A Country Wedding, 1951, Anna Mary Robertson (Grandma) Moses (1860-1961), Copyright © Grandma Moses Properties, New York
June 2021
Bennington Museum Monthly
Dear Museum friends and supporters:

I want to take a moment to thank you for all you have done for the Museum this year. Our tireless volunteers have kept our research library open to the public, have assisted with the pre-school Museum ABC program, and have raked up debris on the walking trails. Beyond that, your donations have helped to cover the cost of some important maintenance to our waterline to prevent flooding and to keep our doors open.

In my time here as interim director you have surprised me again and again with your enthusiasm, generosity to the Museum, and graciousness towards me as I learned the ins and outs of this complicated role. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you, but I know that some of you have not yet had a chance to get out to the Museum.

Well, our summer season is quickly approaching and we have so many great cultural events lined up! I hope you all can come see some of our amazing exhibits, join us for an outdoor concert, or pop into the spring "wedding" celebration at the Museum this weekend where we will honor Alison Nowak and Bob Cane with the General Stark award. When you do stop by, please make sure to seek me out and say hello so that I can thank you for your support in person.

With gratitude,
David Pilachowski
June Events
(and a little bit of May)
Saturday, 5/29
3pm - 4pm
A long-awaited concert featuring new music on old instruments. Due to rain, this event will be hosted indoors.
Sunday, 5/30
5pm - 7pm
Celebrate the new exhibits at Bennington Museum, honor the recipients of the General Stark award, and enjoy some wedding cake! Due to rain on Friday the 28th, we will be hosting this event on Sunday instead, indoors.
Tuesday, 6/01
noon - 1pm
A virtual event discussing the current exhibition,
"Neveruses: Beyonder"
Friday, 6/04
5pm - 7pm
AND TEACHERS' ART SHOW RECEPTION
Join us for food, drink, and good company at the first Friday show of the season. Meet the Teachers to explore the exhibit at 5pm.
Saturdays & Sundays
11am - 3pm
Summer Courtyard Cafes Kickoff Weekend
R&D Island Taste on Saturday, and Corner of India on Sunday!
Friday, 6/11
5pm - 7pm
Join us for food, drink, and good company!
Saturday, 6/12
3pm - 5pm
SOLD OUT, but check out future events HERE and HERE.
Thursday, 6/17
1:30pm-2:30pm & Saturday, 6/19
10:30am-11:30am
A free in-person outdoor event for pre-school kids
Friday, 6/18
5pm - 7pm
Join us for food, drink, and good company!
Sunday, 6/20
2pm - 3pm
A free virtual event presented by the Bennington Historical Society
Friday, 6/25
5pm - 7pm
Join us for food, drink, and good company!
Saturday, 6/26
1pm - 4pm
An in-person, hands-on, indoor workshop
The Teacher's Institute
The Vermont Humanities Council has awarded a $5,000 grant to support the formation of a summer Teacher’s Institute at Bennington Museum. This program takes place on-site from July 12-16 and has space for ten regional teachers to participate. Teachers can obtain 3 graduate level credits through Castleton University.

"I am excited to be able to offer this opportunity for educators to learn more about the resources museums have to offer. Art and historic objects are great tools for engaging learners in new ways and for supporting the critical thinking skills that are emphasized in the Common Core and other learning standards."
~ Deana Mallory, Director of Public Programming

Registration is now open and we invite you to share this with any area friends you have in the educational field, or with your child's teachers.
All About Exhibitions
The Teachers' Art Show...
Speaking of teachers, don't miss your chance to see some amazing pieces created by our area art educators. The Teachers' Art Show features over 20 different artists from nearby schools and is on display in the Grandma Moses Schoolhouse through June 18th.
AnnaLise McNeice, MAUHS - Barn Shadows
We will host a reception for these teachers on June 4th at the first Friday night Concert in the Courtyard. Stop in to help us celebrate these teachers who have kept the arts alive in our schools through this unpredictable year. Admission is free from 4-6pm!
NBOSS at the Museum Returns...
Now in its 24th year, the North Bennington Outdoor Sculpture Show (NBOSS) is the longest running outdoor sculpture exhibition in Southern Vermont. From June 19th to November 7th, large-scale outdoor works will be featured throughout the historic village of North Bennington, at the Hiland Hall Gardens, and on the 10-acre campus of Bennington Museum in Old Bennington.

Local artist Joe Chirchirillo will curate this premier cultural event, and for the 2nd consecutive year, he will be joined by Jamie Franklin at Bennington Museum. For the summer and fall of 2021, the team has brought together over 50 internationally recognized and emerging artists from the surrounding area with their works split between the three locations: 41 pieces in North Bennington, 4 pieces at the Hiland Hall Gardens, and 26 pieces at Bennington Museum. These creative pieces can be enjoyed at no cost and at the viewer’s convenience. Sculptures are available for purchase, and maps will be available on-site and on our website. We will also post images and artist information to the exhibition page once each of the sculptures is installed.

Everyone is invited to an opening celebration on Saturday June 19th from 4pm to 8pm in the Village of North Bennington, centered at the Vermont Arts Exchange. In the Fall, the Museum will host a closing event to honor the artists on our campus.
A Call to Artists!
Bryan Memorial Gallery and Bennington Museum are hosting a collaborative exhibition next summer, 2022: Parks & Recreation. This show will highlight historical and contemporary interpretations of Vermont’s 55 state parks and explore the diverse beauty of these protected wildscapes in all seasons.

All artists working in original 2-dimensional artwork will be invited to visit their choice of Vermont parks, enveloping themselves in the creative inspiration to represent in their creations. Artists may submit up to three pieces to the exhibition jury in spring 2022, which means that the time to get painting is NOW! Complete exhibition specifications, including details about how to obtain free park passes, will be posted on the websites of Bryan Memorial Gallery and Bennington Museum this month.

If you know an interested artist, please pass this information along.
Support Bennington Museum and Local Artists
From basket making to Pysanky egg decorating, our warm-weather workshops are proving very popular! The Museum Store will be carrying unique products by these local artisan instructors throughout the summer. If you need a gift idea for someone, just visit the Museum Store online, or stop by in person to see what is on display. When you shop locally, you are supporting Bennington Museum, these area artists, and your community.
STAY CONNECTED
Bennington Museum engages and transforms our visitors and our community by connecting you to the region’s diverse arts, rich history, and culture of innovation.