2014

Heart of the Community, Soul of a Culture

[email protected]/757 -678-5550/www.barrierislandscenter.com

Welcome! Many of you know how much I love to welcome a new visitor here at the BIC. With the upcoming release of Watermen, I think back to the providential events that brought us together with James Spione, the talented director of all three films, seven years ago...Jim was spending summer vacation with his in-laws at their home in Willis Wharf and had registered his son Sam for our new Pirate Summer Camp. After dropping Sam off, Jim decided to look around the museum. We think it was the best decision he’s ever made. Jim and I began chatting about the BIC, the Eastern Shore and the world. Gradually, I learned that Jim had created a documentary film about his family’s dairy farm in New York. I could also tell that he had fallen in love with the rugged beauty of the Shore. Light bulbs began to pop in my head, so I quickly brought Sally Dickinson, our Education Director, out to meet him. After Jim left that day, Sally and I googled his film, American Farm. As we suspected, it was beautiful, and we hatched our plan. Sally had been working on oral histories of Hog Island, and she had a hunch that video could be a perfect medium to capture the pride of place and precious memories of the last inhabitants of Hog Island for posterity. We pitched the idea to Jim, and within 3 months, he had completed the interviews and was editing what would become Our Island Home. The movie surpassed our wildest imaginations. We thought that by capturing the oral history vignettes on film, we could add depth to our exhibits. But we had no idea that the film would strike a chord with so many people, including PBS TV stations and their viewers. And so, we went back to Jim for a second film, Spirit of the Bird. Since then, Jim has been nominated for an Academy Award for another documentary, but has still found time to work with us on Watermen. We hope you’ll enjoy this third documentary just as much as the earlier two. Meanwhile, I’ll continue to greet visitors here at the BIC. You just never know who will step foot in here next… Hope to see y’all soon,

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The Barrier Islands Center is proud to announce the upcoming premiere of its newest documentary: Watermen. The film explores the history and culture surrounding fishing in the waters of Virginia’s seaside and Chesapeake Bay. Academy Award-nominated Director James Spione has once again created a beautifully textured documentary that gives voice to the people, lifestyles and traditions that make up the unique fabric of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Offering intimate glimpses into the lives of the hardworking men and women who struggle to make their living on the water, Watermen also traces generations of families and communities which have evolved around fishing. Despite hardships and an uncertain future, the film richly captures the fierce pride and enduring optimism of the Eastern Shore’s watermen.

Art and Music on the Farm Saturday, May 24th from 10-4 p.m. Cost: $5 for adults. Under 18 yrs. FREE. Rain or shine - Please, no coolers. Start off your summer with a glorious celebration of Virginia’s rich heritage of art and music at one of the loveliest venues on the Eastern Shore. The Art and Music on the Farm festival offers fine art and treasures from local artists and artisans as well as traditional roots music played by celebrated musicians from across Virginia, all in an inviting, family-friendly setting. Sip wine, peruse the eye-catching art, delve into the history of Virginia musical styles, enjoy funnel cakes, or plan a fun summer garden. You will find something to tickle your fancy! There’s even an art activity for the children! Everyone will revel in the toe-tapping, hand-clapping sounds of mountain stringband, chantey singing, folk, gospel and bluegrass from five highly acclaimed Virginia bands. And there is also an exciting opportunity to participate in intimate workshops hosted by the performers and learn even more with interpretations by music historian Gregg Kimball and state folklorist Jon Lohman. The BIC is able to bring these high caliber musicians thanks to the Virginia Commission for the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America Fast-Track grants. In addition to the music, the Farm will be filled with some of the finest art in the region: over 40 artists and artisans will have their paintings and crafts for sale. There will also be flowers, plants, food and beverages (including local wine, beer, soft drinks and iced coffee) available for purchase. So mark your calendars and bring your friends and family for a fun-filled day of delights on the Farm!

The Music:

Wayne Henderson and Helen White:

Wayne Henderson is a musical legend known worldwide for both his lightning- fast “pinch picking” guitar style and the beautiful guitars, mandolins, and banjos he crafts in his shop in tiny Rugby, Virginia. Even Eric Clapton had to wait seven years to get one of Wayne’s guitars! Wayne has performed throughout the United States and the world, holds multiple first place finishes at the Galax Fiddler’s Convention guitar competition, and is honored each year at the Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition. In 1995, he received the National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Award, the nation’s greatest honor for those who practice traditional arts.

