The League of NH Craftsmen, in partnership with the Maine Crafts Association (MCA) and the Maine Arts Commission, is proud to announce the seven mentor / apprentice pairs selected for the 2026 Craft Apprentice Program (CAP). Now in its 11th year, the program continues to honor the enduring power of mentorship, creativity, and fine craft across Maine and New Hampshire.
Over seven months and 100 hours of focused studio time, the pairs will follow their approved plan to achieve clear objectives. A capstone exhibition will open at Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Newcastle, Maine in October, and then travel to the Headquarters Gallery of the League of NH Craftsmen in November.
Congratulations to the seven inspiring 2026 CAP apprenticeship pairs! Maine Crafts Association and the League of NH Craftsmen look forward to supporting your apprenticeships and following along as you further develop and grow your technical skills, artistic voices, business prowess, studio management, and build new relationships in the craft community.
This year, the League is sponsoring one pair with participants who reside in New Hampshire (mentor and League member Shana Brautigam with apprentice Molly Ludlam), and co-sponsoring two pairs with apprentices that are League Members (Jesse Mixer and Janet Moran). MCA is supporting four pairs. You may read more about all of the 2026 pairings below. We are excited to see where the year will take all of these artists!
Meet the Mentors + Apprentices 2026
Shana Brautigam + Molly Ludlam
Rindge, NH
This clay-focused apprenticeship will advance apprentice Molly Ludlam’s skills in hand building, wheel-throwing, and wood firing under the guidance of mentor Shana Brautigam. Molly will expand her functional forms to bowls, platters, and teapots, explore surface decoration techniques like stamping, sgraffito, and underglaze painting, and participate fully in bisque and wood-firing processes, including kiln preparation, firing, and stoking. This apprenticeship offers hands-on training in both technical skill and creative experimentation in pottery.
Nisa Smiley + Jesse Mixer
Ellsworth + Porter, ME
Under the guidance of mentor Nisa Smiley, this apprenticeship will help Jesse Mixer elevate her jewelry-making skills and advance her professional practice. Jesse will refine her metalsmithing through advanced stone-setting and clasp-making techniques, explore precious metal clay, keum-boo, and goldsmithing to expand her work, and strengthen her professional presence through booth design, yearly planning, and exposure to craft shows and galleries. Through 100 hours of one-on-one studio training, this apprenticeship builds both creative skill and career sustainability.
Tyler Gulden + Janet Moran
Walpole, ME + Merrimack, NH
Apprentice Janet Moran will deepen her skills in atmospheric firing and sculptural ceramics through a 100-hour, one-on-one studio apprenticeship with mentor Tyler Gulden. She will refine her mastery of soda and reduction atmospheres, explore double-walled pierced forms to study light, shadow, and negative space, and develop a professionally documented body of work through photography, firing notes, and technique records. By integrating technical skill, complex form development, and documentation, this apprenticeship will strengthen her artistic expression and produce work marked by intention, creativity, and growth.
Albert Nhan + Chrystina Gastelum
Biddeford, ME
This apparel-focused apprenticeship will advance apprentice Chrystina Gastelum’s skills in flat pattern drafting, garment construction, and fashion production under the guidance of mentor Albert Nhan. Her goals include mastering measurement-taking and shirt pattern drafting with advanced manipulation techniques, refining sewing precision through improved construction methods, tool use, and material sourcing, and developing a functional marketing and sales channel for her work. Through 100 hours of one-on-one training in the mentor’s studio, Chrystina will build both technical expertise and a sustainable, professionally presented apparel practice.
Jason Fox + Zachary Sherman
Mercer, ME
Under the mentorship of Jason Fox, Zachary Sherman will apprentice in Japanese timber framing through hands-on design-build work. The training will emphasize traditional Japanese joinery, frame design, and layout, with a deliberate focus on increasing speed and accuracy when cutting joinery using both hand and power tools. A core aim of the apprenticeship is to develop professional-level production skills that make large-scale timber framing economically viable. One project will be the design and construction of a new shop structure, supported by Zachary’s experience in place-based architecture. This includes building a to-scale timber-frame model to study the structural design and joinery selection. Zachary will leave his apprenticeship with a solid, practical grounding in Japanese carpentry tools, hand-skills, and design principles, enabling him to lead design-build projects of his own as he works to help places come to life.
Malley Weber + Michelle ‘Misha’ Oraa Ali
Hallowell/Augusta + Waterville, ME
This clay-focused apprenticeship will advance apprentice Misha Ali’s skills in harvesting, processing, testing, and creating work with local Maine wild clay while working with mentor Malley Weber. The focus includes responsibly identifying and harvesting clay sites, processing and cataloging materials, testing clay properties and additives, and developing reliable custom blends. Misha will apply these clays through wheel-throwing, hand-building, and clay 3D printing for both functional and sculptural work. Through 100 hours of one-on-one studio training, the apprenticeship supports the development of a sustainable and professional clay practice.
Travis Clough + Hale Linnet
Westbrook, ME
This textile-based apprenticeship with mentor Travis Clough will help Hale Linnet grow both their quilting practice and their connection to the local fiber arts community. Hale will refine technical skills and explore sculptural and painted elements while preparing a show with local quilters. The apprenticeship will also foster collaboration through participation in quilting circles and projects like Transmissions, including creating a quilt to be auctioned in support of the trans community. This experience emphasizes both creative development and community engagement in fiber arts.
2026 Jury Panel
Diana Arcadipone, 2025 CAP Mentor + Professional Artist (Paper/Book Arts)
David East, Executive Director, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts
Lisa Almeida, Education Coordinator, League of New Hampshire Craftsmen
Thank you to all of the generous sponsors that make the CAP program possible!
The 2026 Craft Apprentice Program is made possible through generous funding from the Maine Arts Commission, with media and magazine sponsorship from Maine Home + Design. Additional program support comes from MCA organizational partner League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, and MCA Cornerstones Hay Runner & Woodhull.
