Oct
14
1:00 PM13:00

Sacred Medicines Printmaking Workshop w/ Christiana Becker

Come to the Abbe Museum on Monday, October 14th for our Sacred Medicines Printmaking Workshop from 1:00pm - 3:00pm with our Curator of Education, Christiana Becker (Penobscot).

Programs are in-person at the Abbe’s downtown location (26 Mount Desert Street) and are free with museum admission.

About Christiana Becker
Christiana Becker is a part of the Penobscot Nation and is the Curator of Education at the Abbe Museum. In 2018, Christiana received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art with a concentration in printmaking from the University of Maine, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education. The research that shapes the creation of her art practice explores the history, culture, and sociopolitical pressures of North American Indigenous peoples, using those topics as a springboard to creating art. Becker's teaching experience has led her to many different teaching opportunities, including: as a teaching assistant/residential tutor for the Mashpee Wampanoag Native Tribal Scholars Program, student teaching at Orono High School and James F. Doughty Middle School, and working for the Indian Island School's Summer Academy program. In 2022, Christiana received their Master of Fine Arts degree in Intermedia at the University of Maine. Prior to working at the Abbe Museum, Christiana was working as a substitute teacher and a school photographer for Lifetouch, Inc.

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Sep
20
5:00 PM17:00

Abbe Museum Annual Meeting

Friday, September 20 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm
26 Mount Desert Street | Bar Harbor, Maine

We are so excited to connect with you at this year’s Annual Meeting. Mingle over food and beverages alongside the Abbe trustees, council, and staff while we update you on the museum and our plans for the future.

A highlight of the evening will be the unveiling of a sculpture and remarks from artist Shane Perley-Dutcher, Wolasqiyik Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation).

This program is free and open to the public. RSVPs are appreciated. Please reach out to events@abbemuseum.org or 207-288-3519 if you plan to attend. We look forward to seeing you soon!


Shane Perley-Dutcher Artist Statment
“I am a Wolastoqey mixed media artist from the Wolastoqiyik Neqotkuk/Tobique Maliseet First Nation in New Brunswick, Canada. Creativity has been my heart beat since I was a child. Over the years I’ve been fortunate to learn from elders and artists from various Indigenous communities. These relationships have inspired me to incorporate traditional knowledge into my work. From making custom, intricate, precious metal jewelry, to forming large life size copper sculptures, my work infuses traditional Indigenous techniques with contemporary elements of design.

I’ve been formally trained at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, graduating with my Native Arts diploma and my diploma in Jewellery Manufacturing with honors and distinction. Authentic Indigenous representation is important to me. My work honors traditional knowledge and fights to keep it alive for our next generations. My ancestors knew the importance of land and connecting to the land is an integral part of my creative process. Respecting this relationship always creates endless opportunities for me to grow as an Wolastoqey artist.”

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Sep
12
1:00 PM13:00

Collection Spotlight w/ Chris Sockalexis, Penobscot

Come to the Abbe Museum on Thursday, September 12th for our Collection Spotlight series from 1:00pm - 2:00pm hosted by our Luce Curator of Exhibits and Collections, Dr. Aaron Miller and Chris Sockalexis (Penobscot). Chris’s Collection Spotlight will focus on the importance of bone tools within the archaeological record of Frenchman Bay.

Programs are in-person at the Abbe’s downtown location (26 Mount Desert Street) and are free with museum admission.

About Chris Sockalexis
Chris is a member of the Penobscot Nation and is the Penobscot Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Officer. Chris has a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Maine with his primary focus being on Maine Archaeology. He is also a flintknapper with knowledge of the ancient art and technique of stone and bone tool production. Aside from archaeology, Chris’s primary interests are kayaking and canoeing the waterways of Maine with friends and family. Chris is also an accomplished powwow singer with his drum-group The RezDogs. Chris’s current research projects include the Jones Cove shell midden in Frenchman Bay and the archaeology of the Penobscot River watershed.

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Sep
11
11:00 AM11:00

Cultural Connections in the Park: Flintknapping Demonstration with Chris Sockalexis, Penobscot

  • Acadia National Park: Sieur de Monts Spring (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Cultural Connections in the Park series occurs on select Wednesdays from June through September.

