Volume 14, Issue #2 May 2011 The “Stronger Collection of L.C. Bates Museum Together” Issue Stimulates Artists’ Work in Maine The mission of Maine Archives and Mu- seums is to “foster a network” among Drawing Project Exhibition collecting institutions in Maine and the by Brady Hesslein people who support them. This issue of the MAM Newsletter demonstrates powerfully The L.C. Bates Museum at Good-Will Hinckley is a small, early 20th-century natural history and how member organizations recognize that cultural museum. For the summer of 2011, L.C. Bates will feature, as part of the Maine Drawing they inhabit a shared community, and how Project, an exhibition titled Drawing from the Collections. This exhibition will spotlight over 20 they work together within that community artists either from or familiar with Maine. The artists have all come in person to the museum to to fulfill their missions. Collaborations be- be inspired by its extensive collection of taxidermy, plant and historic artifacts, and then draw tween member organizations include proj- any of the objects. Barbara Sullivan, a participating artist, summed up the feeling of working ects at Orrington’s Telephone Museum and in such an intimate setting by saying, “Drawing at the L.C. Bates is like taking a visual walk Ellsworth’s Curran Homestead (page 11), —continued on page 12 as well as the Dyer Library / Saco Museum and the University of New England His- tory Department (back cover). Statewide initiatives (which include too many MAM LEFT: members to enumerate) are embodied in Nancy Morgan The Maine Drawing Project (this page) Barnes, A and Maine Memory Net, a project of the Siege of Cranes Maine Historical Society which is part- (detail), chalk nering with MAM to promote a statewide on paper, 2010, grant-making initiative (page 4). 24 x 16 inches. One of the most powerful ways in which cultural organizations can combine forces is to speak together as a group. This hap- pened on March 31, 2011, when the Maine Curators’ Forum (organizers of The Maine LEFT: Alice Rohman, Four Butterflies, Drawing Project) issued a statement (re- November 2010, pencil drawing, 5-1/2 x printed on page 13) in response to Gov- 5-1/2 inches. ernor Paul LePage’s removal of murals depicting Maine’s labor history from the offices of the Maine Department of Labor. WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE: The Maine Drawing Project is a statewide visual arts initiative, developed by the Maine Curators’ Forum, that represents a unique collaboration In so many ways, Maine’s collecting in- between Maine’s arts organizations. As part of the Maine Drawing Project, museums and gal- stitutions are finding that their voices are leries across Maine will offer exhibitions in the 2011 calendar year that focus on drawing as a stronger together. MAM is proud to be vehicle for creative, diverse forms of visual expression. Each 2011 issue of the Maine Archives part of the catalyst that helps to make and and Museums Newsletter will feature the offerings of a MAM member organization involved strengthen these connections, and to be in the statewide initiative. The Farnsworth Art Museum was featured in the February 2011 among the many voices to advocate for the newsletter, and this issue highlights the Maine Drawing Project offerings of the L.C. Bates power and importance of history, art, and Museum, Hinckley. For more information on The Maine Drawing Project, visit http://chitna. preservation. • asap.um.maine.edu/mainedrawing/. GRANT SOURCES MAINE ARTS COMMISSION (MAC) INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM & (207) 287-2724, www.mainearts.com — LIBRARY SERVICES Call for deadlines. General Operating Support — Call for deadlines. MAINE HUMANITIES COUNCIL (MHC) (202) 606-8539, www.imls.gov Maine Archives and Museums Conservation Project Support — (207) 773-5051, www.mainehumanities.org 110 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20506 MAM Newsletter Discretionary Grants (up to $500), reviewed on a rolling (202) 606-8539 — Deadline March 5. Volume 14 • Number 2 • May 2011 basis. Outreach Grants (up to $1,000), reviewed quarterly. IMLS Conservation Project Support — Oct. 15. NEH Major Grants (up to $6,000), reviewed twice a year. Maine Archives and Museums Exemplary Education Projects — Oct. 15. P.O. Box 5024, Augusta, ME 04332-5024 NEW ENGLAND FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS ODIORNE GRANT PROGRAM 207-441-1410 • Fax 207-621-8048 (617) 492-2914 — Call for deadlines. Supports projects combining archives and archaeology. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS www.mainemuseums.org Maine State Archives, #84 State House Station, Augusta, (202) 289-9118, www.aam-us.org — Call for deadlines. ME 04333-0084 — deadline March 1. The Maine Archives and Museums Newslet- Museum Assessment Programs I: Operations ter is published on a quarterly basis as a ben- Museum Assessment Programs II: Collections NATIONAL HISTORIC PUBLICATIONS AND efit of membership in MAM, whose purpose Museum Assessment Programs III: Public Perception RECORDS ADMINISTRATION (NHPRC) is to develop and foster a network of citizens HERITAGE PRESERVATION Application guidelines and forms may be requested from NHPRC, National Archives & Records Administration, and institutions in Maine who identify, col- Conservation Assessment Program 700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Room 106, lect, interpret and/or provide access to mate- 1625 K St., NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20006 Washington, DC 20408-0001 Phone (202) 634-1422 • Fax (202) 634-1435 rials relating to history and culture. (202) 501-5610 www.heritagepreservation.org Contributions to the MAM Newsletter may fax (202) 501-5601 be submitted to MAM. Contact information NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR e-mail [email protected] THE HUMANITIES provided above. or web site at http:www.nara.gov/nhprc NEH Consultation Grants for Libraries, Museums, or Deadline is October 1. To purchase copies of the MAM Newsletter, Special Projects — Sept. 16. Information and advice available from State Archives please contact MAM at the above address or NEH Preservation & Access Research & Development — (207) 287-5793. phone number. Grants — Oct. 1. NEH Stabilization of Humanities Collections — Oct. 1. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF) Third Class postage paid at Bangor, Maine. (202) 606-8400, www.neh.gov (202) 357-9498 www.nsf.gov NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS OFFICERS NEA Artistic Creativity & Preservation and Heritage & NATIONAL TRUST FOR President: Jay Adams Preservation — Aug. 18. HISTORIC PRESERVATION Vice President: George Squibb NEA Challenge America: Access to the Arts — Aug. 18 (617) 523-0885 Secretary: Patricia Burdick (202) 682-5400, www.arts.gov www.nationaltrust.org Treasurer: Patricia Henner BOARD MEMBERS TABLE OF CONTENTS Jane Bianco Leigh Hallett Collection of L.C. Bates Museum Stimulates Artists’ Work in Candace Kanes Maine Drawing Project Exhibition by Brady Hesslein ................................................. Cover Sheri Leahan MAM NEWS: Summary of Executive Committee Meeting, January 3, 2011 ................ 3 Niles Parker Summary of Executive Committee Meeting, March 7, 2011 ................. 3 Candy Russell Grants Available to Support Participation in Maine Memory Network Jessica Skwire Routhier by Larissa Vigue Picard ................................................................................................ 4 Joanna Torow New Book Focuses on Maine’s Museums by Janet Mendelsohn ..................................... 5 NEWSLETTER STAFF EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS ............................................................................................... 6 Editor: Jessica Skwire Routhier DISPATCHES ..................................................................................................................... 11 and Jane Bianco Maine Curators’ Forum Responds to Governor Paul LePage’s Removal of the Typesetting & Design: Deborah J. McGee Mural at the Maine Department of Labor ..................................................................... 13 Printer: Bangor Letter Shop & SEEN & HEARD ............................................................................................................... 13 Color Copy Center, Bangor OPPORTUNITIES .............................................................................................................. 14 BUSINESS MANAGER Get Your Sea Shanties Ready for Voyages and the Great Age of Sail Edna Comstock by Camille Smalley ........................................................................................................ 16 PO Box 5024 Augusta, ME 04332-0634 NEXT ISSUE: AUGUST 2011 207-441-1410 • [email protected] Only submissions received by the Editor by June 30, 2011, will be considered for publication. LEGAL SERVICES Jessica Skwire Routhier Contributed by James C. Pitney Saco Museum, 371 Main St., Saco, ME 04072 General Counsel 207-283-3861, ext. 114 Preti, Flaherty, Beleveau & Pachios www.sacomuseum.org 2 Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter Vol. 14, No. 2 MAM NEWS Summary OF solicit items for next newsletter and received several responses. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING Web Site Improvements We are poised to add the database of service January 3, 2011 providers. Edna will develop a list of catego- Attending via TokBox: Jay Adams, Pat ries and work with George and Todd Langner Burdick, Edna Comstock, Patty Henner, (website manager) to solicit and upload pro- George Squibb. vider names. GET EXTRA Maine Historical Society Regional Rep Update National Leadership Grant K Hartsgrove has stepped down as Newport NEWSLETTERS MHS is asking MAM to support/promote rep. George may be able to find replacement in Single extra copy: digitization