THINGS TO DO ON MDI THIS WEEK
And in the near future.
It’s our weekly round-up, and I may have missed some things, so apologies! If you have something you’d like in here, please let me know.
We hope you have some great adventures this week! To see our Acadia Adventures tab of stories and awesome MDI and ANP things and information, click here. We’re still building it, but it’s getting there.
To check out our news stories from the past week. Click on the archive section and you’ll see them in chronological order.
THIS WEEK:
MDI BIO LAB EVENTS THIS WEEK: Homecoming
Calling all members of the MDI Bio Lab community – former students, visiting faculty and families, board members, supporters and friends – to join us for Homecoming Week (July 22 – 25) for an opportunity to return to campus, reconnect with old friends and meet new ones, and learn what’s new at the Lab:
On Monday, July 22 at 4:00 pm, we will celebrate the life of John Forrest, M.D., long-time scientist, mentor and Director of the Lab from 1998 - 2009. Email events@mdibl.org to register.
On Wednesday, July 24 at 5:00 pm, Star Point Society members and guests are invited to join us for cocktails and conversation with Dr. Romain Madelaine and his team about their research on retinal disease. Email events@mdibl.org to register.
The 126th Annual Corporation Meeting and luncheon will be held on Thursday, July 25 at 10:00 am. Head to our events page for details. See you soon!
MONDAY, JULY 22
ArtWaves often has classes, a variety every week. For the updated selection, check out its website here.
2024 Summer Concert Series
Band concerts on the Green: A Bar Harbor tradition since 1898. All concerts begin at 7:30 PM and are one hour in length, taking place on the Bar Harbor Village Green. Free and fun for all ages! Concerts will be held rain or shine! In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be held at the neighboring Bar Harbor Congregational Church.
ART OF ANN JONES BENEFIT
At Southwest Harbor Public Library from July 12 to July 27, will be “The Art of Ann Jones,” an art show and library benefit with artwork by multimedia artist Ann Jones.
All proceeds from the sale of artwork will benefit the library. These pieces have been generously donated for the benefit by Ann’s family.
A native of Westport, Connecticut, Ann Jones painted scenes of Mount Desert Island since her arrival in 1978. A resident of Bernard for many years, she is well known for her large sweeping landscapes of the island, her series created out of isolated interests including discarded pails, pots, and enamelware, and island gardens. She had a gallery in Southwest Harbor, Northeast Harbor, and recently in Bernard. This will include oil paintings and several of her series including found items sculptures, and multimedia collages.
CLIMATE SOLUTIONS JAMBOREE
ISLESFORD—A Climate Solutions Jamboree will be on Monday, July 22, 4-8:30 p.m., at the Islesford Arts & Technology Park on Little Cranberry Island. Speakers will discuss climate solutions. There will also be live music.
The festival is free and hosted by A Climate To Thrive and Sam Shaw. Snacks and drinks will be available for a small fee per item. Those attending are encouraged to dress festively.
According to its website:
“Event-specific transportation has been organized from Northeast Harbor with a fee of $10 each direction. Ferry reservations are available and encouraged, as boats filled very quickly last year.
“Reserve a spot at https://tinyurl.com/ykcpe3km.
“In addition, Isles-ford Dock Restaurant will accommodate private boats at its dock for the evening. If folks are heading out with boats and have space for others to join, let organizers know at admin@ aclimatetothrive.org.”
Event Schedule
Speakers at the 10 Spot Stage:
4-4:30 p.m.: Amanda Joy Ravenhill: “A Vision of TMRW”
4:30-5 p.m.: Angie Flores: “Exploring Community Resilience”
5-5:30 p.m.: Brianna Cun-liffe: “Community-Driven Climate Action for the Win!”
6:30-7 p.m.: Andrew Revkin: “Covering the Climate, from the International to Local”
7-7:30 p.m.: Johannah Blackman: “Hope in Action”
4:45-5:45 p.m.: Sydney Patten Solo Piano
6-6:45 p.m.: Clare Monfredo Solo Cello
7:15-8:15 p.m.: Nate Shaw Jazz combo
7:30-8 p.m.: Vaughan Woodruff: “The Human Element of the Energy Transition”
Music at the Spiral Stage:
5:30-6:15 p.m.: King Tide 6:45-7:30 p.m.: Hannah Mohan
7:45-8:30 p.m.: Hannah Mohan
For more information, including speaker bios, and to register, visit https://www.aclimatetothrive.org/jamboree
Divine Play Yoga at the Neighborhood House
Mon/Wed; 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Cost: $15/class
with Mike Bouscaren
Dear Yogis,
You’ll recall that our flow yoga classes progressively tease out more body aliveness and mental acuity in you. And they’re fun!