Chris Sockalexis, Penobscot, is the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Penobscot Nation. Chris has a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Maine with his primary focus being on Maine Archaeology. A flintknapper with knowledge of the ancient art and technique of stone and bone tool production, Chris is currently conducting research for his Masters of Science degree at the University of Maine Climate Change Institute. An Abbe Museum board member, he is also an avid canoe/kayak paddler who loves being out in the Maine woods and on the waterways that his ancestors have traveled for thousands of years.

All "Cultural Connections in the Park" programs are sponsored by Dawnland, LLC, are offered in partnership with the Abbe Museum, and are free and open to the public.


About Chris Sockalexis
Chris is a member of the Penobscot Nation and is the Penobscot Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Officer. Chris has a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Maine with his primary focus being on Maine Archaeology. He is also a flintknapper with knowledge of the ancient art and technique of stone and bone tool production. Aside from archaeology, Chris’s primary interests are kayaking and canoeing the waterways of Maine with friends and family. Chris is also an accomplished powwow singer with his drum-group The RezDogs. Chris’s current research projects include the Jones Cove shell midden in Frenchman Bay and the archaeology of the Penobscot River watershed.

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Aug
28
11:00 AM11:00

Cultural Connections in the Park: Ash Basketry with Eldon Hanning, Mi’kmaq

  • Acadia National Park: Sieur de Monts Spring (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Cultural Connections in the Park series occurs on select Wednesdays from June through September.

Eldon Hanning of the Mi’kmaq Nation is well known for his utility baskets. A master of ash preparation, Eldon will demonstrate the traditional Micmac method of pounding and splitting ash, which differs greatly from the techniques of the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy ash-pounders. A board member of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance, Eldon has taught hundreds of members of each of the Wabanaki tribes how to weave potato baskets-a basket which the Wabanaki are well known for.

All Cultural Connections programs are sponsored by Dawnland, LLC, are offered in partnership between Acadia National and the Abbe Museum, and are free and open to the public.


About Eldon Hanning
Eldon Hanning of Mi’kmaq Nation is well known for his utility baskets. A master of ash preparation, Eldon will demonstrate the traditional Micmac method of pounding and splitting ash, which differs greatly from the techniques of the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy ash-pounders. A board member of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance, Eldon has taught hundreds of members of each of the Wabanaki Tribes how to weave potato baskets—a basket which the Wabanaki are well known for.

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Aug
22
1:00 PM13:00

Wabanaki Voices Author Series w/ Minquansis Sapiel, Passamaquoddy

Come to the Abbe Museum on Thursday, August 22nd for our Wabanaki Voices Author series. Minquansis Sapiel (Passamaquoddy) will be offering a reading of her book, “Little People of the Dawn” from 1:00pm - 2:00pm.

Programs are in-person at the Abbe’s downtown location (26 Mount Desert Street) and are free with museum admission.

About Minquansis Sapiel
Minquansis Sapiel is a Children's Book Author of "Little People Of the Dawn''. She is a Proud Member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe. Who grew up on the Sipayik Reservation overlooking the Passamaquoddy Bay. She has a Masters in Social Work and is the mother of three daughters. Her eldest daughter Illustrated her book. She also has her Captains Licence and has dreams of starting her own Whale Watching Tours. 

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Aug
15
1:00 PM13:00

Collection Spotlight w/ Danikah Chartier, Eskasoni Mi'kmaw Nation

Come to the Abbe Museum on Thursday, August 15th for a Collection Spotlight tour from 1:00 - 2:00pm hosted by Danikah Chartier (Eskasoni Mi'kmaw Nation) and our Luce Curator of Exhibits and Collections, Dr. Aaron Miller!

“In my collection spotlight series, I will walk the audience through works made by Mi'kmaw artists (with one exception) that utilize different mediums and materials, traditional and contemporary, to express themes of culture-keeping, revitalization, and evolution. I will relate these works to the story of my grandmother’s forced assimilation, my matrilineage’s ongoing reconnection journey, and how the path laid before us is one of creation.” - Danikah Chartier (Eskasoni Mi'kmaw Nation)

The tour will be in-person at the Abbe’s downtown location (26 Mount Desert Street) and is free with museum admission.

