CALENDAR of EVENTS 2020

Demonstrations -

Events -

Home & Away - Monthly Homeschool Program

Back by popular demand, the Home & Away homeschool program by the Wilson Museum returns one Friday a month through April (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Structured for ages 4 to 14, each three-hour session is inspired by the Museum's worldwide collection and local history as well as the community's educational resources. Included will be a break for lunch (please bring your own). Some sessions will include a local field trip and some sessions will include a guest presenter.

Reservations are required ($10 per child) in advance of each session and space is limited. Reserve a spot up to three weeks before each month's session. Make reservations by calling 207-326-9247 or by emailing info@wilsonmuseum.org.

Home & Away will occur on the second Friday of each month from October through April. Unless otherwise noted, sessions will begin in the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center located at 112 Perkins Street, Castine, ME.

Make a Mini Greenhouse with the Castine Garden Club

On Tuesday, January 14, 10 a.m. to noon, members of the Castine Garden Club will offer a program on making mini-greenhouses from plastic water jugs, co-sponsored by the Wilson Museum. Kathleen Eaton and Marty Tenney, both Master Gardeners, will lead the program, to be held at the Museum's Hutchins Education Center. The greenhouses will be seeded with native perennials from the Wild Seed Project, including New England Aster, Bell Flower, Blue Stem Goldenrod, and Spotted Bee Balm.

Participants will each leave with a sown greenhouse and instructions for wintering it over in the garden, potting the seedlings up in the spring, and transferring the plants to the garden in the fall. Each participant should bring an empty, clean plastic water jug (not a milk or juice jug, as residues can cause mold and affect germination). All other materials and seeds will be supplied by the Garden Club. This program is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to ensure that enough supplies will be on hand by calling the Wilson Museum at 326-9247 or emailing info@wilsonmuseum.org.

For more information contact Jane Saltsman at 207-801-8450 or janesaltsman@yahoo.com.

Play Around the World February Vacation Day Camp

Try your hands, hips, and feet at games and activities enjoyed in Ethiopia, Bolivia, and Germany, just to name a few, during the Wilson Museum's 2020 February Vacation Day Camp, Play around the World. Camp will run Tuesday, February 18 through Friday, February 21 (8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) for grades 1 - 8 at the Hutchins Education Center.

Inspired by the Museum's collections, campers will be exposed to how people have entertained themselves across continuents as they play games from North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Games and activities will take place both inside and outside so children should bring clothing appropriate for the weather. Students are asked to bring their own snacks and lunch. Parents are encouraged to attend and participate.

Cost per child is $15 for all four days or $5 per day for individual days. Space is limited, advanced payment is required.

Native Plants for Your Maine Garden

Spring will soon be in the air, so let's talk about Native Plants for Your Maine Garden! Castine Garden Club President Jane Saltsman will lead an informal discussion based upon the book Native Plants for Your Maine Garden by Maureen Heffernan, first published in 2010 by Down East Magazine/Books. This event, co-sponsored by the Wilson Museum, will take place on Tuesday, March 10 (10 a.m. to noon), at the Museum's Hutchins Education Center. In her book, author Maureen Heffernan, former Executive Director of the Maine Botanical Gardens, provides good descriptions of individual plants, best locations for them, as well as some sample garden plans. Free and open to the public, we hope attendees will read the book and join the conversation by sharing their experiences with Maine native plants.

For more information contact Jane Saltsman at 207-801-8450 or janesaltsman@yahoo.com.

Windchime Demonstration with Jess Morehouse

Follow the melodious sound of windchimes to a special demonstration on July 19 from 2-5 p.m. at the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center. Windchime artist, Jess Morehouse, will discuss the materials and show the stages of creating his unique style of windchimes.

Jess started making windchimes over 35 years ago. His appreciation for art and fine craft, combined with his love of people, led him to start his own gallery which evolved into the Sand Castle Ocean and Nature Store. Now retired, his windchimes are displayed in artist co-ops in Lincolnville Beach and Southwest Harbor.

Needle Felting Demonstration with Lyn Mayewski

Witness the art of needle felting by special guest Lyn Mayewski on Wednesday, July 22 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center. During this demonstration, learn how Lyn makes needle felted objects and critters using wool roving and barbed needles. Lyn's completed felted pieces will be on display.

Lyn Mayewski discovered the joy of needle felting through a Castine Arts Association workshop taught by Bob Nichols of Belfast. While Lyn had been working in metal jewelry, painting, and wet felting for many years, she had never tried needle felting. When friends asked her to teach them, she explained that she had just tried it out, but they could learn together. That has led to several fun years of exploring the craft. Lyn is a juried member of the Maine Crafts Association for both her jewelry and for needle felting. She sells her work through the MCA shops, Chapter Two (Corea, Maine), and Gallery B in Castine.

Collecting Castine 2020

Though there are many unknowns this year, we do know that our community is filled with amazing people of great kindness, optimism, perseverance, and talent. This is why we are moving forward with our plans for Collecting Castine 2020, so save the date - August 3 (5-7 p.m.)! We are excited to be honoring Goody-B Wiseman for her artistic excellence and for her dedicated support of the art community by way of Gallery b. and the Annex. As always, we will highlight our talented Castine artists and enjoy a fabulous evening of good fun and food. We are changing things up a bit, in keeping with this year's trend, so check back for more details as we move into summer.

Basketry Demonstration with Pamela Rackliffe Capurso

Witness the art of basket making by special guest Pamela Rackliffe Capurso on Sunday, August 9 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Wilson Museum. In the spirit of Maine's Bicentennial, Pam has created beautiful baskets commemorating Maine's 200th birthday. Assembled bread and market baskets will be on display and available for purchase on site.

For 34 years, Pamela Rackliffe Capurso was a florist and horticulturist before she sold her business in 2006 and moved with her husband to Goodnight Farm in Brooksville, where they grow a variety of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. She began weaving simple baskets to sell at local farmer's markets. As she has grown more proficient at basketry, Pamela has continued to develop the form and function of her baskets. She sells her baskets online, at the local farmer's market, and at the Wilson Museum Store. You can visit her website at www.basketsofmaine.com.

WILSON MUSEUM Open: May 27 - September 30 Weekdays 10 am - 5 pm, Saturday & Sunday 2 - 5 pm John Perkins House The Village Blacksmith Woodshop July - August, Wednesday & Sunday, 2 - 5 pm Group visits can be arranged by appointment. (207) 326-9247   info@wilsonmuseum.org Admission is free, except for the John Perkins House, where there are guided tours on the hour. Back to Top