For one hour you alone as do others around you, return to the grounded center that is the unburdened original self. Freer in every way.
You’ll walk away feeling more open, calmer, and sharp. And mightily prepared for whatever the day throws at you.
Divine Play yoga invites you to shine, to be your best, to transform into a Beacon of Joy. It works!
Two Hands Together,
Mike Bouscaren
Register: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=19801383
Monday events via the Bar Harbor Chamber:
TUESDAY, JULY 23
BAR HARBOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY!
Plein Air Painting Course with Rob Finn
La Rochelle, 127, West Street, Bar Harbor, Maine, 04609, United States
This course runs from July 23-26 from 9 AM - 12 PM with an hour break, resuming at 1 PM - 4 PM
This four-day course will teach participants of all skill levels the basics of outdoor painting from nature with watercolors. We’ll build on drawing skills, establishing proper proportions, sighting space and distance and explore different styles of expression through color and composition.
During the week we’ll explore the Bar Harbor Historical Society campus and nearby areas of Bar Harbor and MDI to find areas with exciting landscapes, flora, architecture and even figures. We’ll be open to whatever subjects and styles people would like to investigate.
Paper, paint, and brushes will be provided. Advanced participants are encouraged to bring their own field easels but lap painting will be the standard.
Each day will start with quick drawing to loosen up the creative muscles and examination of works by masters of the art such as Sargent, Homer and Wyeth. Each day will end with group discussion of progress and goals.
Ticket link: https://ticketscandy.com/e/plein-air-painting-course-723-726-4424
WINE AND WHISKERS FOR THE SPCA OF HANCOCK COUNTY!
ARTWAVES
ArtWaves often has classes, a variety every week. For the updated selection, check out its website here
For more information, click here.
Mat Pilates at the Neighborhood House
Cost: $15/class
Tue/Thu/Sat at 9:15am; starts June 29
with Hillary Kennedy
Mat Pilates is perfect for anyone looking to build a strong and balanced body while improving flexibility and energy levels. All experience levels are welcomed and encouraged to participate in Hillary's classes. In addition to group classes, Hillary also is available for individual instruction including use of the reformer and other apparatuses in our lower level studio. For information on booking an individual session, please contact Hillary or our main office.
Tuesday events via the Chamber:
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24
Lighthouses and light keepers
Come enjoy a tour of lighthouses and the life of their lighthouse keepers. Tour these beautiful lighthouses thru the eyes and stories told by Lyle and Dennis Devers, both retired members of the USCG. Come enjoy a slide show and stories of living in a lighthouse and it’s responsibility.
Jul 24 at 6:00PM - 7:15PM
Manset Meetinghouse, home of the Southwest Harbor Historical Society 192 Seawall Road, Southwest Harbor.
BAR HARBOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY GUIDED TOURS
Divine Play Yoga at the Neighborhood House
Mon/Wed; 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Cost: $15/class
with Mike Bouscaren
Dear Yogis,
You’ll recall that our flow yoga classes progressively tease out more body aliveness and mental acuity in you. And they’re fun!
For one hour you alone as do others around you, return to the grounded center that is the unburdened original self. Freer in every way.
You’ll walk away feeling more open, calmer, and sharp. And mightily prepared for whatever the day throws at you.
Divine Play yoga invites you to shine, to be your best, to transform into a Beacon of Joy. It works!
Two Hands Together,
Mike Bouscaren
Register: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=19801383
Weekly Save Our Summits Hikes
Do you want to be a #SoilHero by hiking up a mountain AND helping Acadia’s efforts to restore summit vegetation? Friends of Acadia is partnering with the park and Schoodic Institute to host a weekly Save Our Summits Volunteer Program, every Wednesday from June through September. This program invites tenacious hikers to bring bags of soil to the summits of Penobscot and Sargent Mountains to help with restoration efforts. Hikes run from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., weather permitting. Advanced registration is required.
Register and learn more about how to prepare for the event her
Wednesday events via the Chamber:
THURSDAY, JULY 25
Saving Sick & Injured Wild Animals, with Acadia Wildlife Center’s Tony Mullane, Thursday, July 25 at 7 p.m.
BAR HARBOR—The Jesup Memorial library is excited to host an upcoming presentation by Tony Mullane, the newly appointed executive director of the Acadia Wildlife Center, on the Center's mission to rehabilitate sick and injured native wildlife in Maine. The event will highlight Tony’s unique upbringing, from catching eagles, to feeding baby squirrels, to pushing a moose calf through the woods. Tony will also discuss the Center's pivotal role in preserving Maine’s ecosystems and will be showing several educational animals!