About Danikah Chartier
Danikah Chartier (Eskasoni Mi'kmaw Nation) is a fine art photographer and educator. Danikah earned her BFA in Photography and Related Media from the Fashion Institute of Technology with minors in Art History, Fashion History Theory and Culture, and Film and Media Studies. Danikah's artwork is a practice of mindfulness, generational healing, self-cultivation, and social liberation. Danikah Chartier works with Historic New England as their 2023-24 northern region Indigenous Community Liaison and Researcher for the Recovering New England's Voices Initiative. In this role, she researches the homelands that HNE sites occupy, incorporates Indigenous historical perspectives into tours, partners with local Indigenous communities, and offers recommendations to the organization for reparative justice and allyship. Danikah also works as a Gallery Educator with Colby College Museum of Art, teaching K-12 school groups about the Colby art collection through an Indigenous lens. To view her portfolio, visit DanikahChartier.com.

(Profile headshot by K. Ebner Creative.)

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Aug
14
11:00 AM11:00

Cultural Connections in the Park: Beading Demonstration with Leigh Neptune, Penobscot

  • Acadia National Park: Sieur de Monts Spring (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Cultural Connections in the Park series occurs on select Wednesdays from June through September.

Leigh Neptune, is a self-taught Wabanaki beadwork artist from the Penobscot Nation. She has been beading for three years and enjoys curating themed collections of beaded earrings. In addition to her beadwork, Leigh is also a Registered Dietitian and graduate student at the University of Maine. You can find her work at "beadsbyleigh" on Instagram, and "BeadedDesignsbyLeigh" on Etsy.

All Cultural Connections programs are sponsored by Dawnland, LLC, are offered in partnership between Acadia National and the Abbe Museum, and are free and open to the public.


About Leigh Neptune
Leigh Neptune is a self-taught Wabanaki beadwork artist from the Penobscot Nation. She has been beading for three years and enjoys curating themed collections of beaded earrings. In addition to her beadwork, Leigh is also a Registered Dietitian and graduate student at the University of Maine. You can find her work at "beadsbyleigh" on Instagram, and "BeadedDesignsbyLeigh" on Etsy.

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Jul
31
11:00 AM11:00

Cultural Connections in the Park: Demonstration with Jennifer Pictou, Mi’kmaq

  • Acadia National Park: Sieur de Monts Spring (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Cultural Connections in the Park series occurs on select Wednesdays from June through September.

Jennifer Pictou, draws inspiration from the rich cultural tapestry of her ancestors’ resistance and survival, infusing her work with elements of tradition and history. Through the ancient techniques of glass beads, lampwork, and stained glass, she reclaims Indigenous space and weaves a contemporary narrative that honors the resilience and beauty of Mi’kmaq people in her homeland. In her beadwork she delves into the cultural resistance of her ancestors to create one-of-a-kind statement pieces of intricate form and function.

Through all of her work she explores the themes of identity and belonging, using the interplay of light and color to reclaim and redefine Mi’kmaq narratives in a contemporary context. Each piece is a rebuttal of the prevalent ideas that we are no longer here, reminding viewers of the importance of preserving and honoring indigenous heritage in an ever-changing world.

All Cultural Connections programs are sponsored by Dawnland, LLC, are offered in partnership between Acadia National and the Abbe Museum, and are free and open to the public.


About Jennifer Pictou
As an artist deeply connected to my Mi’kmaq heritage, I draw inspiration from the rich cultural tapestry of my ancestors’ resistance and survival, infusing my work with elements of tradition and history. Through the ancient techniques of glass beads, lampwork, and stained glass, I reclaim indigenous space and weave a contemporary narrative that honors the resilience and beauty of Mi’kmaq people in my homeland. In the fiery torch, I mold molten glass into statements of today’s enduring issues and passions. Each bead and sculpture tell a story of strength and perseverance, reflecting the enduring legacy of my ancestors. Within the delicacy of stained glass, I draw from the vibrant hues of ancestral objects and the natural world, using the Colonizer’s own medium of religious oppression to tell our story of survival and world views. In my beadwork I delve into the cultural resistance of my ancestors to create one-of-a-kind statement pieces of intricate form and function. These represent a claiming of modernity and space within fashion. Through all of my work I explore the themes of identity and belonging, using the interplay of light and color to reclaim and redefine Mi’kmaq narratives in a contemporary context. Each piece is a rebuttal of the prevalent ideas that we are no longer here, reminding viewers of the importance of preserving and honoring indigenous heritage in an ever-changing world.

