If you come across the stunning art prints and etched glass wear of Portland artist and ceramicist Lark Wicinas being sold at our ticket windows and online this holiday, you’ll find yourself transported to the most magical scenes.
In her art print, a nighttime ferry can be seen from above; its golden lights reflected in the ocean, a crescent moon hanging in the starry sky. This is one of two artworks commissioned by Casco Bay Lines from Lark for the holiday season.
“For the people of Portland, there is so much lore and adoration of the Casco Bay Lines ferries, so it was fun to be invited onto this project and be able to honor that,” Lark told us when we caught up with her for a conversation. “Everything in Portland seems to be changing so fast… but Casco Bay Lines is enduring. It’s like a mascot for the city.”
In the summer of 2024, Casco Bay Lines partnered with Benoit’s Design Co., an acclaimed artisan shop in Westbrook, Maine, to launch our first-ever line of merchandise.
The Benoit’s x Casco Bay Lines collection celebrates the sheer charm of Casco Bay. Crafted with the same signature quality and authenticity that Benoit’s is known for, these timeless pieces are inspired by maritime memories and embody the experience of being aboard a Casco Bay Lines ferry.
When we began to look for an artist to collaborate with for a special line of holiday merch, Lark immediately came to mind. She had been on our radar ever since last winter when we saw one of her ceramic mugs featuring a ferry. Lark had crafted a gift for a friend who was spending the winter on Peak’s Island. Featuring a Casco Bay Lines ferry on one side and a seal on the other, the limited edition run soon sold out.
You may also know Lark from her work co-managing Handful Studios in Portland with her partner, the potter Julian Ericson-Watson. They run a bustling, ceramics teaching space with nearly 200 students. Lark also co-runs Seabird Studio, a custom illustration and design business.
While crafting the fine art print for Casco Bay Lines, Lark says she was particularly moved by an experience of a close friend who had been one of the few passengers on the last ferry out of Portland one night. While moving into the bay, the northern lights unexpectedly began to appear in the sky above. “She said it was the most magical thing she had ever seen. I was thinking about that; how can I capture this magical nighttime feeling?”
The resulting 11 x 14 artwork is printed using gallery-quality, archival ink on cold press fine art paper. It feels both timeless and deeply evocative of the beauty of Casco Bay under a clear winter sky.
Lark also took her legendary mug and adapted it into a glass design—with an image of a CBL ferry bobbing in an oval reminiscent of a port hole. Designed and engraved at Benoit’s small shop in Westbrook, each glass is dishwasher proof and crafted for lasting clarity and everyday use.
For Lark, the Casco Bay Lines ferries represent something enduring. In a city that’s rapidly evolving, she says the ferries feel familiar, steadfast, and deeply tied to the identity of the community. We’re honored that she has captured the spirit of our organization so perfectly in these pieces of art that everyone can enjoy throughout the year.
Buy your very own piece of Casco Bay Lines merchandise at our terminal and online!