Acadia Wildlife Center, established in 1994, is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sick and injured native wildlife in Maine. Through education and community engagement, the Center promotes awareness of wildlife conservation and the importance of preserving natural habitats.
This event is free and open to the public. Reserve your seat here: https://www.jesuplibrary.org/events/awc
2024 Summer Concert Series
Band concerts on the Green: A Bar Harbor tradition since 1898. All concerts begin at 7:30 PM and are one hour in length, taking place on the Bar Harbor Village Green. Free and fun for all ages! Concerts will be held rain or shine! In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be held at the neighboring Bar Harbor Congregational Church.
Book Sale at Northeast Harbor Library
Book Sale, 3:30-5 p.m.,
Northeast Harbor Library. Proceeds benefit the library. 276-3333.
Come discover the Northeast Harbor Library’s Book Sale Down Under, which is open year 'round. Well organized, there is something for everyone, including books, DVDs, audios, a children’s section and a collector’s shelf with all sorts of interesting offerings. The cost is by donation. The hours for the sale are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5 p.m. For more information, call the library at 276-3333.
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Northeast Harbor Library, 1 Joy Road, Mount Desert
ROB REID LIVE
Mat Pilates at the Neighborhood House
Cost: $15/class
Tue/Thu/Sat at 9:15am; starts June 29
with Hillary Kennedy
Mat Pilates is perfect for anyone looking to build a strong and balanced body while improving flexibility and energy levels. All experience levels are welcomed and encouraged to participate in Hillary's classes. In addition to group classes, Hillary also is available for individual instruction including use of the reformer and other apparatuses in our lower level studio. For information on booking an individual session, please contact Hillary or our main office.
Thursday events via the Chamber:
FRIDAY, JULY 26
Acadia Dance Festival & Bar Harbor Music Festival at the 1932 Criterion
The Acadia Dance Festival and the Bar Harbor Music Festival come together in this Spectacular Collaboration featuring Aaron Copland's beloved "Appalachian Spring", with award-winning Nimbus Dance
This remarkable collaboration between the Bar Harbor Music Festival and the Acadia Dance Festival features Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring, conducted by David Alexander Rahbee with Candace Chien, piano, and the acclaimed Nimbus Dance in Samuel Pott's choreographic interpretation. Orchestra tickets are reserved seats, balcony is general admission. Orchestra tickets are reserved seats, balcony is general admission.
July 26 at 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
1932 Criterion Theatre, 35 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor
$15.00 - $35.00
BAR HARBOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY GUIDED TOURS
“Al Fresco” Tai Chi
Fridays; 10:15am; held outdoors on the lawn at the Neighborhood House
Cost: $10/class
with Andrea Lepcio
We will explore Tai Chi moves for strength, balance and flexibility. Andrea will introduce a number of forms to build your knowledge and repertoire. Class can be done standing and in a chair. Classes will be held OUTSIDE on the lawn, so please wear flat shoes.
Online registration not required.
Friday events via the Chamber:
SATURDAY, JULY 27
J. Courtney Sullivan presents THE CLIFFS with Christina Baker Kline
Saturday, July 27 at 3:30 p.m.
BAR HARBOR—Join best-selling authors J. Courtney Sullivan and Christina Baker Kline at the Jesup Memorial Library as they discuss Sullivan's new novel, THE CLIFFS, a story of family, secrets, ghosts, and homecoming set on the seaside cliffs of Maine.
J. Courtney Sullivan is the best-selling author of the novels Commencement, Maine, The Engagements, Saints for All Occasions, and Friends and Strangers. Her work has been translated into seventeen languages. Sullivan's writing has appeared in The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, New York, Elle, Glamour, Allure, Real Simple, and O, The Oprah Magazine, among many others. In 2017, she wrote the forewords to new editions of two of her favorite classic novels—Anne of Green Gables and Little Women. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two children.
A #1 New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including The Exiles, Orphan Train, and A Piece of the World, Christina Baker Kline is published in 40 countries. Her novels have received the New England Prize for Fiction, the Maine Literary Award, and a Barnes & Noble Discover Award, among other prizes, and have been chosen by hundreds of communities, universities and schools as “One Book, One Read” selections. Her essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in publications such as the New York Times and the NYT Book Review, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The San Francisco Chronicle, LitHub, Psychology Today, and Slate.This event is free and open to the public.