Helen White is an award-winning singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer. She is the founder and Executive Director of the Junior Appalachian Musicians program which introduces Appalachian children to their musical heritage.

Wayne and Helen have been performing together for 15 years, with Helen providing a perfect backup to Wayne’s amazing guitar abilities. As a duo or as part of string bands, the pair has played at events sponsored by the National Center for Traditional Arts and the Presidential Inaugural Folk Festival.

Art & Music on the Farm cont...

Family of Praise: Family of Praise is a gospel group formed in 2012 under the direction of Ms. Cheryl Maroney-Beaver, granddaughter of Maggie Ingram. The ensemble has performed at numerous churches, festivals and community events, including backup performances for Maggie Ingram & the Ingramettes. Nominated to participate in the Virginia Folklife Program, Family of Praise is committed to community involvement and personal development through praise and worship.

Springfield Exit:

Linda and David Lay, along with David McLaughlin, make up Springfield Exit, one of Virginia's outstanding singer trios. The trio performs original songs in addition to their own arrangements of old standards, traditional songs and instrumentals pulled from country, blues, swing, bluegrass, and folk. They have performed to audiences from Vermont to Washington State, and on stages at the Library of Congress, the Birchmere, Floydfest, Winchester's Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the General Jackson Showboat, the Wildhorse Saloon, and the Opryland Hotel.

Northern Neck Chantey Singers: A chantey is a song African-American fishermen used to sing as they worked along the eastern seaboard decades ago. Like many work songs, it's a tradition that went by the wayside when machines replaced manual labor. Today it’s being kept alive by a group of aging former fishermen in the northern neck of Virginia, the strip of land between the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers. The men, all in their 70s and 80s now, pass on that musical heritage to the delight of audiences.

Gregg Kimball and Mary Smith: Dr. Gregg Kimball combines skills as a musician, historian, and published author to develop compelling programs and presentations on America’s traditional musical forms, such as gospel, old-time, and blues music. He has performed at many festivals and concert venues including the Washington D.C. Blues Festival, the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, and with the Richmond Symphony. Mary Smith is a traditional singer from central Virginia, and is co-founder of Richmond Folk Music, a monthly concert series dedicated to traditional folk music. Both Gregg and Mary take a special interest in the history and context of roots music.

Art & Music on the Farm cont...

Festival Emcee - Jon Lohman: Jon is Program Director of the Virginia Folklife Program, part of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, based in Charlottesville. As the state folklorist, he works to document, present, and support Virginia’s rich cultural folkways through a variety of mediums, including audio and video documentation, exhibit design, public programming, and project development. He has presented at numerous festivals, including Floydfest, the Smithsonian Folklife festival, the national Folklife Festival, Merlefest, the Blue Ridge Folklife festival, and the American Folklife Festival.

As of April 8th... Artists and Artisans

Robert Bilicki ● Marty Burgess ● Mary Ann Clarke ● David Crane ● Diana Davis ● Buck Doughty Linda Ennis ● Gertraud Fendler ● Ann Hayden ● Susan Henderson ● Jane Kafigian ● Barbara Myers Bill Mytnik ● Thelma Peterson ● Maurice Spector ● Ten Good Sheep ● Kylis Winborne Vesna Zidovek and

Vendors Food and Beverage Appleseed Porch and Garden Chatham Vineyards Wines Rita Hilton (flowers) Eastern Shore Coastal Roasting Co. Iced Coffee Tankard Nurseries (plants donated for sale) Wendell Distributing Co. Beer KitchenSync Catering by Louise Oliver Otter Creek Catering by Debby Kozak

Thank you to our 2014 Event Sponsors Accomack Title and Settlement, Inc. Adair Tyler - SunTrust Investments Atlantic Animal Hospital BoJangles - Onley Branscome Eastern Shore Burger Landscape & Design Chatham Vineyards Davis Disposal Bay Creek Drs. Savage, Sabol & Visser - Orthodontics ESLAND Eastern Shore Adventures Eastern Shore Animal Hospital H.M. Terry Co., Inc. Eastern Shore Events and Rentals J.C. Walker Bros., Inc. Eastern Shore Nursery of Virginia Jones Zittrain Wealth Management Group of Hermitage Farms Nursery Merrill Lynch H.W. Drummond, Inc. The Insurance Market, Inc. Ocean Cove Seafood Leatherbury-Broache & Co., PC Tankard Nurseries Rayfield’s Pharmacy Sharp Energy *** Shooting Point Oyster Company, LLC Michael L. Sterling - Vandeventer Black, LLP State Farm Insurance - Bart Holland PNC Bank Tidewater Insulators Shore Bank Tommy Arnold, Inc. Weichert Realtors, Mason-Davis Wilbanks, Smith & Thomas Wendell Distributing Co., Inc. Wolcott River Gates WHRO Willie C. Randall of Edward Jones

