Barrier Islands Center Fall 2014 Newsletter

8/12/2019 Barrier Islands Center Fall 2014 Newsletter

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NEWSLETTER

Eastern Shore of VirginiaBarrier Islands Center

Fall 2014

[email protected]/757 -678-5550/www.barrierislandscenter.com

Heart of the Community, Soul of a Culture

The CarversMeet

Grayson Chesser

Cigar DaiseyArthur Leonard Ken Marshall Cork McGee

Cameron McIntyre Ian McNair Mark McNair

Pete Peterson P.G. Ross


2/12

The Barrier Islands Center is honored to present an

opportunity to meet and mingle with renowned decoy

carvers Grayson Chesser, Cigar Daisey, Arthur

Leonard, Ken Marshall, Cork McGee, Cameron

McIntyre, Ian McNair, Mark McNair, Pete Peterson,

and P.G. Ross.

Come join us for a reception, exhibit, and casualconversations with Virginias finest carvers. These

talented artists will have a range of their work on

display and will also have some pieces for sale.

Virginias Eastern Shore is celebrated for its waterfowl

hunting and decoy carving traditions. Whether you

are a dedicated collector, first-time buyer, sportsman,

or just curious about decoy carving, you will not want

to miss this evening of wine, hors doeurvres, art,

traditions, and stories.

The CarversMeet

Reception Exhibit

Friday, November 7th

5:00-8:00 p.m.

Tickets will be limited

$20 per person.

Sitting here on the porch, I am absolutely amazed that its been 10 years since I started

as Director. During this time, Ive had the privilege of working with some incredibly

smart people. Ive also had to say goodbye to several founding pillars of the BIC,

including Phil Payne, Harry Holcomb, and most recently, Amine Kellam. Each of these

shining stars selflessly and tirelessly used his or her talents, passion and wisdom to

make the BIC what it is today.

I think about Amines crucial role in shaping the BIC. She was in the process of

breaking up housekeeping at Lochwood when I came along. Each week, she would pull

up in her Taurus wagon at the end of the front walkway, with her side-kick Herb

following closely behind, to unload gifts for the museums growing collection. Coming through the front

door today, every visitor is greeted by Babbie Dunningtons paintings and the ships wheel, all gifts from

Amine.

As new director, I wanted to honor Amines dedication to the BIC with a party. When I learned that she

would never consent to being the center of attention, I planned a simple gathering for BIC friends and

family. The afternoon of the event came, and I cant begin to describe just how NERVOUS I was! I had

invited a real mix of people, and suddenly worried that Amine might have preferred something moreexclusive. I wasnt sure what to expect when she pulled me aside at the end of the afternoon. Laura, Amine

began, if you continue to welcome ALL the people of the community like you have today, the BIC will be a

great success!

With Amines recent passing, I have lost a valued sounding board, the BIC has lost a dear friend and the

community has lost a dedicated public servant. Just this morning, the BIC received the nicest compliment!

A local family said that they love bringing visitors because the BIC is the friendliest and most relaxed

museum they have ever visited. Thats something heard a lot around here, and each time, I silently thank

Amine!


3/12

Those Wily Hog Island Sheep are at it again!

The Barrier Islands Center is proud to announce the debut of our second childrens book, The Hog Island

Sheep in Red, White and Ewe. The BIC had so much fun with the first book, The Hog Island Sheep in a

Twisted Christmas Tale, we knew we had to do another one. With author Andrew Barbour and artist Cameron

Waff on board, we set off on another quest to turn barrier island historical elements into a funny and

memorable story for children andtheir parents!

Red, White and Ewe highlights the annual 4th of July picnic and baseball game on Hog Island, while also

introducing the Lyle Gun used by the Life-Saving Service to rescue victims of stranded ships. The Hog Island

sheep serve as humorous protagonists as they continue their quest to have the island renamed in their honor.

The original paintings used to illustrate the book masterfully capture the playful mood of the story as well as

the beauty of the island. Copies will once again be donated to area libraries and schools and are also available

for sale in the BIC gift shop.