Reserve your seat here: https://www.jesuplibrary.org/events/sullivan
Mat Pilates at the Neighborhood House
Cost: $15/class
Tue/Thu/Sat at 9:15am; starts June 29
with Hillary Kennedy
Mat Pilates is perfect for anyone looking to build a strong and balanced body while improving flexibility and energy levels. All experience levels are welcomed and encouraged to participate in Hillary's classes. In addition to group classes, Hillary also is available for individual instruction including use of the reformer and other apparatuses in our lower level studio. For information on booking an individual session, please contact Hillary or our main office.
Acadia Explorers at Carroll Homestead
The Library is teaming up with Acadia National Park again to offer this adventurous, outdoor educational program for grades K-5 & caregiver.
Calling all outdoor explorers - we’re teaming up with Acadia National Park again to offer this adventurous, outdoor educational program for grades K-5 & caregiver. Registrants will receive a free book at each program and have the chance to enjoy a storytime by an SWHPL librarian, then explore and learn at park locations by a Park Ranger. Sat., July 27, 10am: meet at Carroll Homestead (Theme - homesteading!) Register your child Sat., Aug 3, 10am: meet at the Library (Theme - Beavers!) Register your child
July 27 at 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM, Carroll Homestead, Southwest Harbor
MDI COMMUNITY MARKET!
Come see us at Mother’s Kitchen from 9 to 1 and find plenty of fresh food from your local farmers & harvesters
We’ll have veggies, mushrooms, seedlings, fish, mussels, vegan baked goods and art! Live music from 11 with Gus La Casse and Mathias Kamin! Community tent! You can purchase fresh food to donate to Common Good Soup Kitchen in Southwest Harbor! Mother’s Kitchen and Salsbury’s will both be open. Plenty to do and to see! And we’re still accepting vendors, so if you’re interested in joining come chat with us
FINBACK ALEHOUSE LIVE MUSIC!
There’s live music every Saturday night all summer long at the Finback Alehouse in Bar Harbor. Music starts at 9:30!
VIRTUAL WRITE ON! WRITING GROUP
Want support for your craft? The Write On! writer’s group has been meeting at the Jesup since 2014, and remotely during the pandemic. Each meeting, members may bring in up to 1200 words to read for feedback, and in turn offer feedback to others. Although each member doesn’t get to read work every time, the group shares the time fairly. The group meets on Zoom, and hold in confidence what is shared. This group welcomes adults 18 and up writing in many genres. There’s no homework–the only commitment is two hours on Saturday mornings.
Date and Time
SATURDAYS
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Location
Zoom
How to Attend
Call the library, 207-288-4245, for more about us and how to join, or email info@jesuplibrary.org.
PRAYER SHAWL MISSION GROUP
Welcoming all knitters and would be knitters…and crocheters! The Welcome and Care Team at the Bar Harbor Congregational Church UCC is hosting a weekly Prayer Shawl Mission Group every Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon at the Bar Harbor Congregational Church UCC. The intention of the group is to create a sense of community and a flow of Prayer Shawls for distribution to those in need of comfort due to illness, loneliness, or loss. Supplies and instruction will be provided to those with skills for knitting and/or crocheting and for those with a desire to learn.
There are no costs to the participants.
For more information contact Pat by calling (203) 770-0063 or email: pgdizazzo@yahoo.com.
Saturday events Via the Chamber:
SUNDAY, JULY 28
ArtWaves
BAR HARBOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Have you visited the Thuya Gardens in Northeast Harbor?
Join local artist Carol Shutt on Sunday, July 28th from 9am-11am for a special drawing workshop for all skill levels. This course will take place in Thuya Lodge, the property’s historic summer home, and outdoors in the gardens as well.
Sign up on the events page of our website, and we'll see you in the garden!
Following a Garden's Lines
Sun, Jul 28, 2024, 9:00 am -Sun, Jul 28, 2024, 11:00 am
The Lodge, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden, 268 Peabody Dr, Mount Desert, ME, 04660
Carol Shutt, an artist and teacher who has lived and worked on Mount Desert Island for over 30 years, will be giving a workshop on Sunday, July 28, from 9 to 11 am at Thuya Garden in Northeast Harbor. Drawing will be the focus of this workshop, using blind contour techniques to draw still lifes, flowers and plants with looseness and fluidity. The creative process of contour drawing builds observation skills and helps one draw with more freshness and authenticity. This workshop is designed for adults of all artistic abilities and will take place in Thuya Lodge, the property’s historic summer home, and outdoors in the gardens as well.
Ticket link: https://ticketscandy.com/e/following-a-gardens-lines-5610
SARA JONES!
