October 4, 2006 ~~~ Hancock County
The Hancock County Cultural Network has planned a Brown Bag Artist Series for the first Wednesday of every month (with the exception of August) from April 2006 through March 2007. The intent is to encourage a varied audience to see behind the scenes of an organization or an artist's work. Speakers will begin at noon and present for thirty minutes, then invite the audience to join in a discussion. For details and future lecture dates, please contact Carolyn Hecker at (207) 348-2535.
Back to the TopOctober 7, 2006 ~~~ Dresden
The 1761 Pownalborough Court House in Dresden has been identified as a key turnout along the Kennebec-Chaudière International Heritage Corridor, yet the Lincoln County Historical Association can only provide a docent for visitors between Memorial Day and Columbus Day. New interpretive signage will inform visitors of local river history year-round. A timber-framed sign on Route 128 will mark the site and its hours of operation. A "local attractions" panel, a site orientation panel (to include a map of the grounds) and several site history panels are also being installed. All signage will be bilingual (English/French) and will be modeled after existing Kennebec-Chaudière Corridor signage in Hallowell and along the Old Canada Road, to create a sense of consistency and regional identity. The new signage will be unveiled at the French & Indian War Encampment and Revolutionary Period Reenactment on Columbus Day Weekend.
Back to the TopOctober 10, 2006 ~~~ Portland
For its 2006 Fall Lecture Series, the Victoria Mansion education department was inspired by the deterioration of the Mansion's interior paint to focus on 19th century interior decorative paintwork. The first lecture, on September 19, featured art historian Charlotte Brown speaking on the tradition and meaning in the Mansion's wall and ceiling paintings. On October 10, art conservator Gianfranco Pocobene will address the science of conservation and restoration. Pocobene is the head of conservation at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and serves as a consultant on the Victoria Mansion's current paint restoration project. The lectures begin at 6 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Church, 133 Pleasant Street, and continue with tours and a reception at the Mansion. For tickets, please call (207) 772-4841.
Back to the TopOctober 12, 2006 ~~~ Bethel
The Bethel Historical Society marks its 40th anniversary in 2006 with a series of lectures that celebrate life in New England. On June 1, Earle Shettleworth, Jr. gave the first talk, entitled “Silent Sentinels: Maine’s Civil War Monuments.” On August 11, David Watters addressed “New England’s Legacy: Memory and Identity in an American Region.” Two days later, Thomas Hubka explored “Maine’s Connected Farm Buildings: The Uncommon Architecture of Common Farmers.” On October 12, James Kiepper will speak about the life of “Styles Bridges: Yankee Senator.” Finally, on November 9, Kent Ryden will address “Landscape and Figures: Nature and Culture in New England.” For details, please visit the Society on Broad Street in Bethel or call (207) 824-2908.
Back to the TopOctober 19, 2006 ~~~ Orono
The Orono Historical Society will host a monthly public lecture series as part of the bicentennial celebration of the town. The lectures will take place on the third Thursday of every month for the rest of the year. This month, look for Carol Toner, Mazie Hough, and Betsy Beattie to address women's history. All lectures are free and open to the public in the Town's Council Chambers. For more lecture topics and details, please contact the Orono Historical Society at (207) 866-4270.
Back to the TopJune-November, 2006 ~~~ Peaks Island
Sacred At Any Cost, an exhibit focusing on the contributions and sacrifices made by the men and women of the Fifth Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, will be on view at the Fifth Maine Regiment Museum (located at 45 Seashore Avenue on Peaks Island) from June through November, 2006. The centerpiece of the exhibit is the Regiment’s battle flag, which survived the Regiment’s three-year term of service without being captured and became a point of pride among the veterans. The grand opening of the exhibit took place on June 11, when the flag, having been treated by a professional textile conservator, was returned to the museum. For information and exhibit hours, please contact the museum at (207) 766-5514 or fifthmaine@juno.com.
Back to the TopJune-November, 2006 ~~~ Freeport
The Freeport Historical Society’s current exhibition commemorates the 250th anniversary of the attack on Thomas Means and his family. The "Means Massacre” took place in 1756, but oral traditions quickly proliferated around the event and remain in the community consciousness today. Through the exhibition, Freeport residents will be able to study the significance of this incident from both the Scots-Irish and the Native American perspective, within the context of the French and Indian Wars. In addition, an archaeologist will be excavating at what is believed to be the site of the Thomas Means homestead. The exhibition will remain on view at the Harrington House, 45 Main Street, through November. For further details, please visit www.freeporthistoricalsociety.org.
Back to the TopOctober-November, 2006 ~~~ Portland
The Innocents is an exhibit of photographs by Taryn Simon, accompanied by a series of lectures and films, focusing on people wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for years before finally proving their innocence. Gathered from across the United States, this collection exposes a broken judicial system where even the most fundamental principles of justice are subverted. Accompanying the exhibit will be a series of lectures and films, including an appearance by photographer Taryn Simon on October 20. The exhibit runs October 19-November 24, 2006. For hours and event listings, please visit www.space538.org or call (207) 828-5600.
Back to the TopOctober, 2006-September, 2007 ~~~ HinckleyThe L.C. Bates Museum in Hinckley presents a public exhibit and accompanying programs that document the unique life story of Gerd Heinrich (1896-1987). Heinrich was an explorer, collector, and writer who grew up in Germany and later traveled worldwide from his home in Wilton, Maine. The exhibit will use natural history materials, illustrations and translated excerpts from Heinrich's writings (including his autobiography), and interviews with family members to document his collecting trips. Raffael Scheck, a professor of history at Colby College, has devoted significant scholarly support to this project. The exhibit remains on view through September 15, 2007. For more information, please contact the museum at (207) 238-4250 or lcbates@gwh.org.
Notes from an Open Book welcomes feedback from its readers. Please contact Diane Magras by email at diane@mainehumanities.org or by phone at (207)773-5051 ext. 208 (toll-free 1-866-637-3233, ext. 208) to respond.