New Exhibits for 2009

Painting the Maine Waterfront

Paintings by Seven Contemporary Artists
Main Street Gallery, September 15 - October 20

Gregory Dunham, Swim Beach Skiffs, Monhegan Island

“Painting the Maine Waterfront,” featuring the work of seven artists, will be on view in the Main Street Gallery, September 15 through October 20. An opening reception on Thursday, September 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., is free and open to the public.

Featured artists include George Bayliss (Deer Isle), Gregory Dunham (Castine), Philip Frey (Sullivan), Katharina Keoughan (Friendship), Nancy Morgan-Barnes (Searsport), Linda Norton (Camden), and Amy Pollien (Town Hill). The watercolors and oils in the show represent an array of subjects, from skiffs on Monhegan Island to studies of cargo ships docking at Sears Island.

“The working waterfront has captivated artists for centuries,” notes guest curator Carl Little. “Here in Maine, the subject holds great appeal to painters for the wonderful range of motifs and because they realize the working waterfront is disappearing.” Little is the author of Paintings of Maine, Winslow Homer and the Sea and other books, and is a regular contributor to Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors and Working Waterfront.

Linda Norton, Grace Bailey, Hauled

Now Open in Old Town Hall

From lobsters to sardines, Maine's fisheries define and influence the state's history, economy, and culture. Learn about the early days of hand-lining, how to catch a lobster, how to dress for sea, and different kinds of boats and gear. Watch videos and examine historic photographs from the Atlantic Fisherman. Kids will enjoy going aboard a real dory and replicas of a lobster boat and the sardine carrier Jacob Pike.

This exhibit is funded by:

• The Maine Humanities Council
• The Gardner Charitable Trust
• The Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust
• The Davis Family Foundation
• Linda L. Bean

Rowboats for Rusticators

Ross Carriage House

"Rusticators" were visitors to Maine who sought to enjoy a rustic vacation as a change from their refined everyday lives. Any hunting or fishing trip or family vacation on a lake or river was sure to include some rowing in small wooden boats like those shown here: a recreational peapod, a Whitehall, an Adirondack Guide Boat, an Old Town Sponson Canoe and others. Also on view are more than a dozen historic photos of small-craft pleasure boating from our archives.

Images of Childhood In Maine and At Sea

The "Lightning Express" (Eastern Illustrating Postcard Collection)

Today's children live a different lives than those of 100 years ago. One can see it in these authentic historic photos of children at work, at sea, at school and at play. Taken from several of the museum's photo collections, the images -- some stark, some sweet -- are all the more striking because the camera itself was a new and serious encounter for most children. On display in the Fowler-True-Ross House.

Joanna and Lincoln Colcord Aboard the Clara E. McGilvery, 1889 (Frederick R. Sweetser Collection)

Canoes and Small Craft
Fowler-True-Ross Barn

Our superb collection of canoes features birch bark canoes (including a new Steve Cayard bark canoe built at the museum in July, 2009); a lapstrake Rushton Vesper decked sailing canoe; and cedar-and-canvas canoes from Old Town, Morris, and others, in addition to other small craft and nautical artifacts.

Souvenirs from the Orient

The sea captains of 19th century Searsport were like other travelers, in that they collected souvenirs. Come see what local ships' masters brought back from the Orient as gifts to family and friends or as reminders of their voyages. Items you'll see in the Jeremiah Merithew House include:

• a pair of bronze "Fu" dogs that likely guarded the doors of a Chinese temple or palace
• elaborately embroidered Chinese costumes, and painful shoes for women's bound feet
• children's toys and games, including dolls and ivory jackstraws
  (think pick-up-sticks)
• whimsical wood miniatures of Chinese life
• Japanese and Chinese paintings of people and ships