6 p.m. start
Bar Harbor's Eden Farmer's Market
Maine grown, raised and value added delights in Bar Harbor.
Sundays, 9 am -12 noon, rain or shine, Park and Main Streets.
Sunday events via the Chamber:
FUTURE EVENTS:
Hudson to Harbor Art Event Kicks Off
Second annual local art invitational draws Maine talent
BAR HARBOR—Artists have flocked to Mount Desert Island ever since painters like Frederic E. Church, Thomas Cole, and William Hart, popularized the island with their exhibits of the island’s idyllic land and seascapes. The artists were known as the Hudson River School painters. They took the near-untouched, untamed world and transferred it to paint and canvas. Today, we draw influence from them.
In collaboration with the Mount Desert Land and Garden Preserve, the Bar Harbor Historical Society is proud to introduce Hudson to Harbor! Drawing inspiration from the Hudson River School of landscape painting in the 19th century, the Hudson to Harbor art invitational gathers local artists to exhibit new works that reflect the surrounding landscape.
From July 23 to August 6, there will be several classes by the participating artists so that anyone can become a part of the artistic history of Bar Harbor themselves.
On Friday evening, August 2, there will be a reception from 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. for the invited artists to showcase their works. This will be a first chance to view the artworks created specifically for this event and to speak directly with the artists about their works. Cocktails and hor d'oeuvres will be served. There will also be an art raffle for a special piece chosen by Carl Little!
This ticketed event is presented in proud partnership with the Land and Garden Preserve with grant funding provided by the Onion Foundation. 50% of the sale price goes directly back to the artists while the remaining 50% is donated to the Bar Harbor Historical Society!
For more information, visit barharborhistorical.org, call (207)288-0000, or email info@barharborhistorical.org
Beyond the Literal - Painting the Spirit of the Land Course (8/3-8/6)
Whether it is the light dancing across the trunks of trees, the colors of a sun kissed dahlia or just the wind moving the clouds across the sky these are the inspirations of a landscape painter. Learn to paint the essence of the landscape and express your personal vision.
This workshop will start by exploring the rich history of artists inspired by the land and gardens of Mount Desert Island. Students will move on to a set of exercises designed to help them zero in on the why of painting. There will be plenty of technical tips, discussions of color, value and composition as well but our main focus will be on creating landscape paintings that connect with others and to do this students need to be able to answer the why. Plein air painting will take place on the exclusive Land and Garden preserve properties. As we learn about both the gardens and the individuals who created and preserved them, we will share in their inspiration. Due to the nature of the painting locations, this will be a small group of painters so there will be plenty of individual attention plus group critiques.
To plant a garden and to create a painting are both leaps of faith. Learn to add a personal emotional tone and impact to your interpretation of the natural world.
NOTE: This course runs from August 3-6. Please take note of times and locations!
August 3: 8:30-12:30 at BHHS
August 4: 3:30-7:30 at Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden
August 5: 8:30-12:30 at TBD
August 6: 8:30-12:30 at TBD
August 6: 1:15-2:15 at BHHS
Ticket Link: https://ticketscandy.com/e/beyond-the-literal-painting-the-spirit-of-the-land-course-83-86-4426
QUICK FACTS ABOUT HUDSON TO HARBOR
Multiple local artists will have work for sale that reflects the surrounding area.
After the reception event on Friday night, all works will be on the BHHS website and can be purchased there.
On Saturday, August 3 you can come and see the works in person from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. while the museum is open. If you buy an art raffle ticket, you get free admission to the museum!
Raffle tickets will be on sale for $20 at the Friday night event and until 2p.m on Saturday. The winner will be drawn at 2 p.m. on Saturday and will receive a special art piece from the exhibition chosen by Carl Little.
Artists receive 50% of the sale price with BHHS using the remainder as a donation for their programming.
Artworks will be for sale online after the event.
MORE DETAILS:
Location: 127 West Street, Bar Harbor
Date and Time: Friday, August 2 at 5-7 p.m. and then Saturday August 3 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Tickets: Hudson to Harbor Tickets (Friday night reception)
Phoebe Legere’s Magical Abenaki Design Workshop
Multidisciplinary artist Phoebe "Songbundle" Legere, a direct descendant of the Abenaki people, will lead a painting workshop at Combs Studio in Prospect Harbor on August 4th. This session invites artists of all backgrounds to explore "The Wisdom Curve," a 12,000-year-old artistic technique originating from the Abenaki, a symbol deeply rooted in their culture.
