Brick Store Museum

February Early Release Workshop
2024-02-07 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Brick Store Museum, 117 Main Street, Kennebunk, ME, 04043, United States
In this workshop students (grades 1– 5th) will complete Valentine’s Day art projects including a wool wrapped heart garland, canvas art painting, and heart collages. Students will enjoy games and a sweet treat.
Instructor: Mary Delehanty
Cost: $35 per student

Napkin Basket Weaving Class (Private)
2024-02-10 11:00 - 14:00
In the class the participant will make an everyday Napkin Basket.
The basket is made with various widths of reed splint. The participant will choose 2 colors to be added to the basket. The basket measures approximately 6 ½” x 6 ½” x 4”. The participant will learn the first steps of making a basket with a square open bottom. The participant will learn how to weave up the sides, finish off the top and lash on a rim. This basket is good for beginners.
Supplies needed for students to bring to class.
Basin for water
Pencil
Scissors
Awl or knitting needle
Tape measure or ruler
8 Spring Clothes pins
Towel
All other materials to make the basket will be provided including a pattern for the napkin basket.

All Things Paper
2024-02-13 15:30 - 17:00
Paper has been around for 2000 years and we’re going to explore all facets of it! We’ll make sheets of paper, create decorative marbled papers, create a beautiful paper bowl, and learn how to bind a small book.
Instructor: Gayle Fitzpatrick
Tuesdays 3:30—5:00 (1/23, 1/30, 2/6, & 2/13)
Ages 7-12
$100 for four weeks
*Class includes snack and students who attend Sea Road or Kennebunk Elementary will be transported directly from school.*

Dear Sarah: A Play of Historic Letters
2024-02-24 15:00 - 17:00
SOLD OUT!
[Please email info@brickstoremuseum.org if you are interested in an additional show!]
“Dear Sarah,” a play about the true Kennebunk love story of doomed sea captain Charles Barry and his wife Sarah, will be presented by the Brick Store Museum on Saturday, February 24 at 3:00pm, paired with light appetizers by Above & Beyond Catering and tastes of historic wines that the Barrys would have enjoyed in the mid-19th century.
The 50-minute show will cover two years of the married couple’s separation due to Captain Barry’s work as a sea captain from Kennebunk in the 1840s.
The play was crafted through Barry’s letters to his wife during his travels around the world, which are now held in the Museum’s Archives.
Captain Charles Barry was born in 1811 in Boston. He became a ship captain at an early age, and married Sarah, the oldest daughter of Kennebunk shipbuilder William Lord, in the 1840s. Throughout his years away from Sarah at sea, Barry continually wrote to her, describing what he saw, felt, and experienced. They couple had two young sons when Captain Barry and his ship, the William Lord, went missing after departing from South Carolina in 1850. He was never heard from again.
Tickets: $20 per person, $15 for Museum Members (reserve yours below!).
Supported by Marquee Sponsor Kennebunk Savings Bank

Preservation in Practice
2024-02-29 12:00 - 13:00
Preservation in Practice: Virtual Introduction to Historic Preservation
Thursday, February 2024 from 12pm – 1pm
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Summary:
Join Brad Miller from Maine Preservation as he introduces an overview of historic preservation, including the foundations, principles, people, and tools. This will be the first lecture to start our new, monthly “Your Old House: And Other Preservation Stories” series.
Bring your lunch and bring your questions as this will be an interactive, virtual event! There will be time for Q&A at the end of the presentation.
This is a free event that will be hosted on Zoom. Register in advance here.
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Presenter:
Brad Miller, Preservation Manager at Maine Preservation
Brad joins Maine Preservation with over eight years of experience in historic preservation. For the past five years, he worked with Indiana Landmarks, the country’s largest statewide, historic preservation non-profit organization. After a one-year stint as a Community Preservation Specialist, he served as Director of the Northwest Field Office, where he assisted communities, local governments, and property owners in preserving historic buildings in a four-county region. Prior to his work in Indiana, Brad worked with the Somerville, Massachusetts, Historic Preservation Commission and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Calumet Heritage Partnership, Indiana Lincoln Highway Association, and was the Cultural Resources Advisory Board Member for the Indiana Lake Michigan Coastal Program. Brad holds a M.A. in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University and a B.A. in History from Gettysburg College. When he’s not busy looking at old buildings, he enjoys hiking, ultimate frisbee, and sampling locally roasted coffee.
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Questions? Please email us at info@brickstoremuseum.org
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Please register for this free, virtual event here. Can’t make it after all? We will be e-mailing a copy of the presentation to all registered attendees!