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Jul
17
11:00 AM11:00

Cultural Connections in the Park: Market Basket Demonstration with Gabriel Frey, Passamaquoddy

  • Acadia National Park: Sieur de Monts Spring (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Cultural Connections in the Park series occurs on select Wednesdays from June through September.

Gabriel Frey, Passamaquoddy, comes from a long line of fancy and utility basketmakers. He uses his family's traditional knowledge and style to create beautifully woven, sturdily built utility baskets that can be used for a variety of purposes. Join Gabriel as he demonstrates the labor-intensive process of preparing ash and see firsthand how his beautiful and functional art is created.

All Cultural Connections programs are sponsored by Dawnland, LLC, are offered in partnership with Acadia National and are free and open to the public.


About Gabriel Frey
Gabriel Frey is a Passamaquoddy artist; whose family has been making traditional black ash baskets for generations. He specializes in utility baskets, such as pack baskets, market baskets, and purses. His artistic process includes locating and harvesting basket-quality black ash trees from the woods, processing black ash logs, and weaving black ash materials into basket forms. Each piece has an element of carving. He carves the hoops, handle, and wooden pins to fasten leather straps. Maintaining the traditional knowledge of Wabanaki basket makers is an important aspect of his artistic process. His art is an expression of an indigenous worldview. The natural world and the transformation of a living tree into a functional vessel inspire him. His baskets are a connection to the past, present, and future, interwoven to create functional pieces of art. Culture, family traditions, his personal experiences, and hopes for the future are embodied within each basket. Gabriel learned traditional black ash basket-making from his grandfather. “When I hold my grandfather’s baskets, I hear my grandfather’s voice giving subtle suggestions on technique and style. I hear my grandfather’s stories. My connection to family is maintained through basket making. I work towards perfecting the function and form of the traditional baskets while evolving each basket to reflect my personal style. My goal in basket making is to produce usable, functional baskets for daily use. I want a person who buys my work to use, feel, and experience Wabanaki culture everyday.” Through the use of these baskets, that person creates a connection and finds added value within the basket. Creating functional Wabanaki baskets is a platform to connect people to place. This reflects interconnectedness and reciprocity between people, their natural world, family, and all of our nonhuman relatives. 

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Jul
12
to Jul 14

DAWNLAND Festival of Arts & Ideas (July 12-14, 2024)

  • College of the Atlantic (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Abbe Museum presents the DAWNLAND FESTIVAL OF ARTS & IDEAS (July 12-14, 2024), College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME. Native Arts Market, Indigenous Thought Leadership, and featured performances!

The Abbe Museum presents the DAWNLAND FESTIVAL OF ARTS & IDEAS premiere on July 12-14, 2024, at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine. Join us for a Native Arts Market featuring leading artists from across the U.S. and Canada, conversations by Wabanaki and other Indigenous leaders on some of the biggest questions of our time, and featured performances from award-winning musicians and performers.

The Festival is FREE to the public and is being supported by the Henry Luce Foundation and the Maine Office of Tourism, along with a partnership with the College of the Atlantic.

Among the speakers will be attorney and author Sherri Mitchell (Penobscot), James Beard Award-winning Chef Sherry Pocknett (Mashpee Wampanoag), and Native rights attorney Michael-Corey F. Hinton (Passamaquoddy).

Musician Firefly the Hybrid (Penobscot) will also take the stage for a one-of-a-kind performance during the weekend.

More than 50 leading Native American artists from across the U.S. and Canada will share artwork ranging from ash baskets, beadwork, textiles, painting, fashion, and pottery, representing the breadth and excellence of Indigenous art. “Native arts and cultures cannot be separated from Native ways of knowing.