Legere, known for her ancestral ties to the legendary Abenaki and her strong New England heritage, aims to introduce participants to this ancient art form during the three-hour workshop. Phoebe Legere is available for interviews.
A press release is below my signature, along with two photos and captions. Thank you for your time and consideration in considering this event!
Experience the enchantment and wisdom of the ancient Abenaki tradition with Phoebe "Songbundle" Legere, an internationally recognized multidisciplinary artist.
Legere is a direct descendant of the Abenaki shaman Madokawando—renowned for his mind-reading and magical abilities—and Reverend Peter Powers, the legendary minister of Deer Isle whose "Revolutionary Sermon" was a cornerstone of the American Revolution. Legere brings a unique blend of heritage and creativity to her work.
Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime workshop where Legere will guide you through the creation and use of the mystical 12,000-year-old Abenaki double curve, also known as "The Wisdom Curve." This ancient symbol embodies the profound knowledge and artistry of the Abenaki people, and Phoebe Legere will show you how to incorporate this powerful imagery into your own personal designs.
Legere, a legend of the New York Underground scene, has toured with David Bowie and shared formative friendships with Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Allen Ginsberg. Her work transcends disciplines, often weaving music and dance into her visual art to highlight the beauty of the Abenaki double curve. (A link to Phoebe’s Spotify page to listen to her album of Abenaki, native American and indigenous music “Children of The Dawn” :
As the National Director of the Foundation for New American Art, Legere is celebrated for her "Paint Brushes Not Guns" program, which brings the joy of artistic expression to children and families. In this workshop, she will teach participants to improvise a personal design using a basic vocabulary of Abenaki symbols, merging ancient wisdom with contemporary creativity.
Says Legere, “Our mission: to educate, as well as nurture and strengthen, the artistic and musical spirit of under resourced BIPOC and multi-ethnic communities. The Foundation for New American Art is dedicated to nurturing the visionary artists of tomorrow. We are a 501 (c)3 nonprofit bringing art, music, dance & performance to at-risk, underserved communities especially children who have little or no art in their public schools.”
Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to learn from an artist whose heritage and talents are as diverse as they are profound. Join Phoebe "Songbundle" Legere for an unforgettable experience that promises to be fun, authentic, and truly magical.
Date: August 4
Time: 9 am – 12 pm
Location: Combs Studio
56 Main St.
Prospect Harbor, Maine 04669
(Schoodic Arts for All)
Link to Register: https://schoodicarts.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/schoodicarts/event.jsp?event=2195
After August 1st, please call Combs at 207-963-2569 for info.
For information on Phoebe Legere, please visit www.phoebelegere.com .
WEEKEND ON THE WATER!
COA Summer Institute focuses on democracy
BAR HARBOR — The 2024 College of the Atlantic Summer Institute: Questions of Democracy examines democracy in the United States during what many consider to be one of the most consequential years of our times. Speakers will explore questions of authoritarianism, artistic freedom, and sociopolitical change during a total of 11 sessions over five days, July 29–August 2. The sessions are free, but registration is required at coa.edu/si.
Speakers include retired US Supreme Court justice The Honorable Stephen Breyer, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, US Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD 8th District), and Joe Scarborough of the MSNBC TV show Morning Joe, among other elected officials and well-known journalists, poets, authors, attorneys, and organization leaders. Guests will address collaboration amongst politicians, media and misinformation, voter equity and rights, transformative change through philanthropy, the US constitution, the civic role of poetry, and other pertinent and current topics.
“Our hope is to stimulate thoughtful dialog, offer new perspectives and learning, and improve our collective understanding and practice of democracy,” says COA Dean of Institutional Advancement Shawn Keeley. “For seven years, the Summer Institute has brought the MDI community together with leaders, thinkers, and doers from around the world to examine some of the society's most pressing challenges. This year, we dive into questions of democracy during an incredibly important time for our country and the world.”
The institute kicks off Monday evening, July 29, with "Making Amends: The Future Past and Future of American Constitutionalism," featuring journalist and historian Jill Lepore and Cornell William Brooks, the director of the Social Justice Collaborate at Harvard Kennedy School. Morning and evening sessions continue through Friday, August 2. Scarborough speaks with William C. Eacho on "Challenges to Democracy: Media, Misinformation, and the Rise of Authoritarianism" on Wednesday morning. Some other speakers include Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, former ambassador to the UK Phil Lader, and American poet Richard Blanco.
Closing out the institute on Friday evening, "Restoring Collaboration and Goodwill in the House of Representatives," is paneled by US Representatives Jamie Raskin (D-MD 8th District) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME 1st District), with interlocutor Frances Stead Sellers, journalist and associate director of the Washington Post.