These books have been the perfect vehicle to spark childrens interest in the rich history and culture ofVirginias Eastern Shore and its Barrier Islands. Our goal is to have children (and adults) laugh while they are

learning. And it is working: Kiptopeke Elementary School faculty enjoyed Twisted Christmas Tale so much

they adapted the book into a play and rendered an endearing stage version as a surprise for their appreciative

students and families. Perfect!

The Barrier Islands Center extends its gratitude to Beazley Foundation and the Herndon Foundation, who

provided their support for the book project.

the

SAVE

Dates!Oyster Roast FundraiserSaturday, February 28, 20154-8:00 p.m.

Art & Music on the Farm

Saturday, May 23, 2015

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.


4/12

Art + Music = Fun for the Community!We had a wonderful time showcasing the talent of Eastern Shore artists and

artisans while listening to top-notch musicians from around the great

Commonwealth at this years Art & Music on the Farm event. Over 1,000

people came out for a fun-filled day of music, art, and friends at the BIC on

the Saturday before Memorial Day. Photos of the day are available on our

website: barrierislandscenter.com.

The BIC presents this festive day as a gift to the community and is

especially thankful for the generosity of our 2014 Event Sponsors -

including top sponsors Ballard Fish and Oyster Company, Baycreek, ES

Land, H.M. Terry Co., J.C. Walker Bros., Jones Zittrain Wealth

Management Group of Merrill Lynch, Ocean Cove Seafood, Tankard

Nurseries and WHRO - as well as grants from Virginia Commission for the

Arts and the NEA Challenge America Fast Track Grant.

A big thank you also goes to Tankard Nurseries, Hermitage Nurseries, and

Eastern Shore Nursery for their generous donations of flowers and plants

for sale throughout the day, as well as the many local businesses that

provided food, drink, and services. Finally, a special thanks to the many

volunteers, including those from Broadwater Academy, the Exmore Rotary

Club, BIC membership and BICs Board of Directors.

We hope you will join us again May 23, 2015 for another day of art, music,

friends and fun.

In early June, the BIC premiered its new documentary,

Watermen, to over 150 people. The audience membersattending these first-peek screenings learned about the making

of the film from director/filmmaker Jim Spione and had an

opportunity to ask him questions. Like Our Island Home and

Spirit of the Bird (the two previous collaborative projects of the

BIC and Spione), Watermen profiles the exceptional people

and work/life traditions that make up the fabric of the Eastern

Shore.

The film follows local watermen, including Tim Bell, Don Miles, Sr., Scott Wivell, Captain Bobby Turner and

others as they struggle to make a living doing what they love. These watermen steadfastly remain hopeful thateach day might bring the thrill of pulling in full nets despite a dwindling supply in the waters of Virginias

Eastern Shore. The stunning cinematography captures the natural beauty of the region.

Because the BIC is fortunate to serve as a trusted repository for oral histories, photographs, and artifacts

which future generations can look to and learn from, Jim Spione was able to incorporate these historic

elements in the new film. One highlight was the early 1940s film footage from the Ballard family featuring

African-American men using seine nets to fish. The grainy, choppy footage beautifully depicts the intense

physical work involved in hauling these fish-filled nets, while also allowing viewers to bear witness to a bygone

era. Moody K. Miles and Jim Matthews at the Saxis Island Museum also loaned some treasured photos from

the mid-1900s for use in the film.


5/12

Art, Music, Please and Thank You

They say that it takes three years before a plants roots set firmly and it

begins to flourish. The same can be said of My First Field Trip, which

began over three years ago. The idea behind the cultural enrichment

program was that it just makes good sense to expose young children to top

shelf music and art instruction, and that basic manners (saying please,

thank you and looking at people in the eye with a smile on your face) willtake you far in life.

The children tour the museum, practice good manners, and take part in

lessons designed around Eastern Shore themes. Pre-K students learn about

local history and their environs through Abrakadoodle art lessons and

participate in music lessons with musician Martha Giles. Early Childhood Special Education teacher

Ruthanne McConnell and her Pungoteague Elementary students have participated in the program for the

past two years. She recently voiced her support of the program, At their early learning level, the children

were exposed to history that connects them to the Eastern Shore of Virginia, a unique, special, and

wonderful place that should be valued. Thank you for having a vested interest in our children.

