IN THE SHADOW OF THE EAGLE
New Abbe Exhibit Soars with Wabanaki Voices, Vision, and History (Plus, upcoming Dawnland Festival of the Arts' lineup)
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Psychiatry.
BAR HARBOR—They gathered in the Abbe Museum after hours, greeted at the door by smiling volunteers and name tags before heading down the hall toward the members-only opening reception for In the Shadow of the Eagle.
Through glass doors, members (who also receive free admission to the museum) and Abbe supporters entered rooms full of mastery and contemporary art that pays homage to the Wabanaki Nations’ space and place in the narrative of the United States.
The exhibit comes when the United States “marks 250 years since its founding,” the Abbe website explains.
“This is … this is … wow … this is beautiful,” one woman whispered as she stared at a basket made by Caleb Hoffman (Penobscot/Cherokee Nation).
“Is that Caleb?” another woman whispered, gesturing toward where Hoffman stood near his basket, having his photo taken.
“It is,” said one of the Abbe staff.
It was a moment where artist and art met Abbe member, a moment where those women could not only see the skill and artistry involved in creating something remarkable, but also be near the person who created it.
Hoffman has created baskets since he was eight, learning the weaving from his mother, Theresa Secord. He has apprenticed with Jeremy Frey (Passamaquoddy). His basket "Embers." received the Best of Basketry prize in the Santa Fe Indian Market in 2024.
“The exhibit title is drawn from co-curator Donna Loring’s (Penobscot Nation) book that candidly chronicles time spent as a Tribal Representative for Maine. Joining the curatorial team are historian Dr. Darren Ranco (Penobscot Nation) and Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Curator Siera Hyte (Cherokee Nation),” according to exhibit information. “Using the Semiquincentennial and Wabanaki involvement in the Revolutionary War as a jumping off point, In the Shadow of the Eagle focuses on important themes such as military service, treaties, and self-governance. The exhibition features incredible new artworks by leading Wabanaki artists alongside important historical belongings, and loans of work by important Native artists from outside the Dawnlands.”
According to wording on a main panel of the exhibit, “For generations, the eagle has remained sacred to the Wabanaki. While different origin stories speak of its beginnings, one truth remains: the eagle is a protector, a guide. Our ancestors see through its eyes, their spirits carried within its wings. The eagle watches, remembers, and bears witness to our lives. It appears when we need strength, offering comfort and endurance.
“The eagle soars higher than all other birds, rising above the clouds, above creation itself-serving as a messenger between the earth and the heavens. Its feathers are sacred, imbued with spiritual energy, symbols of power, honor, and connection to the divine.
“From the time of the glaciers to the present day, the eagle has guided us. To the Wabanaki, it represents resilience, wisdom, and the unbreakable bond between our people and our ancestors. It is a sign of protection, success, and perseverance.
“Through the eyes of the eagle, we view our history. We have endured. We have flourished. And under the shadow of the eagle's protection, our story continues.”
Show curator, Donna Loring, spoke about just some of her experiences as she served in the military and was in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive as well as the Maine State Legislature.
As Abbe Director of Advancement Sharon Catus explained, Loring’s comments are “always with frank honesty and even with humour sprinkled amongst the candor.”
The panel also included Abbe Museum Executive Director and Senior Partner with Wabanaki Nations Betsy Richards (Cherokee Nation) talking about the exhibit’s origins.
One of the show's commissioned artists, Hoffman spoke of the process he used to make a basket that was included in the show.
The exhibition was made possible with the generous support of the Terra Foundation for American Art.
BENEFITS OF AN ABBE MEMBERSHIP
According to the Abbe’s website, “For over ninety years the Abbe Museum has changed lives through learning – challenging perspectives and encouraging our visitors to consider alternate viewpoints.”
Membership at the Abbe Museum includes invites to exclusive events such as the opening reception for In the Shadow of the Eagle.
Members also get free admission to the museum and therefore can pop in and out whenever they are downtown, or on their lunch breaks, to take in the new exhibits a little bit at a time as well as having an entire hour, the first Friday of each month, in which it is members-only for an hour before regular admission.
During "Members Coffee Hour" staff and volunteers serve pastries and coffee and members can enjoy the exhibits in the relative quiet before the start of the business day.
Different membership levels receive different benefits.
All new or renewing members at the $75 Level will receive the following member benefits:
Free admission for two adults and children under 18 living in the same household.
10% discount on Abbe Shop purchases (excludes online shop)
Advance notice of Museum programs, and invitations to member only experiences and events.
Members renewing at the $125 Level will receive all of the above including:
Free admission to museums in the North American Reciprocal Museums (NARM) program.