The Summer Institute is College of the Atlantic’s week-long ideas festival that welcomes experts from around the world to share their perspectives on the most pressing issues of our time. The Summer Institute is supported by the generosity of COA Champlain Society members.
BAR HARBOR MUSIC FESTIVAL!
2024 Tickets are on sale!! Concerts July 8- October 13. https://www.barharbormusicfestival.org/2024-season/
(Please call or text 212-222-1026 for subscriptions or orders by check)
INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCES
Years ago Bar Harbor had monthly international folk dances with live music in the Municipal Building "ballroom". The live band that played was The Bar Harbor Folk Orchestra with Tom Crikelair, Jon Archer, Carl Karush and Joe Niemczura. But in the 1990s, the dances were discontinued. International folk dances in Ellsworth were suspended in 2020 as a result of the pandemic. But now an enthusiastic group of dancers and musicians from both on and off the Island, have assembled to relaunch this community activity. "We want to share our love for other cultures and the joy of dancing to live ethnic music" noted one of the group members of the newly-formed Downeast Folk Dancers. "We hope everyone will come to join in the fun!"
International Folk Dancing with the Kotwica Band, featuring dances from the Baltic, to the Black Sea, and beyond, will be held on the first Saturday of the month this summer: August 3, 7:00-9:00pm, at the MDI-YWCA, 36 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor. Dances will be taught by Carolyn Rapkievian - no experience and no partner is needed. This new series is sponsored by the Downeast Folk Dancers. Admission is $10 at the door. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559917761571
CRITERION EVENTS
WALSH & FRIENDS-CHICAGO STYLE IMPROV AT THE CRITERION
BAR HARBOR—Matt Walsh, Brad Morris and Joe Canale make up the fantastically funny improv show: Meadows, Walsh & Friends. Their fully improvised performances are inspired by a short chat at the top of the show with the audience. The chats launch them into a fast-moving act that features irreverent characters and heightened spins on recognizable situations, all the while building shape and theme. Each unique show is entertaining, funny, and thought provoking.
Meadows, a longtime Saturday Night Live cast member and has appeared in Mean Girls, and has guest starred on countless TV programs including: The Office, The Goldbergs and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Matt Walsh is best known for his role as Mike McLintock in HBO’s Veep and was a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade sketch comedy theater. Brad Morris is known for his roles in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, Cougar Town, and Bajillion Dollar Propertie$. Joe Canale has been in Kay Valentine’s Day Commercial Parody, Life of Brad and Douchebag Assassins
All four improvisers have strong ties to The Second City. Matt Walsh toured with The Second City Touring Company based in Chicago, and Tim, Brad and Joe are Alums of The Second City resident stage in Chicago. Together, they have influenced generations of improvisers.
July 30th - 7:30pm
ARTWAVES CLASSES AND EVENTS
ArtWaves often has classes, a variety every week. For the updated selection, check out its website here
A FEW OF THE FUTURE JESUP EVENTS
For a full list of Jesup Memorial Library events, click through to its calendar here.
QUESTIONS OF DEMOCRACY
The 2024 College of the Atlantic Summer Institute will examine democracy in the United States during one of the most consequential years of our times.
Struggles for democracy traverse our lives and society, from ballot boxes to inboxes, from the corridors of congress to the halls of schools, from kitchen tables to city streets. Questions of democracy confront us in our debates over freedom of the press, voting rights, and artistic freedom, in struggles of authoritarianism, and in conversations about how to effectively engage with disagreement and conflict across a range of topics.
Join us from July 29 - August 2 as elected officials, authors, analysts, and community organizers discuss what democracy means to them, the threats it faces, and how our individual and collective efforts can fortify democracy now and for future generations.
We will announce speakers over the next weeks. Please check the Summer Institute page for more details as they are announced. Registration is free, and opens May 1 for Champlain Society members, June 1 for the general public.
23rd Annual Luminaria Event Scheduled for August 10
BAR HARBOR—YWCA MDI will hold its 23rd annual Carol Dyer Memorial Luminaria Evening on Saturday, August 10 to benefit the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center.
The first luminaria evening took place in 2001 to celebrate the life of Carol Dyer, a local children’s librarian and friend of YWCA MDI. The event has become a local tradition, with hundreds of luminaria lining the sidewalks of the Bar Harbor Village Green on a night every August. Each personalized luminaria is dedicated to a friend or family member lost to or fighting cancer. Together, they illuminate the night with hope for a cancer-free world.