2024 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2024 (College of the Atlantic)
6:30 pm - Reception, Gates Auditorium
8:00 pm - Featured Performance
9:00 pm - Close

SATURDAY, JULY 13, 2024 (College of the Atlantic)
9:00 am - Market Opens
9:30 am - Welcome
10:00 am - Market Performance
11:00 am - Panel #1
1:00 pm - Market Performance
2:00 pm - Panel #2
4:00 pm - Featured Performance
5:00 pm - Market Closes

SUNDAY, JULY 14, 2024 (College of the Atlantic)
9:00 am - Market Opens
10:00 am - Market Performance
11:00 am - Panel #3
1:00 pm - Market Performance
2:00 pm - Panel #4
5:00 pm - Market Closes

For more information about the DAWNLAND FESTIVAL OF ARTS & IDEAS, please visit https://www.dawnlandfestival.org

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Jun
20
6:00 PM18:00

Wabanaki Voices w/ Mihku Paul, Maliseet

Come to the Abbe Museum on Thursday, June 20th, for a poetry reading by Mihku Paul (Maliseet) and a screening of her film, “Putep Qotatokot-te Elewestaq (The Whale was Speaking),” followed by a Q & A from 6:00pm - 7:00pm.

Programs are in-person at the Abbe’s downtown location (26 Mount Desert Street).

About Mihku Paul
Mihku Paul is a Wolastoqiyik or Maliseet poet, writer, visual artist, and activist. She is a member of Kingsclear First Nation, N.B., Canada and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Communication from the University of Southern Maine. Paul then received a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Stonecoast at the University of Southern Maine. Paul has offered interactive storytelling sessions surrounding Wabanaki stories, and assists students with art projects by intertwining conceptual principles along with practical design. Along with Paul’s storytelling, she also uses her art and poetry to help educate non-native people about the condition of Wabanaki people in the Northeast. Outside the classroom Paul’s poetry and art support diversity projects, events, and have been installed in various museums. Paul got to share her storytelling, talent for poetry, and feelings on her education in her first chapbook, “20th Century PowWow Playland”, published in 2012. This chapbook is a compilation of poems in which the Maliseet lands are at points inventively populated with not just, “the ghosts of half a millennium” but also with “those who remain”.

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Jun
5
11:00 AM11:00

Cultural Connections in the Park: The Burnurwurbskek Singers

  • Acadia National Park: Cadillar Mountain Summit (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Cultural Connections in the Park series occurs on select Wednesdays from June through September.

The Burnurwurbskek singers are a men’s drum group from the Penobscot Indian Nation at Indian Island, Maine. This group has been performing traditional Wabanaki songs for audiences across Maine and other states for many years. This performance on top of Wapuwoc, or the “white mountain of the first light,” is a cultural demonstration that will captivate audience members of all ages.

All Cultural Connections programs are sponsored by Dawnland, LLC, are offered in partnership with the Acadia National Park, and are free and open to the public.

In addition to a park pass, vehicle reservations are needed to access the Cadillac Summit Road for this program. You can make a vehicle reservation here:www.recreation.gov

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May
30
1:00 PM13:00

Collection Spotlight: Sage Neptune, Penobscot Nation

A new program for the 2024 Season, the Collection Spotlight series will be hosted by our Luce Curator of Exhibits and Collections, Dr. Aaron Miller, alongside Wabanaki community members to “spotlight” various object in the Abbe’s permanent collection. The first spotlight will be on May 30th from 1:00pm – 2:00pm with Wabanaki Curatorial Fellow, Sage Neptune (Penobscot), who will be discussing the changing of basket-making during European occupation.

Programs are in-person at the Abbe’s downtown location (26 Mount Desert Street) and are free with museum admission.


Sage Neptune, Penobscot Nation (he/him) | Luce Curatorial Fellow

Sage Neptune is the Abbe Museum's 2023-2024 Luce Curatorial Fellow. Sage is a Citizen of the Penobscot Nation and is finalizing their Masters Degree in Anthropology and Environmental Policy (with a focus on Museum Studies) at University of Maine, Orono. Their journey as an emerging Wabanaki curator and collections specialist was fueled by growing up witnessing their father's service as former Director of the Penobscot Nation Museum.  Sage hopes to bring his learning experiences from this Fellowship back to benefit his Tribal Nation. 

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Apr
18
10:00 AM10:00

Off-Season Community Day - Thursday, April 18th

While we are in the midst of the winter season, there are still opportunities to visit the Abbe Museum's Downtown location on select days! During the upcoming school vacation weeks this February and April, we will be opening our doors to come peruse our exhibits and join us for crafts, guided family tours, and a storytelling program with our friend Abby Morrow from the Jesup Memorial Library. Storytelling is free and open to the public; all additional programs are free with Museum admission.