Free subscription to First American Art Magazine, published four times a year.
At the museum’s upcoming Dawnland Festival of Arts and Ideas, there will likely be a drawing that only members can enter to win a private tour of the museum’s archives with Curator of Exhibits & Collections Dr. Aaron Miller.
So, there’s lots of “extras” for members.
UPCOMING DAWNLAND FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND IDEAS
Press release follows…
The Abbe Museum’s Dawnland Festival of Arts & Ideas has announced its full lineup of market and featured performers for this year’s event, taking place July 12-13, 2025, on the campus of College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine. These performances are a key element of this free outdoor event, celebrating Native cultures through music, movement, and storytelling.
The 2025 schedule features traditional and contemporary storytelling, music, and dance that resonate across generations and geographies. These performances are part of a weekend that also includes panel discussions, Native artisan market shopping, and family-friendly programming, all presented by the Abbe Museum.
Saturday, July 12, 2025 - Performer Schedule
(All performances to take place on the campus of the College of the Atlantic)
9 a.m. - Market Opens
10-10:30 a.m. - Market Performance: Hawk Henries (Nipmuck)
Hawk has been composing original music and making Eastern Woodlands flutes with hand tools for over 30 years. He plays a variety of flutes and shares his experiences, creating a calming yet engaging atmosphere with a touch of humor. He has presented at prestigious venues, including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and enjoys engaging audiences of all ages.
11-11:30 a.m. - Market Performance: Jennifer Pictou (Mi’kmaq Nation)
Jennifer Pictou, a member of the Mi'kmaq Nation, is an artist and a traditional storyteller with a diverse background as a museum director, tribal historic preservation officer, and historian. Her true passion lies in leading tours and sharing stories, connecting people to Maine's landscape and Wabanaki cultures. She is the founder of Bar Harbor Ghost Tours, which has been recognized by USA Today as one of the top ten ghost tours in the country for seven years.
1-1:45 p.m. - Featured Performance: Ty Defoe (Ojibwe + Oneida Nations)
A Grammy Award-winning interdisciplinary artist and writer, Ty Defoe moves fluidly across mediums and movements. His work has been recognized with fellowships from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, MacDowell, Sundance Institute, and as a Trans Futurist with the Pop Culture Collaborative. Ty is also a recipient of the Jonathan Larson Award, a Grammy Award, and the Helen Merrill Playwriting Award. Ty creates across landscapes—from rural communities to Broadway stages to the metaverse—building relationships that center Indigenous and decolonial futures. He currently serves as Professor of Practice at Arizona State University and Writer-in-Residence at PACE.
5 p.m. - Festival Close
Sunday, July 13, 2025 - Performer Schedule
(All performances to take place on the campus of the College of the Atlantic)
9 a.m. - Market Opens
10-10:30 a.m. - Market Performance: Minquansis Sapiel (Passamaquoddy)
Minquansis Sapiel is a member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe from Sipayik. She is a published author of a Children’s Book called “Little People of the Dawn,” which was illustrated by her daughter Minsoss Sapiel-Bobadilla. As a self-employed storyteller, she strives to provide people with a better understanding of Wabanaki History and Culture.
11-11:30 a.m. - Market Performance: David Lonebear Sanipass (Mi’kmaq Nation)
David Lonebear Sanipass is a Mi’kmaq storyteller, flutemaker, and artist. His grandfather taught him how to carve flutes when he was nine years old, and even today, David tunes all of his flutes using the same song his grandfather used all those years ago. He incorporates this rich background into his storytelling, encouraging listeners of all ages to discover new and different ways to see and experience the world.
1-1:45 p.m. - Featured Performance: Cipelahq Ehpicik - Thunderbird Women
Cipelahq Ehpicik – a Passamaquoddy women’s drum group from Sipayik (Pleasant Point) – They drum, sing, and dance for the people as a way to heal and a way to stay connected to their ancestors. Barbara Paul, the lead for the group and keeper of the tribe’s sacred drum, says, “The drum is the heartbeat of our people.”
5 p.m. - Festival Close
All panels and performances are free and open to the public. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to pre-registered attendees.
Register at www.DawnlandFestival.org.
Assistance with registration is available by calling Abbe Museum at (207) 288-3519 or emailing info@abbemusuem.org.
All photos: Carrie Jones/Bar Harbor Story
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Brochures of Maine.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ABBE
To become a member of the Abbe and for other ways to support the museum.
For more about the upcoming Dawnland Festival.
For more about In the Shadow of the Eagle.
For a link to Donna Loring’s book.
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