The BIC introduced My First Field Trip as a pilot program in 2011, and it has since grown to over 160

children, including students from Northampton and Accomack County Public Schools, Broadwater

Academy as well as Northampton County migrant summer program. The program is made possible with

generous support from PNC Foundation, Gwathmey Foundation, Lions Club Charity Foundation District

24 D, Beazley Foundation, and Herndon Foundation.

As we move into our 4thyear, we are thrilled My First Field Trip has taken root. We have high hopes that

the program and the children who participate - will continue to thrive for years to come.

Enrapt best describes the faces on the

children as I sing the story of Jack and the

Beanstalk, accompanied by my handmade

felt figures on a flannel board. The story

contains a magic golden harp, which leads

to their lesson for the day: stringed

instruments. The children take turns

playing a child-sized Celtic harp. They are

also introduced to the autoharp,

mountain dulcimer, and bowed psaltery.

Next I have them travel upstairs in themuseum to see the special golden harp

that was played long ago in the ballroom of the Cobb Island Hotel.

Each visit to the Barrier Islands Center brings a different flannel board

song-story and a different family of instruments (bells, percussion,

brass, etc). Favorite songs are repeated throughout the four monthly

visits, enabling children to take them into their hearts and sing them

long after they leave.-Music teacher Martha Giles

BICBaby Boy,

Whitt!


6/12

Come Learn With Us!

Beginning Birding

with

Roberta Kellam

Classroom study at the BIC:

Fridays, Aug. 8, 29 and

Sept. 19 from 2-3:30 p.m.

Field trips:

Friday, Aug. 15 from 9 - noon Chincoteague

Friday, Sept. 12 from 8 -11 a.m. Kiptopeke State Park

Friday, Oct. 3 from 8 -11 a.m. Kiptopeke State Park

Cost: $50

Living on the Eastern Shore of Virginia is a privilege for

so many reasons, not the least of which is our location

on the coastal flyway for migrating birds. If you are

looking for a new hobby or always had a curiosity about

birds and bird-watching, this class is for you! Roberta

Kellam will guide you through the basics of field gear

(such as binoculars and field guides), how to recognize

birds by groups and how to identify species by their field

marks, behavior and sound. You will learn about the

best places and times to see birds, and how to make

your own back yard into an enticing habitat for

birds. The class will meet three times at the Barrier

Islands Center and another three times for birding field

trips around the Shore.

Bring binoculars if you have them; some will be

available for loan.

Basic Boat Safety Coursetaught by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary

Flotilla 12-02

Saturday, Sept. 20 and 27 from 10-2 p.m.

Cost: $30 (covers books and materials)

This class will teach safe boating skills to

help lay the groundwork for years of

boating fun. The course is designed for

the average boater and will cover topics

such as: types and features of boats,

trailering, safe fueling, basic maintenance,

rules of navigation and finding your way

on the water, loading, operating,

anchoring and docking your boat, state

and federal legal requirements and how to

handle boating emergencies. By 2016 all

recreational boaterswho operate a vessel

having a 10 hp motor or more will have totake and pass a safe boating class. The test

at the end of this class will satisfy that

requirement. Pre-registration is required.

To register, call Russell Vreeland at (757)

442-7029 or the Barrier Islands Center.

The Accohannockswith Historian Michael"Fierce Arrow" Hinman

Wed., Sept. 10th at 6 p.m. Cost: FREE!

Michael Hinman will speak on the

heritage and history of his tribe, the

Accohannocks. The Kingdom of the

Accohannocks was roughly from lower

Somerset County, MD to Kiptopeke, at the

southern tip of the Eastern Shore of

Virginia.

Painting to Music

Experience art through

music

Wednesdays, Oct. 15, 22, 29,Nov. 5, 12, 19, 3:45-4:45 p.m.

