2008 Calendar of Events
Folk Art Exhibit: In the Eye of the Beholder
We are pleased to announce the opening of our inaugural exhibit at the Remick Barn gallery! In the Eye of the Beholder showcases the museum's fine collection of folk art. The exhibit is intended to start a dialogue about the meaning of the term folk art, and explores the objects that may -- or may not -- be considered folk art. This is an interactive exhibit, encouraging your ideas and allowing for hands-on experience weaving a rug, piecing together a quilt and creating cross-stitch projects. In the Eye of the Beholder is a part of a larger collaborative project, the Maine Folk Art Trail, that involves eleven Maine museums concurrently exhibiting their folk art collections. For more information, visit www.mainefolkarttrail.org. The exhibit will run through October, Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
September
7 York Arts & Antiques Week
Join us for a celebration of York's arts and antiques heritage presented by the Museums of Old York with support from the York Art Association, York Public Library and Historic New England's Sayward Wheeler House. This collaborative event will feature a range of programs highlighting our museums, art galleries, public library and antiques shops. Featured programs include the inaugural Old York Antiques Show and the York Art Association's Art in the Park! A schedule of events can be picked up at any of the participating museums, galleries, antiques shops and lodgings or is available on our website. Sunday, September 7th through Saturday, September 13th.
11 Preview Party: Old York Antiques Show
The Old York Antiques Show opens with an elegant preview party on Thursday, September 11 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Guests will have an exclusive preview of dealer booths and the first opportunity to purchase antiques while enjoying hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. Thursday, September 11th from 5:00 ~ 7:30 p.m. at the Museums of Old York. Tickets for the preview party are $75. Patrons who donate $125 will be recognized at the event and invited to a private dinner following the Preview Party. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call (207) 363-4974.
12 Old York Antiques Show
The inaugural antiques show at the Museums of Old York is the culminating event of Arts & Antiques Week in York, Maine. The antiques show will feature 20 carefully chosen dealers from throughout the region showcasing exceptional silver and brass, furniture, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, oriental rugs and art, nautical items, textiles, folk and decorative art, prints and books. Wander the museum grounds as you enjoy a wonderful lunch by the Rowan Tree Cafe. Friday, September 12th and Saturday September 13th from 10:00 a.m. ~ 5:00 p.m. at the Museums of Old York. Admission is $10 for the Antiques Show or $15 for both the Antiques Show and museum. Parking available on-site.
13 Emerson Baker : Early New England Ceramics
Join the Museums of Old York for this special afternoon tea program, a part of the museum's inaugural Antiques Show! Emerson Baker, Professor of History at Salem State College, presents a look at Early New England Ceramics. As an archaeologist, Mr. Baker brings a unique perspective to the fascinating world of ceramics. Learn about his experiences and then head to the Antiques Show to see some fine examples of these ceramics! The program will be held at the Elizabeth Perkins Boathouse. Following the program, join us for a tour and tea on the porch of this riverside estate. Friday, September 12th from 2:00 ~ 3:30 p.m. $35 includes lecture, tour, tea and admission to the Antiques Show. Seating is limited to 18. Please reserve tickets in advance by calling (207) 363-4974.
13 Thomas B. Johnson: Colonial Era Furniture of Southern Maine
Join the Museums of Old York for this special luncheon program, a part of the museum's inaugural Antiques Show! Thomas B. Johnson, Curator of Collections at Canterbury Shaker Village, formerly of the Museums of Old York, presents a special program for true lovers of antique furniture. The program starts at the Elizabeth Bishop Perkisn Boathouse with a boxed luncheon and discussion of the history of Southern Maine furniture. From there, participants will be taken on a private tour of the Emerson-Wilcox House, home to some of the museum's finest furniture pieces. Saturday, September 13th from noon ~ 2:00 p.m. at the Elizabeth Bishop Perkins Boathouse. $50 includes lecture, lunch, tour and admission to the Antiques Show. Seating is limited to 25. Please reserve tickets in advance by calling (207) 363-4974.
13 Betsey Telford : An Introduction to Antique Quilts
Betsey Telford, expert on antique quilts and their restoration, will give an informative talk about the history of American quilts. Saturday, September 13th from 2:30 ~ 3:30 p.m. at Rocky Mountain Quilts, 130 York Street in York Village. This event is free, but space is limited. Please call the Museums of Old York at (207) 363-4974 to reserve your seat! For more information about Betsey Telford, visit Rocky Mountain Quilts online!
13 George Marshall Store Gallery
The culminating event of York's Arts & Antiques Week is an opening at the George Marshall Store Gallery! The main level gallery will host Recent Work , an exhibition of work by New Hampshire sculptor Gary Haven Smith. To create his most recent work he has devised a cutting system that produces ribbon like curls of granite. His choice of materials and sensitive application of incised patterns, patinas and polished surfaces are tied to his love and respect for the New England landscape. Connie Hayes' Small Pastels, an exhibit of almost thirty new small pastel paintings focusing on familiar sights and landmarks in York, Portsmouth and New Castle. The Opening Reception takes place on Saturday, September 13th from 5:00 p.m. ~ 7:00 p.m. The exhibition runs through Sunday, October 26th.