“Learning Here Feels a Lot Like Fun” is more than a slogan at the Barrier Islands Center. Making education a joyful process lies at the heart of everything we do. Looking back on the winter happenings, the BIC Coffee Hour Lecture series featured two amazing opportunities. These hour-long programs are FREE, and I encourage you to come, learn and enjoy.

 Laurie Klingle gave a presentation during the chilly days of January about the history of the orangery, including the renovation of the one at Eyre Hall. As we nibbled her homemade citrus cookies, it was exciting to learn how people in years past built orangeries as a way to enjoy refreshing and healthy citrus through the winter.

 In March, musicians Gregg Kimball and Mary Smith presented a rousing program of Irish music. They had the whole audience singing loudly and swaying to their songs. We could have easily fit in at a pub in Dublin!

I also get inspired each time I walk out to the new 1910 Education building, Laurie Klingle which is used most days of the week. It offers wonderful flexibility and allows us to do more than we ever dreamed of, including art exhibits, community group gatherings, and our on- going “My First Field Trip” Pre-K art, history, manners and music program.. Sally

A four-year-old girl coming for her first of four classes this semester looked up and said with wide, excited eyes: “Did you make this building for us?” I could honestly answer back, “Yes, we certainly did!”

Flatfooting Dance Workshop

This FREE class taught by Bill McGlothlin, with live accompaniment by Lynn Williams on the fiddle and banjo and Tom Wescott on the guitar, will get the whole family ready for our May 24 Art and Music on the Farm festival! Participants will learn flatfooting, an old time dance style closely associated with traditional string band music in Come Learn With Us! that the dancer’s feet barely leave the floor. This dance style is a popular and important part of Virginia’s musical heritage, particularly on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For a toe-tapping, swinging good time, bring your kids and learn some new dance moves!

Tuesdays April 29, May 6, 13, 20 Children’s Fish Art Workshop 6-7 p.m. for children and adults with Bobby Bridges. Young artists FREE! and craftsmen (ages 7 and up) will be supplied a solid color fish body by artist Bobby Bridges that they will turn Barrier Islands Center into a creative masterpiece by adding Speaker Series fins, tails, eyes, paint detail and more.

The power of their young imaginations will produce a work of “fish art” ready to "Beyond Organic: What is Biodynamic swim the Eastern Shore breezes in their Gardening?" with Stewart Lundy of Perennial own backyard or adorn that perfect spot Roots Farm. Our June lecture will introduce biodynamic in their room. Class size limited to 10 gardening and farming principles, such as planting and students. tending vegetables by the moon, the farm as a living Tues., July 22 and organism, and biodynamic herbs for health and nutrition. Created by Waldorf School of Education founder Wed., July 23 from 2-4 p.m. Rudolph Steiner, biodynamic agriculture has been Cost: $75 per student. enthusiastically implemented by wineries from California to France.

Guest speaker Stewart Lundy founded a biodynamic permaculture farm, Perennial Roots, with Natalie CPR Class McGill in 2010. Committed to long-term sustainable Class participants will learn primary and practices and perennial plants, they practice a synthesis secondary First Aid for adults/infants, ADI, of biodynamic rhythms and permaculture concepts, and CPR with instructor Andy Dunton. encouraging and fostering diversity in plants, animals Class size is limited to 12 people. and wildlife throughout the farm.

Tuesday, June 24th Friday, June 20 at 10:30 a.m. FREE! 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Cost: $40 (covers all books and materials).

Five-Day Summer Camps!

