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Upcoming Events
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Weds-Fri, August 3-5 10:00 - 4:00, FREE Cultural Connections: Traditional Birch Bark Wigwam Demonstration at Sieur de Monts with Barry Dana, Penobscot Thursday, August 4 10:00 - 12:00 & 1:00 - 3:00 Included with Admission Cultural Connections: New & Emerging Artists demonstration with Sierra Henries, Nipmuc August 7-12 Abbe Museum Field School in Archaeology; Application Required (Waiting List Only for 2011) Wednesday, August 10 10:00 - 12:00, FREE Cultural Connections: Traditional Passamaquoddy Music with Blanch Sockabasin & Wayne Newell at Sieur de Monts, weather permitting Friday, August 12 10:00 - 4:00, Reservations Required Basket Workshop with Pam Cunningham, Penobscot Wednesday, August 17 11:00 - 4:00, FREE Cultural Connections: Birch Bark Canoe Demonstration with David Moses Bridges, Passamaquoddy at Jordan Pond House, weather permitting Wednesday, August 31 11:00 - 4:00, FREE Cultural Connections: Birch Bark Canoe Demonstration with Patrick Almenas, Penobscot at Jordan Pond House, weather permitting Friday, September 16 9:00 - 11:00, included with admission Cultural Connections: New & Emerging Artists carving demonstration with Erik Sappier, Penobscot September 22-26 Event Time TBA Acadia Night Sky Festival Wednesday, September 28 10:00 - 12:00, included with admission Music & Stories with Hawk Henries, Nipmuc Friday, September 16 9:00-11:00, included with admission Cultural Connections: New & Emerging Artists chip carving demonstration with Erik Sappier, Penobscot Thursday, October 6 Launch of the 3rd Annual Native American Film Series! Films TBA Thursday, October 6 9:00-12:00, included with admission Fancy Basket Demonstration with Sarah Sockbeson, Penobscot Monday, October 17 7:00-9:00, Registration Required Tea, Popovers and Archaeology
Complete Calendar
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The Annual Meeting
Those of you who joined us for the Annual Meeting on June 15th enjoyed an outstanding presentation by Bonnie Newsom. For those of you who were unable to join us, you can read her presentation here.
Ms. Newsom is a member of the Penobscot Nation and serves as their Tribal Historic Preservation Officer. In this capacity, she ensures tribal compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, identifies and manages historic properties on tribal lands, consults with Federal and State agencies relative to historic site protection, participates in public education initiatives and serves as the tribal point of contact for all archaeological issues. Her former position include a research archaeology position with Archaeological Research Consultants, of Elssworth, Maine and Assistant Director of the Wabanaki Center at the University of Maine...read more
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The Blockbuster Exhibition
Our blockbuster exhibition Indians & Rusticators: Wabanakis and Summer Visitors on Mount Desert Island 1840s-1920s opened to much fanfare on July 8th, 2011. Days before the exhibition was opened to the public, while the paint was still wet and finishing touches were being added, the Abbe Museum hosted a Donor's Sneak Peek for Abbe Museum members and donors. Our 175 special guests enjoyed a beautiful evening of celebration as they mingled with all those who had made this beautiful show possible, were introduced to the exhibition by Guest Curators Bunny McBride and Harald Prins, PhD., and munched on delectable treats by the Bar Harbor Catering Co.
Just two days later, another 200 guests joined us for the Public Opening of Indians & Rusticators. This time, the exhibition was complete...and it looked fabulous! Butch Phillips offered a blessing, Theresa Secord of Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance made remarks, and Guest Curators Bunny McBride and Harald Prins, PhD. discussed the exhibition in more detail. Bunny and Harald spoke about the exhibition again in special relation to the Somes Sound region that following Monday, July 11th, to a crowd of 85 at the Northeast Harbor Library, thanks to a collaboration between the Abbe Museum and Acadia Senior College.
Read more about Indians & Rusticators, or look at photos from the openings, by following these links:
| Guest Curators Bunny McBride & Harald Prins signing copies of their book, Indians in Eden. |
Photos posted on Facebook Abbe Museum Indians & Rusticators Webpage Bangor Daily News Article Mount Desert Islander Article Bar Harbor Times Article #1 Bar Harbor Times Article #2 |
The Festival
On July 9th, 2011, the rain stopped and the sun appeared just in time for the Annual Native American Festival and Basketmakers Market, co-hosted by the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance, Abbe Museum, and College of the Atlantic. The focus of the Festival is a market featuring basket makers, representing all four tribes in Maine. Among this group are nationally renowned contemporary and traditional basket makers who travel to Bar Harbor to sell their work -- drawing collectors from across the country.
The Festival combines the art and craft market with music, dancing, and demonstrations. Artists selling high quality baskets made from ash and sweetgrass, birch bark, and other traditional materials, as well as jewelry, musical instruments, and other crafts, gather to share their traditions, history, and culture with visitors. Demonstrations include dancing, drumming, flute playing, and basketmaking, as well as ash pounding. If you missed the 2011 Festival, make sure to mark your calendar for next year: July 7, 2012!
To read more about the Native American Festival and Basketmakers Market, follow these links:
Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance (MIBA)
Mount Desert Islander Article
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The Gathering Gala
On July 20th the Abbe Museum hosted the annual Gathering Gala Dinner & Auction at the Bar Harbor Club. The weather was delightful--warm and sunny with a breeze--and so the evening began with cocktails and wines donated by J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines on the patio of the Bar Harbor Club, overlooking beautiful Frenchman's Bay. Throughout cocktails guests took part in the Silent Auction, which showcased over 50 donated artworks and experiences. The end of the Silent Auction was followed by a delicious meal in the dining room, wonderfully decorated by Lindy Stretch of Foxfield Farms. As dessert was served auctioneer Jerry Miller led an exciting Live Auction. After a lively session of bidding the dance floor opened to the music of Jones'n, and the fun continued into the night...
This year, 63 artists, 16 sponsors, and 230 guests collectively contributed to a spirited evening of generosity and good will for the Abbe; we are pleased to report that we reached our goal!
If you missed this year's Gathering Gala, we hope you'll plan to join us for the fun next year! To read more about the Gathering Gala or to view the amazing photos captured by EagerEye Photography, please visit the following links:
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Artist Sarah Sockbeson
displaying one of the baskets
she donated to the
2011 Gathering Gala.
Photo courtesy of Roger Marks.
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Other News & Events
There is still more to come this summer, so please visit our online calendar. If you are in the MDI area this week, make sure to visit Sieur de Monts between 10:00-4:00 on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday (August 3-5) to watch Penobscot birch bark artist Barry Dana build a traditional birch bark wigwam! Or stop by the Downtown Abbe Museum on Thursday, August 4th between 10:00-12:00 or 1:00-3:00 to visit emerging artist Sierra Henries, Nipmuc, as she demonstrates the art of decorating birch bark with traditional and contemporary designs. More demonstrations are planned throughout August, so make sure to mark your calendar now! There are also a number of upcoming Wabanaki events that are open to the public. The following links are a sample of some upcoming activities and recent articles that may interest you. Know of more? Feel free to post them on our Facebook page! MIBA Events Next Up: Maine Native American Summer Market & Demonstration Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village August 27, 20-3:30 Micmac Farmers Market 10-6, Monday-Saturday during the growing season. 46th Annual Sipayik Indian Day Celebration August 11-15 The Ceremonial Day, Motahkomihkuk August 20-21 Archaeology Lecture at SERC August 10, 7pm "Wabanaki Art Goes on Display at the Maine Mall" "Getchell Elected New Micmac Leader" |
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