Cost: $75

We will learn about shades and

tints, free form shapes, Cubism, printing and

several artists including Paul Klee, Peter Max, and

Jackson Pollock. We will use tempera paint,

acrylics, watercolor paint, liquid watercolor and

other art media to explore music through our art.


7/12

Candle Making

Classes*

with

instructor Mary

Clements

Rolled and Dipped

Tuesday, November 11thfrom 1-4 p.m. Cost: $35

Each participant will make at least one rolled

and one pair of dipped candles. Participants will

learn about basic equipment needed for safe

wax work. Students will make a rolled candle

from a preformed foundation and create their

own sheets for rolls. They will learn pouring tips

as well as how to decorate and package the

candles.

Container and Mold

Tuesday, December 2ndfrom 1-4 p.m. Cost: $35

Each participant will make at least one large and

one small container candle. Students will learn

about the basic equipment needed for safe wax

work, wick sizes and prepping, and types of

containers suited for candles. As a bonus,participants can learn about skin care products

made from beeswax, including recipes.

*Participants in both classes will learn about

beeswax, including how bees make it, how it is

harvested and cleaned, and other traditional

uses.

Coffee Hour Series:

Weather and Mother Nature: Are Old Folktales True?

Friday, September 19 at 10:30 a.m. Cost: FREE!Fay Crossley will explore the folklore surrounding weather. He will retrace theorigins of old wives tales, and whether they are good indicators of comingweather events, or just idle talk. Attendees will be asked to add any weathertales they have heard to the collection. Mr. Crossley retired in 2006 after adistinguished career with the Navy as a weather observer, weather spy andflight forecaster, and then at NOAAs National Weather Service.

December 7th...

So much going on!

Book Reading

1:00 p.m. Cost: FREE!

The Hog Island Sheep in a

Twisted Christmas Tale -

Join author Andrew

Barbour as he reads this

holiday favorite.

Art Show

1:00 p.m. Cost: FREE!

Original Paintings from The Hog Island

Sheep in Red, White and Eweby illustratorCameron Waff. Ever wished you could have

a favorite illustration from a book on your

wall? Now is your chance! Waffs original

paintings featured in the BICs 2ndbook will

be for sale.

9th AnnualHow Did Santa Claus Get

Down a Twisted Chimney?

(ages 4-12), 2-4:00 p.m. Cost: $20

What a fun way to ring in the holidays!

Students will decorate their own yummy

house complete with a twisted chimney. The

children will see an actual twisted chimney

that is located in the historic almshouse

attic. Holiday refreshments will be served.

Class size is limited to 20 participants. Ho,

Ho, Whoa!


8/12

Dogs on the Farm Dog

Obedience Classes

All classes taught by Beth Ann Sabo

Certified Professional Dog Trainer and

Certified Canine Nose Work Instructor.

Pre-registration is required.Classes fill

quickly, so please contact Beth Ann directly

at [email protected] to registeror for additional information.

Containers for NW2 (2 week class)

Sundays, Sept 7 and 14, 11:00 a.m. Cost: $50.

Prerequisite: Intro to Odor or equivalent.

Your dog must be trialing at NW1 level to attend.

Continue your dogs nose work career with this real life problem-

solving class. Learn how to work your dog through Nose Work II level

containers, as well as distractors and inaccessible hides.

Vehicles 1 (2 week class)

Sundays, Sept 7 and 14, 1:00 p.m. Cost: $50.

Prerequisite: Intro to Odor or equivalent.

Get a firm foundation in vehicle searches by creating an

understanding of the vehicle as a box then moving to more

challenging problems. This is a great way to restart your dogs

searching career!

Basic Obedience (5 week class)

Saturdays, Sept 27, Oct 4, 11, 18, and 25. 9:00 a.m. Cost: $125.

No prerequisite: any dog, any age.

Learn to communicate with your dog more effectively, resulting in a

stronger bond and more fun. Well cover the foundations of dog

obedience for control and safety (sit, down, stay, come, wait) and

manners (polite leash walking, greetings), while also touching on

health, nutrition, handling, toys and more.