Exploring the Past Forum
2024-03-02 10:00 - 14:00
Exploring the Past Forum: Diverse Perspectives in Archaeology
Saturday, March 2, 2024 from 10am – 2pm
(Inclement Weather Date: Sunday, March 3, 2024)
Lunch is included in cost, which supports stipends for visiting presenters.
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Summary:
Tim Spahr, ALM, Registered Professional Archaeologist and Principal Investigator for the Cape Porpoise Archaeological Alliance presents a forum for curious minds at all levels that seek to learn, discuss and share insights into the fascinating world of archaeology. Hosted at the Brick Store Museum.
Presenters:
Dr. Gemma Hudgell, Archaeologist, Co-owner and Assistant Director of the Northeast Archaeology Research Center (NE ARC).
Highly accomplished with extensive knowledge in archaeology of the UK, southern Africa, and the northeastern United States. Dr. Hudgell’s 18 years of consulting archaeology experience with top-notch cultural resource management services for clients throughout Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Elizabeth Kelley, MFA, is the Senior Artist for the Cape Porpoise Archaeological Alliance.
With drawings published in the Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, the Maine Archaeological Society Bulletin and educational websites, Elizabeth has played an important role in documenting the cultural landscape, features and artifacts of peoples who have occupied Cape Porpoise for 8,000 years. In this presentation, Elizabeth will share her experiences and techniques in utilizing art to document local findings in Maine.
Dr. Bonnie Newsom, is a member of the Penobscot Nation and an archaeologist interested in the pre-contact lifeways of Wabanaki peoples. She is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Associate Faculty in the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine.
Through a captivating blend of oral narratives and archaeological evidence, Dr. Newsom will delve into the deep connection between Wabanaki people and diverse bird species, shedding light on their cultural significance and the valuable insights they provide into past ecologies. Join us for an enlightening presentation titled “Birds in Wabanaki Pasts.”
Dawna Lamson, BA, Senior Field Archaeologist, Cape Porpoise Archaeological Alliance.
Dawna’s archaeological career began in high school only to learn she had a family history in archaeology. Dawna is a testament to the fact that archaeology spans across varied disciplines, making it an enriching and fulfilling journey for curious and sponge-like minds. Her passion for archaeology is evident in her ability to bring the past to life and connect people to the stories of those who came before us.
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Forum Agenda:
• Opening
• Presenters
• Lunch
• Presenters
• Expert Panel Discussion & Questions
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Questions? Please email us at info@brickstoremuseum.org
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Please register below by FEBRUARY 29! The Forum offers in-person and virtual streaming options.

March Early Release Workshop
2024-03-06 13:00 - 15:00
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This workshop will focus on creating sculptures from found and repurposed elements in the Kennebunk community. Students will learn about the life cycle of the items they are using.
$35 per participant
Instructor: Elizabeth Winter.

Felted Flower Workshop
2024-03-12 17:00 - 19:00, 2024-03-16 12:00 - 14:00
Learn to felt a colorful Calla Lilly bouquet to celebrate spring! This introduction to needle felting will teach basic felting skills and provide instruction to create your own Calla Lilly flowers. Participants will leave with a new knowledge of needle felting as well as long lasting bouquet of flowers ready to brighten any table top.
Cost: $35
Instructor: Sarah Soleau

Artistic Adventures
2024-03-13 15:30 - 17:00, 2024-03-27 15:30 - 17:00, 2024-04-10 15:30 - 17:00
Wednesdays 3:30 – 5:00
(March 13th, March 20th, March 27th, April 10th)
Grades 3-5
In this class we’ll draw and paint what we see, and what we can imagine and dream about. Students will become familiar with using various materials: markers, charcoal, pastels, colored pencils, while learning skills and techniques.
Students will be transported from Sea Road School directly to the Brick Store Museum after school.
$85 for four week session.
Instructor: Gayle Fitzpatrick