Come visit us for April Community Days from 10 am to 2 pm on April 17 and 18!

Schedule

  • 10:00 am - Museum Opens

  • All Day - Wabanaki Modern Exhibit Activity

  • 10:30 - Storytime with Abby Morrow from the Jesup Memorial Library

  • 11:30 - Interactive Tour with our Curator of Education, Christiana Becker

  • 1:30 - Stop Selling Admission Tickets

  • 2:00 - Museum Closes

As a reminder, we are continuing to accept School Groups by appointment. Just visit abbemuseum.org/programs to learn more and submit a request.

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Apr
17
10:00 AM10:00

Off-Season Community Day - Wednesday, April 17th

While we are in the midst of the winter season, there are still opportunities to visit the Abbe Museum's Downtown location on select days! During the upcoming school vacation weeks this February and April, we will be opening our doors to come peruse our exhibits and join us for crafts, guided family tours, and a storytelling program with our friend Abby Morrow from the Jesup Memorial Library. Storytelling is free and open to the public; all additional programs are free with Museum admission.

Come visit us for April Community Days from 10 am to 2 pm on April 17 and 18!

Schedule

  • 10:00 am - Museum Opens

  • All Day - Wabanaki Modern Exhibit Activity

  • 10:30 - Storytime with Abby Morrow from the Jesup Memorial Library

  • 11:30 - Interactive Tour with our Curator of Education, Christiana Becker

  • 1:30 - Stop Selling Admission Tickets

  • 2:00 - Museum Closes

As a reminder, we are continuing to accept School Groups by appointment. Just visit abbemuseum.org/programs to learn more and submit a request.

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Feb
22
10:00 AM10:00

Off-Season Community Day - Thursday, February 22nd

While we are in the midst of the winter season, there are still opportunities to visit the Abbe Museum's Downtown location on select days! During the upcoming school vacation weeks this February and April, we will be opening our doors to come peruse our exhibits and engage in storytelling programs, crafts, and guided family tours. All programs are free with Museum admission.

Come visit us for our first Community Days from 10 am to 2 pm on February 21 and 22. And a huge thank you to our February Community Day Partner, the Southwest Harbor Public Library!

Schedule:

  • 10:00 am - Museum Opens

  • All Day - Wabanaki Modern Exhibit Activity

  • 10:30 - Storytime with Ms. Chrissy from the Southwest Harbor Public Library

  • 11:30 - Interactive Tour with our Curator of Education, Christiana Becker

  • 1:00 pm - Storytime with Ms. Chrissy from the Southwest Harbor Public Library

  • 1:30 - Stop Selling Admission Tickets

  • 2:00 - Museum Closes

As a reminder, we are continuing to accept School Groups by appointment. Just visit abbemuseum.org/programs to learn more and submit a request.

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Feb
21
10:00 AM10:00

Off-Season Community Day - Wednesday, February 21st

While we are in the midst of the winter season, there are still opportunities to visit the Abbe Museum's Downtown location on select days! During the upcoming school vacation weeks this February and April, we will be opening our doors to come peruse our exhibits and engage in storytelling programs, crafts, and guided family tours. Come visit us for our first Community Days from 10 am to 2 pm on February 21 and 22. And a huge thank you to our February Community Day Partner, the Southwest Harbor Public Library!

Schedule:

  • 10:00 am - Museum Opens

  • All Day - Wabanaki Modern Exhibit Activity

  • 10:30 - Storytime with Ms. Chrissy from the Southwest Harbor Public Library

  • 11:30 - Interactive Tour with our Curator of Education, Christiana Becker

  • 1:00 pm - Storytime with Ms. Chrissy from the Southwest Harbor Public Library

  • 1:30 - Stop Selling Admission Tickets

  • 2:00 - Museum Closes

As a reminder, we are continuing to accept School Groups by appointment. Just visit abbemuseum.org/programs to learn more and submit a request.

