 |
David Moses Bridges, Passamaquoddy,
works on a canoe. |
For the first time in almost 100
years, a birchbark canoe will be built on Mount Desert Island! From August 12 - September 6, 2013, master
canoe builders David Moses Bridges, Passamaquoddy, and Steve Cayard will spend
almost a month at the Abbe building a 16 foot traditional bark canoe, joined by
Passamaquoddy apprentice Tobias Gabriel Francis. Visitors to the Abbe
will be able to watch the process of building the frame, shaping the bark,
bending and placing the ribs, and lashing it all together with roots from the
spruce tree. Using primarily hand tools, the canoe will be made almost
entirely of traditionally available materials and etched with traditional
Passamaquoddy designs.
 |
| David Moses Bridges works on a canoe. |
Building birchbark canoes is a skill
that was nearly lost in Maine. For over a decade, David and Steve have worked
together to revitalize this art form, and have taught others in Wabanaki
communities how to make the boats as well. Visitors will be able to ask
questions about the tradition of canoe making in Maine, the process of revitalizing
this skill, how the materials were gathered and prepared, and learn more about
the important role these boats play in Wabanaki history and identity. This
program is offered in
connection with Wabanaki Guides, an exhibit that chronicles the history
of guiding visitors to Maine from the time of European contact to present, and
features two birchbark canoes. Free with museum admission, this canoe build program is made possible by a gift from Donna and David Reis.
For
the first time in almost 100 years, a birchbark canoe will be built on
Mount Desert Island! Master canoe builders David Moses Bridges,
Passamaquoddy, and Steve Cayard will spend almost a month at the Abbe
building a 16 foot traditional bark canoe, joined by Passamaquoddy
apprentice Tobias Gabriel Francis. Visitors to the Abbe will be able
to watch the process of building the frame, shaping the bark, bending
and placing the ribs, and lashing it all together with roots from the
spruce tree. Using primarily hand tools, the canoe will be made almost
entirely of traditionally available materials and etched with
traditional Passamaquoddy designs - See more at:
http://www.abbemuseum.org/calendar/august.html#sthash.tLwCoT1l.dpuf
