Brick Store Museum Happenings

Exploring the Wonder of History

November 2007

Hello! If you've driven by recently, you've noticed that our brick building is newly repainted, and the shutters are back up, completing the first phase of many in our ongoing restoration.

If this e-newsletter looks longer than usual, it must be because of the bumper crop of activities going on. The busy-ness means lots of people, too, and as of the middle of October, we had already shattered last year's off-the-street visitation totals! In this season of Thanksgiving, we find we have much to be thankful for...and it all comes back to you.

Read all the way to the end so you don't miss a thing, and we hope to see you soon, whether it's for our Week of Wild Things or for something else!

Sincerely,

The Brick Store Museum

Take Me Out to a Ballgame

The World Series may be over, but here's a way to extend the baseball season another weekend: wear something representing your favorite major league team and come take in the Kennebunk's Big Leaguers exhibition at the Museum! As a further enticement to "round the bases" and learn about the Coombs boys in our exhibition, Coombs family relatives will be on hand this Saturday, November 3 from 11AM to 1PM to give informal tours of the exhibition, reminisce, and answer your questions. This is nostalgia for America's favorite pastime at its finest!

A Week of Wild Things

The Brick Store Museum and the Kennebunk Free Library are pairing up to proudly present A Week of Wild Things, November 13th-17th. Inspired by our own ongoing Wild Things exhibition of American folk art animals, as well as all those critters in literature, there's something for all ages! Check out this "wild" schedule of events below, noting the various locations. For a printable version of these activities, CLICK HERE!):

Tuesday - Saturday, 11/13-11/17 at the Library during regular hours
Strap on your binoculars and join a scavenger hunt in the Library's Illustrators' Gallery! In addition, craft projects will be available all week for budding artists in the Youth Services Room.

Tuesday - Friday, 11/13 - 11/16 at the Museum, 10-4:30 daily
Visit the Wild Things exhibition and craft a foam mask based upon your favorite "wild thing." A scavenger hunt is also available within the exhibition to test your skills of observation. Made possible by a grant from The Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation.

Thursday, 11/15 at the Museum, 3-4:30PM

The fanciful Wild Things exhibition of nearly 100 carved animals belonging to young collector Kate Manko is as much about folk art as it is the art of collecting. Come see this popular show through Kate's eyes, as she'll be on hand in the Museum's galleries to answer questions for young and old.

Friday, 11/16 at the Museum, 7PM

All the way from Nashville and as heard on XM Kids Radio, we welcome Eve & Mare for a family concert! This recording duo is a finalist for "Best New Artist" in the Children's Music Web Awards. Their songs span a variety of musical styles and touch on universal themes of nature, animals, and life's daily adventures...all couched with an uproarious sense of humor. Even grownups will find themselves singing along! This concert is offered free of charge, with donations gratefully accepted. CDs of their debut album "Daddy's Moonlight Alligator Boat Ride" will be available for purchase onsite for $15. Made possible by the King Family and the Kennebunk law offices of Shepard & Read.

Saturday, 11/17 at the Library, 10 AM

Children ages 6 to12 are invited to a very special, FREE songwriting workshop with Nashville's recording artists, Eve & Mare. Follow up the previous evening's great concert by learning how to create your own musical magic! In an hour's time, they will guide the group in creating an original song from start to finish, along the way exploring rhythm, rhyme, major/minor keys, and the art of storytelling. After the session, Eve & Mare will return to Nashville to professionally produce the song and make the final recording available for all participants! Please pre-register by emailing or calling the Library at 207.985.2173. Made possible by the King Family and Shepard & Read.

Saturday, 11/17 at the Museum, 1-4 PM

The "Feathered Folk Art" workshop is an intergenerational, hands-on program for participants ages 7 to 107. Marvel at the variety of birds on view in the Wild Things exhibition and then try your hand at painting a wooden shorebird of your own (a sandpiper or a plover); they make great gifts for the holidays. Along the way, learn clever techniques from Bob Philippe, a member of the Maine Woodcarvers Association! Pre-registration is required by emailing or calling the Museum at 207.985.4802; cost is $10/person ($8 for Museum members). Made possible by a grant from The Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation.

Entries Sought for 2nd Annual Wreath Display & Silent Auction on December 2

Let your creativity shine! Area businesses, artists, and creative community members are invited to donate decorated wreaths for a display and silent auction to benefit the Museum. All wreaths are due at the Museum no later than November 28th; CLICK HERE for the entry form and all the particulars. The bidding coincides with a Merry Museum Open House on Sunday, December 2 from 1 to 4 PM. Winning bidders get to take home their wreaths at the end of the afternoon! CLICK HERE to preview some of the amazing entries to date (check back often as new ones are being added)!

Register Now for Holiday Tea on Summer Street

Continue a holiday tradition! Grandparents, parents, and children are invited for a rare look inside a private Summer Street home-the historic 1904 Charles Goodnow House-for our fourth annual Holiday Tea on Sunday, December 9th, 3 to 5 PM. Enjoy hot tea, assorted tea sandwiches and delectable sweets presented by Kitchen Chicks Catering while learning a bit about tea, etiquette customs, and the history of this well-appointed, early twentieth-century Colonial Revival home. This is the first time this particular home has been featured for the Tea!

Advance reservations are required by December 1st as space is limited! Cost is $15/adult and $7.50/child up to high school age ($12/adult and $6/child for Museum members). Children under 4 years old admitted free. CLICK HERE for the registration form.

Announcing our Newest Business Partners

The Brick Store Museum welcomes the Maine Stay Inn and Shepard & Read as proud business partners.

Our Business Partners are vital supporters for our year-round activities, and we can't thank them enough for their generosity and community-mindedness. To see a full list of our partners and to learn how you can become one, CLICK HERE.

In This Issue

Baseball Nostalgia

A Week of Wild Things

Wreath Display & Auction

Holiday Tea

New Business Partners

Trustee Spotlight...

Stephanie Limmer, on Museum Education: Engaging the Next Generation

A fundamental mission of the Brick Store Museum is education. We fulfill this mission in two simple, yet powerful ways. We connect people with the rich heritage of the Kennebunks and through our programs and services inspire creativity and lifelong learning.

Education takes many forms at the Brick Store Museum, including school group tours, workshops, educational programs, and fun events. The Education Committee of the Museum in the past few years has concentrated on targeting its efforts to the youth of the Kennebunks.

Each summer, the committee, along with Museum staff, prepares a full day history camp, which includes projects that tie in with current exhibits. This summer, children learned about local wildlife through footprint casting, they learned of folk art painting techniques and applied them to wooden snakes and fish, and they completed a scavenger hunt through the Wild Things exhibit.