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Oct
1
to Oct 9

Indigenous 2023 - Celebrating Our Sovereignty

Organizations on Mount Desert Island and surrounding communities (The 1932 Criterion Theatre, Abbe Museum, College of the Atlantic, Friends of Acadia, Healthy Acadia, The Jackson Laboratory) have come together to once again to produce INDIGENOUS 2023 a series of events the week before Indigenous Peoples’ Day that celebrates and honors the sovereignty, resilience, and invaluable contributions of Indigenous people, by facilitating learning, engagement, and allyship. Learn more and RSVP through the button below. Thank you for your support!


Schedule of Events

Experience 1
Strengthening Relationships with Cultural Competency

Elizabeth Neptune, Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk
Sunday, October 1st | 1 - 5 pm
Gates Community Center, College of the Atlantic

Experience 2
Cultural Humility: Coffee Time with Elizabeth Neptune
Wednesday, October 4th | 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm | via Zoom

Experience 3
Our Bodies Carry our Personal Stories and the Stories of Our Ancestors
Donna Decontie-Brown, Penobscot Nation
Friday, October 6th | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Gates Community Center, College of the Atlantic, 105 Eden St, Bar Harbor

Experience 4
FIREFLY Concert with Special Guest Performers
Firefly (Jason Brown), Penobscot Nation
Saturday, October 7th | Doors Open 7:00 pm - Showtime 8:00 pm
Criterion Theatre, 35 Cottage St, Bar Harbor

Experience 5
Free Admission to the Abbe Museum
Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Monday, October 9th | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Downtown Abbe Museum, 26 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor

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Sep
27
5:00 PM17:00

Abbe Museum Annual Meeting w/ Sherri Mitchell, Penobscot Nation

Join us for the Abbe Museum’s Annual Meeting!

Wednesday, September 27, 2023
5:00 - 7:00 pm
26 Mount Desert Street | Bar Harbor, Maine

Enjoy food and beverages alongside the Abbe trustees, council, and staff while we update you on the museum and introduce our newest trustees.

Following these updates, we will be joined by Sherri Mitchell, Penobscot Nation, who will be discussing the current efforts to assert Wabanaki sovereignty and cultural maturity.

If you have any questions or would like to RSVP, please don’t hesitate to reach out to events@abbemuseum.org or 207-288-3519. This event is free and open to the public. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Sep
6
10:00 AM10:00

Cultural Connections in the Park: Flintknapping Demonstration with Chris Sockalexis, Penobscot

  • Acadia National Park: Sieur de Monts Spring (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Cultural Connections in the Park series occurs on select Wednesdays from June through September.

Chris Sockalexis, Penobscot, is the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Penobscot Nation. Chris has a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Maine with his primary focus being on Maine Archaeology. A flintknapper with knowledge of the ancient art and technique of stone and bone tool production, Chris is currently conducting research for his Masters of Science degree at the University of Maine Climate Change Institute. An Abbe Museum board member, he is also an avid canoe/kayak paddler who loves being out in the Maine woods and on the waterways that his ancestors have traveled for thousands of years.

All "Cultural Connections in the Park" programs are sponsored by Dawnland, LLC, are offered in partnership with the Abbe Museum, and are free and open to the public.

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Aug
30
11:00 AM11:00

Cultural Connections in the Park: Talk and Storytelling with Dwayne Tomah, Passamaquoddy

  • Acadia National Park: Sieur de Monts (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Photo by rogier van bakel

The Cultural Connections in the Park series occurs on select Wednesdays from June through September.

Dwayne Tomah, Passamaquoddy, will be hosting a talk and storytelling program regarding his work with the Passamaquoddy wax cylinders, which are the earliest known field recordings of Native Americans. These recordings, preserved on wax cylinders in 1890, include Passamaquoddy narratives, vocabulary, number lists, and songs. The Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Library of Congress have worked on restoring, digitizing, and revitalizing these recordings as digital repatriation.

All of these programs are sponsored by Dawnland, LLC, are offered in partnership with the Abbe Museum, and are free and open to the public.

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Aug
16
11:00 AM11:00

Cultural Connections in the Park: The Burnurwurbskek Singers (Penobscot Nation)

  • Acadia National Park: Jordan Pond House (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Cultural Connections in the Park series occurs on select Wednesdays from June through September.

