purchasing goods and services from as many local businesses and individuals as possible throughout the creation and annual maintenance of the garden and studio.
Livable wages
We believe it is morally and ethically necessary to pay our staff, contractors, and vendors livable wages and are committed to doing so.
Art accessibility
There is a misconception that only the rich can afford to devote time and energy to the arts - we know this is not true. Everyone, regardless of income, ability, race, gender, age, and all other dimensions of identity deserves artistic experiences and successes. All grounds and facilities will be fully-ADA compliant and wheelchair accessible.