Abbe Museum hosts 4th Annual Community Open House and Cultural Connections Program Series

Bar Harbor, ME - June 13, 2010 – The Abbe Museum is hosting our 4th annual Community Open House, a day that includes free admission to both our locations, and demonstrations, activities, and crafts at the museum in downtown Bar Harbor.

Whether looking for an opportunity to explore the museum and browse the newest exhibits, Headline News: Wabanaki Sovereignty in the 21st Century and the 2010 Waponahki Student Art Show, or looking for a Sunday outing the whole family can enjoy, make sure to mark the calendar for June 13th. Stay the whole day or plan a visit around any of the unique programs available at the downtown Bar Harbor location:

--From 10:00 to 12:00, nationally renowned drum group Rez Dog Singers will kick-off the fun with their spirited pow wow style music in the court yard of the museum. The group’s energetic performances always enliven the Abbe Museum, where they have performed multiple times. Rez Dog Singers musical group is comprised of young men from Native American communities throughout New England.

--From 1:00-5:00, as part of our Cultural Connections series, funded in part by Bar Harbor Bank and Trust, Butch Phillips, Penobscot, will be presenting the art of building a birch bark canoe with a video and canoe display. Butch Phillips will display both his finished canoe and examples of the materials he needed to construct it, and will be available to discuss the process with visitors in an informal manner. A video on the process of building a canoe will be presented as well, so visitors can see first hand how this ancient craft has been revitalized.

--From 1:00-3:00, museum volunteers will offer hands on activities to engage visitors of all ages, including crafts, artifact exploration, and storytelling.

Visitors are also welcome to explore the original Abbe Museum, located at Sieur de Monts Springs in Acadia National Park. This historic location has been welcoming visitors since 1928. For more information call Raney Bench at 288-3519.

The mission of the Abbe Museum is to inspire new learning about the Wabanaki Nations with every visit. The Abbe has a collection of over 50,000 archeological, historic and contemporary objects including stone and bone tools, pottery, beadwork, carved root clubs, birch bark canoes, and supporting collections of photographs, maps, and archival documents. It holds the largest and best-documented collection of Maine Native American basketry in any museum. Its collections conservation program is recognized nationally as a model for museums.

Contact Person: Raney Bench, Curator of Education
Abbe Museum
288-3519
educator@abbemuseum.org
26 Mount Desert St.
Bar Harbor, ME 04609

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