Pirates, Princes and Princesses Camp (ages 3-5 years) June 23 - June 27th, 9:00 a.m. - Noon We're excited about what we've been able pre-registration required to do, and we couldn't have done it without membership support! Cost: $125 Become a Member TODAY! Calling all pirates, princes and princesses to join us as we visit mysterious lands. Off we go to days Membership Types when pirates ruled the seas and royalty ruled the land. We will make castles, crowns, sea monsters, Individual...... $25 pirate maps and more. Arrrrgggg, your majesty! Family...... $50 This Abrakadoodle camp is filled with a bounty of Sustaining...... $100 games, activities, music and creative art Business...... $200 experiences for our noble princes, princesses and Sponsor...... $500 Patron...... $1,000 sea-faring pirates! Name: Art Rocks! Camp Address: (ages 5-9 years) July 14th - July 18th, 9:00 a.m. - Noon Telephone: pre-registration required E-Mail: Cost: $125 Amount Enclosed: The stage is set for rock artists everywhere! Art Please fill out this form and return with payment to: Rocks combines fun music and energetic art for a The Barrier Islands Center PO Box 206, Machipongo, VA 23405. wildly creative adventure. Campers will make musical instruments, learn about rhythm and Or you can join online at www.barrierislandscenter.com create some music of their own! They'll design a poster promoting a concert, as well as a unique label for a new CD. These rock artists will create their own rock art, design mystifying paintings to music and try their hand at melodic action painting. So come into the spotlight for a rocking good time!

Food, Glorious Food! Camp Contact Information (ages 7-12 years) Aug. 11th - Aug. 15th, 9:00 a.m. - Noon PO Box 206, Machipongo, VA 23405 pre-registration required 757.678.5550 Cost: $125 [email protected] Get your spoon, paintbrush, and chocolate syrup ready - we're going to create art! From cupcake Laura Vaughan, Executive Director design to mosaics with food to chocolate syrup painting - it's all about the wonderful wacky world Sally Dickinson, Director of Education of food art! We'll even cook! (No peanuts or Kristen Dennis, Director of Operations peanut oils will be used.) Monika Bridgforth, Director of Development

Call the Barrier Islands Center today to register your child for camp! 757.678.5550

Dogs on the Farm

“Dogs on the Farm” Dog Obedience and K9 Nose Works classes are taught by Beth Ann Sabo, Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Associate Nose Work Instructor. Pre-registration is required. Please contact Beth Ann directly at [email protected] for dates and times.

Basic Obedience: Learn to communicate with your dog more effectively, resulting in a stronger bond and more fun. You will help your dog learn the foundations of obedience: focus and attention, mouth manners, control (sit, down), introduce safety behaviors (come, wait, stay), and manners (polite leash walking, greetings). This is where your dog’s education starts. No prerequisites - any dog, any age. Introduction to K9 Nose Work®: Join this fun searching activity and new dog sport that any dog (and any person) can do. This is a foundation class to learn the game, develop your dog’s drive, and start to learn how to read your dog. You can take this as a stand-alone class to learn a new activity for your dog, or use it as a springboard to testing and competition. This is not an obedience class, but does not interfere with obedience training. It’s a great way to spend time with your dog and enjoy his problem- solving and searching abilities - and it’s fun! No prerequisites - any dog, any age.

Those wily Hog Island sheep are at it again!

The Barrier Islands Center will debut a second illustrated children’s History Sleuthing book this summer, The Hog Island Sheep in Red, White, and Ewe.

This story features the 4th of July baseball game and picnic held This intriguing ring is hand-carved annually on Hog Island in the late 1920’s. Author Andrew Barbour from a single piece of ivory! It once again creates a clever and entertaining tale using the Hog came from a local household and Island sheep as comical protagonists while drawing on coastal is believed to have been worn by history and traditions. Children and adults alike will be captivated by someone who brought here from the storyline and the vibrant original paintings by artist Cameron Africa on the slave trading ships Waff. centuries ago. We are asking

anyone who might have insights These engaging books are a natural educational tool which highlight into its history, to call Annie Hess important elements of the coastal heritage that the Barrier Islands in our museum acquisitions Center seeks to preserve. Visitors to the museum can explore the department. Many thanks to Mr. Hog Island picnic exhibit, complete with original recipes, which Steve Graham for donating this inspired this story. very unique piece of Eastern The hardcover books will be available for purchase for $19.99 in late Shore history. June at the BIC.

Spotlight on: Miriam Riggs

Visitors to the Barrier Islands Center often ask about the stunning painted floorcloth in the entrance foyer. The designer, local artisan Miriam Riggs, is highly regarded for creating these “hand- painted rugs,” as well as her meticulous historical research, and her renderings of local flora and fauna in floorcloth and mural designs. In fact, she just taught a sold-out Floorcloth Painting class here at the BIC last month.

