2021 Catalog Cover Artist

2021

George Maurer

George Maurer’s name is well known to Maryland shepherds, and it’s not because of his artistic talent. Recently retired, George was a partner in the family meat processing business, Maurer & Miller Meats in Manchester, Maryland for more than three decades. George’s family moved to Maryland in 1960 from Kalamazoo, Michigan where his father worked at a meat packing plant. In 1962, George’s father incorporated Maurer & Miller Meats with his friend and fellow Marine Eugene F. Miller. In 1987, George, his brother Stephen, and his brother-in-law Tom Richards bought the business from his father, George J. Maurer. George patiently coached many local (and not-so-local) shepherds on raising the best possible lamb for the dinner table, however, working 12-hour days, sometimes six days a week, didn’t leave much time or energy to paint. Since his retirement, he has spent much of his time pursuing his passion for painting.

Photo by Kelly Heck Photography

In an article in the July 2020 edition of the Mason Dixon Surveyor, George said, “I don’t have any formal training, but I was interested since I was a kid”. He enjoyed art at North Carroll High where he graduated in 1971. “I never took an art course when I went to Frederick Community College, but I would always walk through the art building to see what they were doing.”

A turning point came when his daughter entered elementary school and Maurer started taking her to Barbara Schnell’s studio in Hampstead, Maryland. “My Mom knew that I like to draw so she signed me up for lessons,” says Amber Maurer Farran, who graduated from McDaniel College in 2009 with an degree in art. “It was mostly little kids in the basement—4th or 5th graders—and it was only an hour class.

“At first, my Dad waited in the car, but then he came in and started drawing, too.” George Maurer explains, “I’m not going to drop you off and come back to pick you up. The class wasn’t that long.” Father and daughter ended up painting together in Schnell’s basement all the way through middle and high school. When Amber eventually stopped going, he continued. “I think he was inspired by watching me paint,” she says, “and he started to paint the kill floor at the butcher shop. Paint what you know, right?”

George is intimately attuned to the natural environment, local agriculture, artisans, and trades which compete agribusiness. He is a member of the Carroll Arts Council. In January 2014, George and Amber had a show together at the Carroll Arts Center entitled “Meat the Maurers,” and in Spring 2019 they had another show together at Off Track Art in Westminster, Maryland entitled “More Than Meats the Eye.” George also has art hanging in Dutch Corner Restaurant in Manchester and he participates in the Annual CCAC Members Art Show.

See George’s Facebook page

 

Warm up for the Festival with Winterfest 2024!

Registration is now open for two days of virtual spinning, knitting, and fiber preparation classes to be held on February 3 and 4, 2024.

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Registration is now open for Winterfest 2024 at lessonface.com/sheepandwool!! Out third annual Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival Winterfest is two days of virtual fiber arts seminars, to be held on on Saturday, February 3 and Sunday, February 4, 2024. The following instructors will be teaching fiber prep, spinning, and knitting:o Kate Atherleyo Maggie Caseyo Roy Clemeso Shana Coheno Jill Duarteo Laura Linemano Sarah Schirao Emily WohlscheidThere will be a free keynote lecture on Sunday at 12:00 pm ET. In "A Year in the Life of a Fleece Producer", Lee Langstaff of Shepherd’s Hey Farm will take you on a journey through a year at her farm in Maryland. The lecture is free, but you must sign up through Lessonface.Find full details of all the classes and register online at www.lessonface.com/sheepandwool.#MDSW #winterfest2024 ... See MoreSee Less
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Registration for Winterfest 2024 begins tomorrow, Saturday, November 18 at 12:00 pm ET. The class schedule and complete details are now available for preview at lessonface.com/sheepandwool. The "Enroll" button for each class will be activated at noon tomorrow.Out third annual Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival Winterfest is two days of virtual fiber arts seminars, to be held on on Saturday, February 3 and Sunday, February 4, 2024. The following instructors will be teaching fiber prep, spinning, and knitting:o Kate Atherleyo Maggie Caseyo Roy Clemeso Shana Coheno Jill Duarteo Laura Linemano Sarah Schirao Emily WohlscheidThe keynote lecture on Sunday at 12:00 pm ET is "A Year in the Life of a Fleece Producer" by Lee Langstaff of Shepherd’s Hey Farm. Lee will take you on a journey through a year at her farm in Maryland. The lecture is free. Join the lecture by clicking the Join button that will start showing 35 minutes before the lecture time.#MDSW #winterfest2024 ... See MoreSee Less
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Announcing the third annual Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival Winterfest, two days of virtual fiber arts seminars, on Saturday, February 3 and Sunday, February 4, 2024. The following instructors will be teaching fiber prep, spinning and knitting:o Kate Atherleyo Maggie Caseyo Roy Clemeso Shana Coheno Jill Duarteo Laura Linemano Sarah Schirao Emily WohlscheidYou can preview the class schedule at sheepandwool.org/winterfest-2024/. Registration will open on Saturday, November 18 at 12:00 pm ET. Complete class descriptions will be available at that time. Watch for the registration link to be posted on our website and announced on social media.#MDSW #winterfest2024 ... See MoreSee Less
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