Artistic Adventures
2024-03-20 15:30 - 17:00
In this class we’ll draw and paint what we see, and what we can imagine and dream about. Students will become familiar with using various materials: markers, charcoal, pastels, colored pencils, while learning skills and techniques.
Students will be transported from Sea Road School directly to the Brick Store Museum after school.
$85 for four week session.
Instructor: Gayle Fitzpatrick

How Old is My House
2024-03-21 12:00 - 13:00
How Old is My House?
Thursday, March 21 from 12pm – 1pm
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Summary:
Have you ever wondered how old your home really is? Do you wonder if the date written over the door is accurate? How do we know? And where do we begin? Join Preservation Architect and Historian, Bryce Waldrop, as we explore the historic records to help us better understand when and how your home came to be.
Using local examples, Bryce will guide us through historic maps, photographs, deeds, census and tax records, genealogy data, and your house itself, in order to get closer to that elusive date, all the while shedding light on the people and stories that inhabited its rooms. Accurate dating not only connects us to our home’s origins, it provides valuable information for understanding our community story.
Bring your lunch and bring your questions as this will be an interactive, virtual event! There will be time for Q&A at the end of the presentation.
Join us in this second lecture in our new, monthly “Your Old House: And Other Preservation Stories” series.
This is a free event that will be hosted on Zoom. Register in advance here.
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Presenter:
Bryce Waldrop, Executive Director of the Historical Society of Wells and Ogunquit
Bryce Waldrop has been the Executive Director of the Historical Society of Wells and Ogunquit since 2020. Prior to joining the HSWO, Bryce was a Preservation Architect for over twenty years, specializing in architectural history. He holds a Masters in Building Conservation, is a certified Small Museum Pro, and has worked on preservation projects throughout the northeast and mid-Atlantic. Bryce resides in York, Maine with his wife and daughters, where he serves on the Historic District Commission.
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Questions? Please email us at info@brickstoremuseum.org

April Early Release Workshop
2024-04-03 13:00 - 15:00
Potions and Spell Mini Spell Books
Participants will enjoy creating mini books and recipes with natural materials to create potions and fill their books. A portion of this class will be held outside – weather permitting.
All materials are provided. Students should wear comfortable clothes that are able to get messy.
Instructor: Elizabeth Winter
Grades: 1-5
Cost: $35

"An Independent Life: The Story of Edith Barry" Event
2024-04-06 15:00 - 17:00
Rescheduled to Saturday, April 6th from 3pm – 5pm
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The Brick Store Museum was founded in 1936 by an artist named Edith Barry. In March 2024, she would have turned 140 years old. Edith led a unique life, especially considering women’s lives and positions in society in the early 20th century. Having never married, she traveled the world until the end of her life and painted hundreds of artworks along the way.
This specially-crafted event features a one-on-one discussion between Executive Director Cynthia Walker and Elizabeth Grant, who played the ghost of Edith Barry during the All Souls’ Walk, exploring the life of Edith Barry; an up-close exploration of Edith’s own artifacts in the Museum’s collections (family memorabilia, clothing, travel souvenirs, photographs, and artworks); and complimented by a dessert bar of treats made from Edith’s Cookbook, a real cookbook used by Edith Barry in her home kitchen in the mid-20th Century.
This event raises funds to support Edith’s legacy of museum education and access for all.
Tickets below!

Wicked Good Fiddling: Concert! | SOLD OUT
2024-04-17 19:30 - 20:30
THIS CONCERT IS SOLD OUT!
A concert on April 17 featuring the Pine Tree Flyers and NEA National Heritage Fellows Don & Cindy Roy will showcase the rich, living traditions of Maine fiddling.
The Flyers are a relatively new quartet of well-seasoned musicians who put a fresh, contemporary spin on traditional New England dance music. The group recently released its first CD. Don & Cindy Roy have long been the leading exponents of Maine’s Franco-American musical heritage. Don’s virtuoso fiddling and Cindy’s steady, rhythmic piano accompaniment, plus her top-notch step-dancing, have delighted audiences at festivals and concerts nationwide.
Please purchase tickets in ADVANCE. Due to limited seating, we may sell out prior to the event.