This year, luminaria will be on display on the Bar Harbor Village Green from 7:00 to 9:30 PM on August 10th, with a rain date of August 17. Chris Popper of WDEA will serve as master of ceremonies, and Alice French will provide music.
Luminaria are available for pre-order at https://donate.ywcamdi.org/carol-dyer-memorial-luminaria-evening/ and will be available the evening of the event. The suggested donation is $10 for each luminaria. Proceeds will benefit the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center in Ellsworth.
YWCA Mount Desert Island is in its 120th year of service on MDI. YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, standing up for social justice, supporting families, and strengthening communities. Visit https://www.ywcamdi.org to learn more about the YWCA’s work on MDI and beyond.
The Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center in Ellsworth provides support, wellness groups, advocacy, education, and patient navigation services to people in Washington and Hancock Counties.
ONGOING:
GET YOUR HERO ON!
BAR HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
To check if Bar Harbor Fire Department is currently hiring, please go to the town’s jobs page.
But even if it isn’t, you can become a call member
Becoming a call force firefighter requires extensive training, hard work, and dedication to the community. We rely on call force firefighters to respond quickly to emergencies, to perform firefighting duties, and to provide assistance and support to career firefighters. To be a fall force firefighter is to have a chance to aid and serve the community, which is an extremely rewarding experience.
Get Your Knowledge On!
ASC Racial Justice Book Group
Are you interested in joining us? We are open to new members who want to share in the reading and the hard work that ensues as we examine the underpinnings of systemic racism and its effects on society and on each of us individually, in the ultimate hope that our studies can work toward change.
We have been meeting once a month on the second Tuesday of the month from 10:30- 12:15.
We started with the basic readings of How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee. We then spent many months delving deeply into The 1619 Project edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones.
Since then, we’ve read some James Baldwin, Colon Whitehead, Zora Neale Hurston, Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., Clint Smith and many others. We look forward in the next few months to reading some James McBride and Bryan Stevenson. We also share articles of interest that deal with the issues we’re facing.
If the truly hard, but most meaningful, work we are doing to examine our society, culture and ourselves sounds like something that interests you, please contact me at rjbg2021@gmail.com or 207-664-9954.
Read more about the book group
La Rochelle Mansion + Museum
Join the Bar Harbor Historical Society at Bar Harbor's Summer Cottage, La Rochelle, this season! See the exhibits and artifacts that helped shaped this storied town!
May 28 at 10:00 A.M. - Oct 26 at 2:00 P.M.
Bar Harbor Historical Society, 127 West Street
$15.00
PRODUCE POP-UPS
GET YOUR VOLTA ON!
Volta, in Trenton, has a ton of things always going on. You can check that out here.
GET YOUR MOVIE ON!
REEL PIZZA
Reel Pizza is open! To check out what’s playing go here.
Tickets are on sale via its website.
Please note that for a while this winter, it will be closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
CRITERION THEATRE
The theater’s website is here, and click for the latest updates.
GET YOUR FITNESS, DANCE AND WELLNESS ON!
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE!
The Neighborhood House has a slew of classes to help you get your fitness on. Descriptions are at its website.
MDI YMCA!
The MDI YMCA’s program guide is here.
DOWNEAST COMMUNITY DANCE
Downeast Community Dance
Free form dance, conscious or ecstatic, not facilitated. Come drop into your own joyful movement.
This is now held the first, third, and fifth Sunday of the month at 10 a.m. at ArtWaves Dance StudioFor more information, contact Susan at 288-8103 or cloudnine@gwi.net.
Location
Dance Studio at ArtWaves, 1345A State Highway 102, Bar Harbor
GET YOUR MUSIC ON!
THE FINBACK ALEHOUSE
The Finback has entertainment most nights. The schedule is posted every Tuesday.
THE NOR’EASTER
The Nor’Easter has music every Saturday night from 8-10 in the summer and 7-9 in the winter.
ONE OFF PUB
The One Off Pub often has music and is often open until midnight. The location? 119 Main Street.
HAVANA
Every Saturday night its open, at 6:30 p.m, you can come hear the maestro Bob Lombardi. Maestro isn’t something we put out there for everyone. Havana is on lower Main Street.
IVY MANOR INN
Every day out on the lawn, weather permitting, the music begins at 2!
“Things To Do” is mostly curated by me looking for things happening in the upcoming week, which takes a lot of time and I truly do not know all that is going on.
If there’s something in Bar Harbor (or MDI or Trenton or Ellsworth or even Bangor) that you’d like me to mention, please let me know, because I’m definitely always missing some events every week.
If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here.