The Burnurwurbskek singers, a men’s drum group from the Penobscot Indian Nation at Indian Island, ME, will perform on the Jordan Pond House lawn, 11 am to 1 pm, Wed Aug 16.

This group has been performing traditional Wabanaki songs for audiences across Maine and other states for many years. This is a cultural demonstration that will

All of these programs are sponsored by Dawnland, LLC, are offered in partnership with the Abbe Museum, and are free and open to the public.

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Jul
12
11:00 AM11:00

Cultural Connections in the Park: Fancy Basket Demonstration with Sarah Sockbeson, Penobscot

  • Acadia National Park: Jordan Pond House (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Photo by rogier van bakel

The Cultural Connections in the Park series occurs on select Wednesdays from June through September.

Sarah Sockbeson is one of several basketmakers who take Wabanaki traditions to a new level with their contemporary styles. A citizen of the Penobscot Indian Nation, Sarah apprenticed with basketmaker Jennifer Neptune and combines contemporary elements such as painting and bone carving into her work. Known for her vivid color combinations and beautiful landscape paintings, Sarah will demonstrate the various steps within her artistic process.

All of these programs are sponsored by Dawnland, LLC, are offered in partnership with the Acadia National Park, and are free and open to the public.

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Jun
14
11:00 AM11:00

Cultural Connections in the Park: The Burnurwurbskek Singers

  • Acadia National Park: Cadillar Mountain Summit (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Cultural Connections in the Park series occurs on select Wednesdays from June through September.

The Burnurwurbskek singers are a men’s drum group from the Penobscot Indian Nation at Indian Island, Maine. This group has been performing traditional Wabanaki songs for audiences across Maine and other states for many years. This performance on top of Wapuwoc, or the “white mountain of the first light,” is a cultural demonstration that will captivate audience members of all ages.

All Cultural Connections programs are sponsored by Dawnland, LLC, are offered in partnership with the Acadia National Park, and are free and open to the public.

In addition to a park pass, vehicle reservations are needed to access the Cadillac Summit Road for this program. You can make a vehicle reservation here:www.recreation.gov

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Jun
4
10:00 AM10:00

2023 Abbe Museum Indian Market (Day 2)

Photo by HB Mertz

After a 3-year hiatus, the Abbe Museum Indian Market (AMIM) returns to Bar Harbor’s Village Green for the weekend of June 2 – 4, 2023. This multifaceted event will feature more than 50 Native artists working in forms ranging from baskets and pottery to jewelry and sculpture - along with performances, demonstrations, and educational programs.

“We’re delighted that AMIM is re-emerging from the necessary closures of the past few years to once again illuminate Wabanaki artistic excellence and support tribal creative economies,” says Executive Director & Senior Partner with Wabanaki Nations Betsy Richards (Cherokee Nation).

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Jun
3
10:00 AM10:00

2023 Abbe Museum Indian Market (Day 1)

Photo by HB Mertz

After a 3-year hiatus, the Abbe Museum Indian Market (AMIM) returns to Bar Harbor’s Village Green for the weekend of June 2 – 4, 2023. This multifaceted event will feature more than 50 Native artists working in forms ranging from baskets and pottery to jewelry and sculpture - along with performances, demonstrations, and educational programs.

“We’re delighted that AMIM is re-emerging from the necessary closures of the past few years to once again illuminate Wabanaki artistic excellence and support tribal creative economies,” says Executive Director & Senior Partner with Wabanaki Nations Betsy Richards (Cherokee Nation).

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Apr
8
10:00 AM10:00

Off-Season Community Day - April

While our season may be over, we are still welcoming visitors to our Downtown location on select days throughout the Winter Season! The fourth day you can come visit is Saturday, April 8th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Admission tickets will not be sold after 1 pm.

As a reminder, we are continuing to accept School Groups by appointment. Just visit abbemuseum.org/programs to learn more and submit a request.

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Mar
11
10:00 AM10:00

Off-Season Community Day - March

While our season may be over, we are still welcoming visitors to our Downtown location on select days throughout the Winter Season! The third day you can come visit is Saturday, March 11th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Admission tickets will not be sold after 1 pm.

As a reminder, we are continuing to accept School Groups by appointment. Just visit abbemuseum.org/programs to learn more and submit a request.

View Event →