Location: Brick Store Museum Program Center
Start: 7:30pm
Stop into the Museum starting at 6pm to tour the Wicked Good Fiddling exhibit before the concert!
Snacks and beverages will be available for sale at the Museum Concessions Stand in the Bauman Gallery.

This concert is supported by the Onion Foundation.

Paper Marbling Adult Workshop
2024-04-20 13:00 - 15:00
Paper Marbling
Discover this centuries-old method of creating decorative papers useful in various projects, such as handmade books, scrapbooking, cards, boxes, picture frames and more. Learn about the materials and processes that will allow you to pursue and expand the possibilities of this craft for future projects. This workshop is for adults 18+.
Cost: $35
Instructor: Gayle Fitzpatrick

Shashiko Mending
2024-04-23 17:00 - 19:00
Learn to Shashiko or “ visible mending”. Basic sewing skills will be taught and a Shashiko mending demonstration will give sewers an example of the Japanese art of Shashiko. Work on Sashiko stitches and leave with a decorated denim patch to mend your favorite denim and a new knowledge of visible mending. Feel free to bring something denim from home if you want help or ideas to mend!

History in Your Own Backyard
2024-04-25 12:00 - 13:00
History in Your Own Backyard
Thursday, April 25 from 12pm – 1pm
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Summary:
From settlement subsistence through twentieth-century extravagances, experience an armchair tour of Maine’s rich garden legacy, uncovering the unique qualities that define each stylistic tradition. Then, see how these traditions inspire our contemporary design process, celebrating the past with a fresh new perspective. Combining history, horticulture, and landscape design, this lecture has something for everyone. Make history come alive in your own backyard!
This is a virtual event! There will be time for Q&A at the end of the presentation.
Join us in this third lecture in our monthly “Your Old House: And Other Preservation Stories” series.
This is a free event that will be hosted on Zoom. Register in advance here.
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Presenter:
Lucinda A. Brockway, Part-time principal and owner of Past Designs LLC
Past Designs LLC is a landscape preservation and design firm in Kennebunk, Maine. An award-winning landscape designer and preservationist, Brockway serves a national clientele, including The National Trust, the Newport Restoration Foundation, and numerous state and federal preservation agencies. Today she also works full time as Senior Director of Cultural Resources for The Trustees of Reservations, leading public garden, and cultural landscape preservation across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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Questions? Please email us at info@brickstoremuseum.org

May Basket Class
2024-04-27 12:00 - 15:00
April 27
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Instructor: Kathy Polletto
Participants in the class will make a May Day Basket. May Day Baskets were a popular tradition in the Victorian era. On May Day a person would fill a basket with flowers, go to a friend or neighbor’s house, hang the basket on their door knob, ring the doorbell and run away. When the person answers they have a May Day Surprise.
Description
The basket is a small round hanging basket that will hang on a door knob. The basket is 9″ high including the handle and 3 – 3 1/2 inches wide. . It is made with various types of reed splint. Participants will have a choice of colors to add to their basket. The participants will learn how to start off a base for a round basket. They will also learn how to twine the bottom and over and under weaving and how to attach the handle and rim. This basket is good for beginners.
Max, # of students 8
Min, # of students 5
Supplies needed for class
Basin for water
pencil
good pair of scissors
Awl or knitting needle
Tape measure
4 spring clothes pins
towel.

May Day Early Release Workshop
2024-05-01 13:00 - 15:00
Wednesday, May 1
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
$35
Join us for a May day craft day! Students will practice their weaving skills while we create bright woven baskets and crepe paper flowers. Students will leave with their own woven basket and bouquet of paper flowers to celebrate May day!
Instructor: Sarah Soleau

Historic District Walking Tour
2024-05-02 10:30 - 11:30, 2024-05-09 10:30 - 11:30
Thursdays at 10:30am
This outdoor walking tour of Kennebunk’s National Register Historic District features 200 years of structures and stories (on one street!), and shares the stories of the people that lived inside the homes. Tours depart from the Museum lobby.
Time: 60 – 90 minutes
Distance: About a mile on sidewalks and flat terrain.
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More information:
Please wear comfortable walking shoes.
If the forecast on the day of your walk calls for rain, please contact the Museum in advance to make sure the walk is still scheduled. Email: info@brickstoremuseum.org OR call: (207)985-4802. If the walk is postponed, you will have the choice to reschedule or receive a refund.
Where to go:
This tour begins at the Brick Store Museum. Please arrive about 5 minutes prior to the tour start.
PARKING: Parking is available in front of the Museum; in the town lot (free!) next to the Museum; and along Main Street (also free).
To be notified about this schedule, please join our mailing list.

