South Thomaston — 26 Split Rock Cove, a new artist retreat space overlooking Mussel Ridge Channel, invites the public to an Open House Sunday, Oct. 14 from 2 to 5 p.m. Artists or writers looking for studio space, or visiting artists or writers looking for a one-bedroom apartment rental, are encouraged to come take a look at these newly designed spaces.

The Open House will include refreshments, a tour of the property and grounds and information about this new artist/writer community. 26 Split Rock Cove is one mile from either end of Waterman Beach Road, off Route 73.

26 Split Rock Cove will offer two workshops during the month of October: Boston poet Barbara Helfgott-Hyett will conduct a weekend workshop titled Poetry of Place: Split Rock Cove Friday through Sunday, Oct. 19 through 21; and local artist Otty Merrill will lead Encaustic Painting 1-2-3 Friday through Sunday, Oct. 26 through 28. For details on tuition and reservations, call 596-7624 or send email to sandy@26splitrockcove.com.

Helfgott Hyette is a poet and professor who directs PoemWorks, a course in poetry for publishing poets; 118 books have come from her groups. She has published five collections of her own poetry and has won many awards and prizes for her work. She has taught at Boston University, Lasell College, MIT and Harvard; and has traveled the country on lecture tours and public readings.

Merrill, who maintains a studio at her home in Tenants Harbor and at 26 Split Cove, is a member of International Encaustic Artists and has exhibited her encaustic paintings throughout the country. Her work is shown exclusively at Mars Hall Gallery in Port Clyde.

Courier Publications’ A&E Editor Dagney C. Ernest can be reached at (207) 594-4401, ext. 115 or dernest@courierpublicationsllc.com.