Obedience Brush Up Intermediate (3 week class)

Saturdays, Sept 27, Oct 4 and 11, 10:30 a.m. Cost: $75.

Prerequisite: Basic Obedience or permission of instructor.

Do you walk your dog, or does he walk you? Does he come when

called, every time? Is his leave it a bit rusty? This 3-week class will

help your dog develop polite leash habits, improve recall and add alittle impulse control. Great for dogs who have forgotten some

foundation behaviors, or who need a warm-up for Advanced (CGC

Prep) Class.

Intro to Odor (5 week class)

Sundays, Sept 28, Oct 5, 12, 19, and 26, 1:30 p.m. Cost: $125.

Pre-requisite: Introduction to K9 Nose Work.

Teach your dog to search for specific (non-food) scents. This is an

overview class after box work, we introduce interiors, exteriors,

vehicles, and then move to new search areas, further challenging your

dogs ability to drive to source.

Dates to Remember

Last Friday of Every Month!

Flat Footing Fridays

***

Aug. 8, 15, 29, Sept. 12, 19, Oct. 3

Beginning Birding with Roberta Kellam

***

September 7 and 14

Containers for NW2

Vehicles 1

***

September 10

The Accohannocks

***

September 19

Weather and Mother Nature:

Are Old Folktales True?

***

September 20 and 27

Basic Boat Safety Course

***

Sept. 27, Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25

Basic Obedience

***

Sept. 27, Oct. 4 and 11

Obedience Brush Up - Intermediate***

Sept. 28, Oct. 5, 12, 19 and 26

Intro to Odor

***

Oct. 15, 22, 29, Nov. 5, 12, 19

Painting to Music

***

November 7

Meet the Carvers

***November 11

Rolled and Dipped Candle Making Class

***

December 2

Container and Mold Candle Making Class

***

December 7

Book Reading, Art Show &

Childrens Abrakadoodle Program


9/12

Spotlight on: James Spione

Very few small, rural museums can boast of producing a world class documentary

film, and yet the Barrier Islands Center has had the extreme good fortune to have

produced THREE amazing films in partnership with Academy Award-nominated

director and filmmaker James Spione. In addition to the trilogy of films Jim has

created with the Barrier Islands Center, he has written, directed, edited and

produced a number of notable films, fictional and documentary, over the past 30years. Jims Oscar-nominated film, Incident in New Baghdad, is a first-person

account of the infamous 2007 Baghdad airstrike that killed two Reuters journalists,

along with about a dozen other mostly unarmed individuals, during one of the most

violent and chaotic periods of the Iraq War. The directors newest feature

documentary, Silenced, premiered with strong reviews at the Tribeca Film Festival this past April and is about the

Obama Administration's crackdown on U.S. national security whistleblowers.

After the recent premiere of Watermenat the Barrier Islands Center, Jim took some time to reflect on his partnership

with the Barrier Islands Center, his love of the Eastern Shore, and the themes he brings to life through the films.

BIC: What do you most enjoy about your partnership with the BIC?

JS: It's been an absolute pleasure working with the Barrier Islands Center on these short documentaries over the past

six years. It is rare indeed when a filmmaker or artist of any sort is given the opportunity to create a body of work over

time about a single subject. So I am grateful to have been able to spend so much time exploring the incredibly unique

history, culture, and ecology of the Eastern Shore and bringing all of these amazing stories to the wider world. In a

way, I feel that these three films together have come to form a larger, sort of grand mosaic portrait of this entire

region.

BIC: What would you say is the universal theme of these films?

JS: For me, all of these documentaries are really about Eastern Shore character. In the case of Watermen, what kind

of person does it take to persevere as an independent fisherman in the face of today's formidable challenges? These

are truly extraordinary people who have uncommon optimism and resilience to get up and do what they do every day.

BIC: Your success as a filmmaker lies in your ability to identify individual stories that resonate well

beyond the person, town or even region you are focusing on. Can you talk about the stories you found

in Watermen?