May Day at the Brick Store Museum
2024-05-04 10:00 - 17:00
The Brick Store Museum invites you to come in to make your own May Basket, learn the art of origami, and create spring crafts from 10:00 – 12:00. While you are here check out our current exhibits which include the Dwellings Project, Wicked Good Fiddling, and Sea of Stories.
Free Admission.

Historic District Walking Tour
2024-05-04 12:00 - 13:00, 2024-05-11 12:00 - 13:00
Saturdays at 12:00pm
This outdoor walking tour of Kennebunk’s National Register Historic District features 200 years of structures and stories (on one street!), and shares the stories of the people that lived inside the homes. Tours depart from the Museum lobby.
Time: 60 – 90 minutes
Distance: About a mile on sidewalks and flat terrain.
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More information:
Please wear comfortable walking shoes.
If the forecast on the day of your walk calls for rain, please contact the Museum in advance to make sure the walk is still scheduled. Email: info@brickstoremuseum.org OR call: (207)985-4802. If the walk is postponed, you will have the choice to reschedule or receive a refund.
Where to go:
This tour begins at the Brick Store Museum. Please arrive about 5 minutes prior to the tour start.
PARKING: Parking is available in front of the Museum; in the town lot (free!) next to the Museum; and along Main Street (also free).
To be notified about this schedule, please join our mailing list.

Imagine That! Three Centuries of Kennebunk Commerce Tour
2024-05-07 10:30 - 11:30
Offered weekly:

Tuesdays at 10:30am

This outdoor walking tour of Kennebunk’s Main Street features three centuries of commercial history. Start at the Brick Store Museum (itself part of the town’s commercial history!) and explore the history of commerce and trade that occurred on Main Street over the past 300 years. Tour ends at the Lafayette Mill at Storer Street (visitors can return to the Museum or support local shops downtown!).

Time: 60 – 90 minutes

Distance: About half a mile on sidewalks.

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More information:

Please wear comfortable walking shoes.
If the forecast on the day of your walk calls for rain, please contact the Museum in advance to make sure the walk is still scheduled. Email: info@brickstoremuseum.org OR call: (207)985-4802. If the walk is postponed, you will have the choice to reschedule or receive a refund.
Where to go:

This tour begins at the Brick Store Museum. Please arrive about 5 minutes prior to the tour start.
PARKING: Parking is available in front of the Museum; in the town lot (free!) next to the Museum; and along Main Street (also free).
To be notified about this schedule, please join our mailing list.

History of Fiddling in Maine Lecture
2024-05-07 16:00 - 17:00
On Tuesday, May 7, at 4:00 p.m., Paul Wells, curator of the “Wicked Good Fiddling” exhibit currently on display at the Brick Store Museum, will speak at the museum about the history of fiddling in Maine. Wells will expand on some of the topics highlighted in the exhibit and illustrate his talk with photos and musical examples.
This event will also serve as the book launch for “The Maine Musical Compendium,” of which Wells is the author. It is a book of fiddle tunes drawn from published and manuscript music collections that were created in the 1820s, the era when Maine achieved independent statehood. The tunebook is a joint publication of the Museum and Mousam River Music. It is currently available in the Museum Store or directly from Paul at the book launch!
Admission to this lecture – and the exhibitions! – is free thanks to sponsorship by William Lord and Kennebunk Savings Bank!

Nature's Canvas: Felting Landscapes Adult Workshop
2024-05-14 17:00 - 19:00
Come practice your needle felting skills or learn to make a needle felted composition. Students will work on a flat 4 x 6 wool surface to create a needle felted “painting”. Feel free to bring a picture or inspiration from home. Students will leave with a drift wood framed needle felted painting ready to hang!

Instructor: Sarah Soleau