17 Constitution Day Bell Parade
Bring a bell and join the Museums of Old York to celebrate Constitution Day with a bell ringing parade through York Village. The parade will conclude at the Old Gaol with a reading of the preamble to the Constitution. Colonial costues encouraged! Wednesday, September 17th at 5:00 p.m. at the Old Gaol in York Village. For more information call Zoe Keefer-Norris at (207) 363-4974 or email zoe@oldyork.org.
21 Richard Smith & Julie Adams in Concert
The Seacoast Guitar Society and the Museums of Old York present Richard Smith and Julie Adams in concert at the Remick Barn on the corner of York Street and Lindsay Road. English-born Richard Smith was a child guitar prodigy who first came to prominence at the age of 11 when he performed with mentor Chet Atkins. He has quickly mastered whatever guitar style captures his fancy and has absorbed the complex styles of many guitar greats including Django Reinhardt, Les Paul and Lenny Breau. Richard has toured around the world with his wife, American virtuoso cellist Julie Adams. Classically trained at the Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Cincinnati Conservatory, Julie has won many competitions and played in a wide variety of musical settings. Julis is also a Nashville session player and has been featured on a wide range of projects from top ten albums to major film scores. In 1999, Julie and Richard released a duo album, Living Out a Dream. Audiences around the world delight in the eclectic mix of Julie's lyrical style and Richard's flawless technique. Sunday, September 21st at 7:00 p.m. at the Remick Barn. Tickets are $15, or $8 for students, and are available online at www.seacoastguitar.org or by phone at (207) 363-1886. You can also purchase tickets at the Museums of Old York, Tulips in Portsmouth, Earcraft in Dover or Acoustic Outfitters in Stratham.
24 Jessie Turbayne: The History of Hooked Rugs
The York Public Library and Museums of Old York present The History of Hooked Rugs, a part of the brown bag lunch series. Massachusetts native Jessie Turbayne is an internationally recognized authority on hooked rugs. For over twenty-five years she has specialized in the conservation, restoration and repair of antique, collectible and contemporary hooked rugs. She is also the author of several books highly regarded by both collectors and contemporary hooking artists. Jessie is a frequent visitor to our state and several of her books have featured hooked rugs that were crafted in Maine. She will present a brief history of hooked rugs from the 1850s to present and will also have examples on display. Following the presentation, join us at the Museums of Old York for a special tour of the Folk Art exhibit, In the Eye of the Beholder, at the Remick Barn. The exhibit features several local hooked rugs from the museum's collections. Presentation at the York Public Library Wednesday, September 24th from noon ~ 1:00 p.m. Tour of the Folk Art exhibit at the Museums of Old York follows from 1:30 ~ 2:30 p.m. Free, donations gratefully accepted.
24 Rug Hooking Workshop for Beginners
Beginners will explore the essential techniques of creating a hooked piece with a simple pattern and wool cloth strips. This workshop will be led by local experienced rug hookers. Students will choose from two simple paterns: one a brick door stop and the other a larger pillow facing. The class is limited to 10 to ensure that each student gets plenty of attention. Please register early. Beginners only! Three Wednesdays, September 24th, October 1st and October 8th, from 6:00 ~ 8:00 p.m. at the Remick Barn. $25 members, $30 non-members plus a materials fee ($20 for the door stop or $25 for the pillow). Pre-registration is required. For more information, or to register, please contact Anne Poubeau by phone at (207) 363-4974 x12 or by email at education@oldyork.org.
October
17 24th Annual Harvestfest
An annual festival, Harvestfest takes place October 17th through 19th from 10:00 a.m. ~ 4:00 p.m. each day. On Saturday, bring the family and explore the Museums of Old York. Activities for children and adults will be a part of the day as we take part in this annual celebration. For a full schedule and more information, visit www.yorkharvestfest.com.
November
1 George Marshall Store Gallery
The 2008 season will conclude with Figuratively Speaking, a main gallery exhibition of work by regional artists featuring the human figure. At the same time, the dock level gallery will host work by Maine artist MaJo Keleshian, who creates colorful, iridescent small paintings that can represent be pure abstraction or absolute reality. The Opening Reception takes place on Saturday, November 1st from 5:00 p.m. ~ 7:00 p.m. The exhibition runs through Sunday, December 14th.
December
6 Festival of Lights
See York Village come alive with lights, movies, a holiday parade, fairs, caroling and Santa Claus! Activities will be going on throughout the day, culminating in the holiday parade and lighting of the Village.