Exhibit celebrates Thoreau
GREENVILLE — The Center for Moosehead History, part of the campus of the Moosehead Historical Society contains a fascinating exhibit of Henry David Thoreau assembled by artist Beth Henderson of Belfast. Henderson, a high school teacher in English and environmental education became a stone-carver and found art to be the perfect vehicle to express her love of the natural world. Her exhibit is installed on the first floor of the Center for Moosehead History in celebration of the annual Thoreau Wabanaki Festival, occurring July 16-18.
Thoreau had a passion for Maine, especially the North Woods – he traveled to the Moosehead region three times, in 1846, 1853 and 1857. “Henry David Thoreau was always a favorite amongst the writers I taught,” Henderson says. A statue of Henry, holding the world in his hands is a focal point in the exhibit. Henderson has used an ancient process, a form of encaustic technique, to create this statue. Encaustic, or hot wax painting was especially popular in Egypt when the technique was used in creating luminous portraits of mummies from the First Century BC. Pigments would be added to heated beeswax allowing the medium to be layered and sculpted on to wood and other surfaces. It’s a difficult technique to master, but the results are fascinating and unique.
Henderson’s Thoreau is a great example and her exhibit is her capstone project for the Maine Master Naturalist Program. Throughout the room two- and three-dimensional pieces of her art document his travels and observations of bird and plant life. Intersected with Henderson’s work are artifacts from the museum from the 1800s. It’s delightful to slip back in time and feel what it must have been like to travel up Moosehead Lake in those early days.
In addition there is a glass case dedicated to Greenville’s graduating high school classes. Thanks to the generosity of local people who have loaned precious family memorabilia to the museum, you can see class rings and photographs from as far back as 1918. One early-framed diploma on display measures about 24 inches by 36 inches – testifying that in those days, graduating high school was quite the achievement!
Another room is dedicated to the crash of a B-52 Stratofortress bomber, which plunged into the side of Elephant Mountain in January of 1963. Seven crew members died but the pilot, Lt. Col. Dante Bulli and Navigator, Capt. Gerald Adler survived the frigid night and were rescued by volunteers, members of the Maine Inland Fish and Game Department, the Maine State Police, Civil Air Patrol and Air units from Dow Air Force Base in Bangor. The Herculean efforts, with 80 rescuers involved negotiating snowdrifts of up to 15 feet high on snowshoes or a new invention, the snowmobile. The ejection seat that Capt. Adler sat in is featured in the exhibit. Although the captain’s parachute failed to deploy he was able to ride the seat to the ground and survive that terrible crash.
A third room celebrates the many bush pilots of the Moosehead Region. Their pluck and skill in navigating the area is well known – each year Moosehead continues their tradition with an annual Fly-In, occurring the weekend after Labor Day in September.
The Center for Moosehead History is located on Lake Street and is open to the public Thursday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to the exhibits fascinating programs are offered throughout the summer. On July 15, Maine Guide Eric Ward and Biologist Scott McClellan will speak about The Majestic Moose at 7 p.m. The following evening, Paul Johnson will present a program about the Wildflowers of the Moosehead Region. Dave Mallett will hold an outdoor concert the evening of July 17th. July 18 at 7 p.m., Dr. Nathan Hamilton will present a program about a facet of the rich history in the Moosehead Region.
A silent auction will be featured July 15–18 from 10 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. featuring an assortment of unique items contributed by local merchants, talented artisans as well as residents, members and supporters of the Moosehead Historical Society. The items will be available for viewing at the Center for Moosehead History starting July 15. There are more exciting events slated for August.
Find out more by going online at www.mooseheadhistory.org or emailing mooseheadhistory@myfairpoint.net. You may also call them for information at 695-2909.