A Birchbark Canoe for the Gathering Gala
/The Abbe Museum's annual Gathering Gala, on July 17 this year, is not-to-be-missed, with a silent and live auction, cocktails, dinner and dancing, all in the beautiful surroundings of the Bar Harbor Club. The auctions are always filled with fine art and exciting experiences. Of note, this year, we are featuring a birchbark canoe, constructed by David Moses Bridges, Passamaquoddy, and Steve Cayard especially for this benefit auction. They have built a number of birchbark canoes together over the years. The process of making this 16' canoe began this spring. David and Steve harvested the birchbark and other materials by hand, and then carefully pieced the canoe together. The sides of the canoe are artfully decorated with beautiful etchings depicting stars and the traditional double curves. The canoe will be on display in the Abbe over the upcoming weeks, leading up to the Gala, before making its way to its ultimate home after the auction.
Images of the canoe in process:
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| David & Steve harvesting birchback for the canoe. |
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| David works on the canoe's etchings. |
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The canoe sits in its shavings. |
The Gala starts at 5:00 pm with cocktails and a silent auction, followed by dinner at 7:00 pm and a live auction. After dinner, stay and dance to live music by the Shane Ellis Band with Big Dee.
Tickets are $150 each and include the entire evening with dinner choices of filet mignon, crab-stuffed haddock or carnival squash. Please call the Abbe Museum to make your reservation at
207-288-3519 or email hannah@abbemuseum.org.
We hope to see you this year at the Gathering Gala! The silent and live auctions will feature original artwork from over 50 artists. A paddle raise during the live auction will support a matching grant for Abbe education programs statewide. You can find this year's gala auction items currently on display in the museum's Davis Gallery and online.