Few people know that Miriam is the creative genius responsible for many of the BIC’s inspired and unusual exhibits, including the Cobb Island Hotel exhibit, the Hog Island exhibit with its paper maché picnic and the eye-catching Oyster Shucking exhibit, among others. We also love Miriam’s ability to elevate some of the most mundane objects to high art. For instance, Miriam transformed inexpensive white window shades into custom window treatments in the new Education Building. Plans are in the works for Miriam to bring her design magic to update our Almshouse, Trapping, and Market Hunting exhibits (as funding and time permits).

The BIC is incredibly fortunate to have a talented local artist like Miriam to interpret the history of the Barrier Islands Center. It is yet another point of pride that makes us unique in the landscape of museums and cultural centers. We recently interviewed Miriam about her collaboration with us.

BIC: How did you first become interested in the Barrier Islands Center? MR: I am passionate about the rich history of the Eastern Shore. I’ve spent over 35 years studying Eastern Shore architecture and methods of historic painting. This is largely through direct exploration and repair of old houses. The Barrier Islands Center provides such welcoming buildings, grounds, and comfortable atmosphere for exploring the Shore’s heritage. I felt right at home there the first time I walked in the front door.

BIC: Can you tell us about your creative process and approach? MR: A big part of the story I strive to tell at the BIC is about the ingrained strength and character of Eastern Shore people who have adapted to an often harsh and unpredictable environment. This coastal culture has endured for centuries; its foundation in living close to the earth holds many truths which still apply today. I want to create exhibits which draw visitors into that rich past.

BIC: What do you enjoy most about your partnership with the BIC? MR: The open-mindedness and innovative nature of the BIC staff has made it possible for me to get very creative in some of the exhibits I’ve developed. Often when I’m working on an exhibit, I’ll start out with just a glimmer of a concept and a few artifacts. Then the BIC staff members may begin engaging visitors about what the goal is, and more local treasures will be brought in by excited donors. Many times there are colorful stories that go along with those treasures. So the wealth of the past knowledge keeps building on itself through the exhibits. That’s one of the most rewarding parts of my work there.

Our Eastern Shore: Dates to Remember Tuesdays, April 29, May 6, 13, 20, 6 - 7:00 p.m. Strawberries Flatfooting Dance Workshop A fondly remembered glory *** of the Eastern Shore was the Saturday, May 24th, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. sight of farm after farm of Art & Music on the Farm strawberry fields in late *** spring. Strawberries were Friday, June 20th, 10:30 a.m. - Noon one of the first big money “Beyond Organic: crops of the agricultural year. Unfortunately, this is no What is Biodynamic Gardening?” longer the situation. *** The berries used to be packaged and freighted to Monday-Friday, June 23rd - 27th markets in huge quantities. Today, you might be able to 9:00 a.m. - Noon purchase a small basket from a private garden - if you Pirates, Princes and Princesses Camp are lucky. *** Old time residents will recall long rows of plants and Tuesday, June 24th, 6 - 9:00 p.m. stooped harvesters with quart sized baskets made of CPR Class very thin wood. The fragrance of the fruit in the early *** morning dew and mild sunshine was truly delightful. Monday-Friday, July 14th - 18th There would be awning covered stands throughout a 9:00 a.m. - Noon large field. The pickers bought their quarts to these Art Rocks! Camp stands for a tally. Photographs taken in the 1950s near *** Daugherty in Accomack County show volunteer ladies- Tuesday, July 22nd & Wednesday, July 23rd mostly farmers’ wives and neighbors managing the 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. tallies and the correct amount of berries in each basket. Children’s Fish Art Workshop Their heads are covered in scarves; they seem to be *** enjoying themselves - evidently a social event not to be Monday-Friday, August 11th - 15th missed. 9:00 a.m. - Noon Of course, these ladies would make their own preserves. Food, Glorious Food! Camp But best of all was strawberry shortcake. If you use those little yellow cups and commercial topping from the store you haven’t had strawberry shortcake. The real thing involves actual shortbread, homemade whipped cream and several hours of refrigeration. Ahh BIC Baby! springtime!

This vignette was produced for “Our Eastern Shore,” a joint project of the Barrier Islands Center and WHRO. Funded in part by Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, the 90-second vignettes explore the history and culture of Virginia’s Eastern Shore and are available as archived podcasts at whro.org. Rowan Dell

Barrier Islands Center ● PO Box 206 ● Machipongo, VA 23405 PRSRT STD Non-Profit Org. Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend US Postage PAID May 24th Permit #206 Machipongo, VA 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. 23405

Join us for Art & Music on the Farm!