JS: As I made the film, I started to realize that the challenges and obstacles faced by this area's fishermen aren't just

about Virginia; they really point to issues that are worldwide in scope. The struggle of small local businesses to thrive

in the face of global corporate competition, the declining health of our oceans, agricultural pollution, overfishing, and

the profound changes already underway in terms of sea level rise, physical coastal changes and species disruption due

to climate change--all of these things are experienced in a very real and personal way on a daily basis by these men

working the water.

BIC: What do you hope viewers of Watermenwill take away with them?

JS: The concerns voiced in my film are addressing problems of vital import not just to our country, but in a way to

civilization. It's really important that we listen to these people who are so connected to our oceans--they know better

than just about anyone what is really happening out there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_in_New_Baghdadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_in_New_Baghdadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_12,_2007,_Baghdad_airstrikehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_12,_2007,_Baghdad_airstrikehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_in_New_Baghdad


10/12

We're excited about what we've been ableto do, and we couldn't have done it without

membership support!

Become a Member TODAY!

Membership Types

Individual........................................$25Family..............................................$50

Ambassador.........................................$100Sustainer........................................$300Sponsor...............................................$500Patron..............................................$1,000

Name:Address:

Telephone:

E-Mail:

Amount Enclosed:

Please fill out this form and return with payment to:The Barrier Islands Center

PO Box 206, Machipongo, VA 23405.

Or you can join online at www.barrierislandscenter.com

Our Eastern Shore:

A Fish Story

T h e h i s t o r i c

s e a f o o d

community of

Willis Wharf was

k n o w n a s

Downings Wharf

until about 1886.

It was the Atlantic part of the huge manor plantation of

the Downing Family and included land on Hog Island.

The Downings are remembered today as a family of

physicians and pharmacists.

In a neglected overgrown corner of the Downing

cemetery rests Margaret Downing Upshur. Her grave is

the oldest dated stone. She died in 1789.

Plantation owners often gave gracious social affairs

lasting several days. There would be balls, theatricals,

horse races and even fishing expeditions. Ralph

Whitelaws Virginias Eastern Shore recalls an event

that involved Margaret.

As a guest at nearby Woodlands Plantation, then owned

by the Michael family, she was constantly pestered by

the amorous attention of William W. Michael. We must

surmise that the young lady was less than enchanted by

the young gentleman. While on an arranged fishing trip

near the Barrier Islands, a frustrated Margaret rejectedWilliams repeated suggestions of marriage by

removing a finger ring and flinging it out into the

water. She announced that she would marry him if she

ever saw the ring again.

Fish are attracted to shiny objects. While cleaning the

catch for the evening meal, the servants discovered the

swallowed ring. True to her word, Margaret married

Mr. Michael on February 11th, 1772. Margaret outlived

her ardent suitor, and on March 17th, 1781 became the

second wife of John Upshur. Margaret died at the ageof thirty-six.

This vignette was written by Jerry Doughty and

produced for Our Eastern Shore, a joint project of the

Barrier Islands Center and WHRO. Funded in part by

Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, the 90-second

vignettes are available as archived podcasts at

whro.org.

Contact Information

PO Box 206, Machipongo, VA 23405

757.678.5550

[email protected]

Laura Vaughan, Executive Director

Sally Dickinson, Director of Education

Kristen Dennis, Director of Operations

Monika Bridgforth, Director of Planning and

Development


11/12

Check out whats been going on around the BIC: Miriam Riggs Floorcloth Class,

Pirate Camp, Starbase Victory Group, What is Bio-Dynamic Gardening? with

Stewart Lundy, P.G. Ross Decoy Carving Class, Bobby Bridges Fish Art Class,

Northampton County Migrant Summer Program, Chesapeake Boy Scout Troup 934,

Red, White & Ewe book readings, and Easter Fun!


12/12

PRSRT STD

Non-Profit Org.

US Postage

PAID

Permit #206

Machipongo, VA23405

Barrier Islands Center PO Box 206 Machipongo, VA 23405

Barrier Islands Center Fall 2014 Newsletter

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Transcript of Barrier Islands Center Fall 2014 Newsletter