Ready for Battle / Patsy Santo |
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January 2022
Bennington Museum Monthly
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Welcome to 2022! Bennington Museum's galleries may be closed to the public for the winter months, but we still have a lot happening. Read on to see what exciting events and opportunities are coming up, and to learn how you can be a part of it! |
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Frauds, Fakes, and the Real Deal in Early American Samplers
a virtual program presented by Michele Pagán
Wednesday, January 19
6:30pm - 8pm
$12 for Bennington Museum Members
$15 for Not-Yet-Members
Michele Pagán presents an introduction to Bennington Museum’s sampler collection from a conservator’s point of view. This overview of all the samplers in the collection will explore the methods and materials involved in creating these pieces of art and will construct a chronology from the earliest examples (schoolgirl art) up to the present. Michele will raise questions about whether some of the samplers in the collection are what we think they are and provide pointers about how to look for frauds and fakes in your own collection.
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About the Presenter:
Michele Pagán is a recently-returned native Vermonter, who spent her childhood in Bennington. Bennington Museum was her first exposure to the work of museums. Today she is a textile conservator in private practice who likes to say that she is saving history one piece of fabric at a time. A practicing conservator since 1984, her previous clients and employers include the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, The Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History, the U.S. Department of State, Mount Vernon, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, the State of Vermont, and the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, HI, among others. She holds a certificate in Museum Education from Tufts University, and she just completed the Smithsonian Institution’s online certificate for the C3 Framework for Teaching Social Studies. She presently works out of her studio in East Dorset.
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Curatorial Internship Update |
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As stated above, Michele Pagán credits her early experiences with organizations like Bennington Museum for opening new doors to her, allowing her to envision a unique career trajectory. Now, she is in a position to provide the same opportunity to the current generation. In May of 2021, Michele and her husband John made a generous seed gift of $25,000 to the Museum’s permanent endowment intended to provide a paid summer internship opportunity for Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union and Southwest Tech high school students.
"John and I have begun this student internship fund at the Bennington Museum in order to give Bennington students a leg up. Having grown up here, it is wonderful to be able to give back. We hope that this experience will encourage a student to become part of the Vermont History Day competition each year, write a successful college application, and go on to a college career of some sort. In the end, the goal is to develop a citizen with a much better appreciation of museums and their role in cultural heritage preservation."
-Michele Pagán
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In December, this gift was matched by Richard and Sandra Johnson as a tribute to Richard’s mother, Priscilla Blake Johnson.
"My mother was born in 1919 on the 400 acre Blake Family Farm in Chester, Vermont where she grew up with three siblings. She absolutely loved everything about Vermont. She passed away ten years ago, and to honor her, my wife suggested that we make a gift to a cause that my mother would have liked. After studying several possible options, we decided on Bennington Museum and the Internship program. My mother would be pleased because that money is now helping Vermont and some young students in Vermont expand their horizons."
-Richard Johnson
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Priscilla Blake Johnson,
age 21, 1940
Graduation From Bellows Falls VT Hospital
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Following the lead of these visionary supporters who are so invested in providing opportunities to our Bennington high schoolers, the Museum would like to continue to grow this endowment fund over the next 5 years to $125,000 in order to fully support two intern positions each summer. If you are interested in contributing to these efforts, please consider making a gift today! Designate your support for the Internship Fund simply by writing a note in the box provided, or for larger gifts, please contact Alexina Jones in our Development Office: ajones@benningtonmuseum.org.
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If you know a sophomore or a junior enrolled at Mount Anthony Union High School, Arlington High School, or the Southwest Tech program who would be interested in this exciting and challenging summer position with Bennington Museum, please forward them this email with the link to apply below. Applications will close on April 15th, 2022. |
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Critical Connections:
A New Lecture Series sponsored by Williams Financial
Beginning this summer, Bennington Museum is pleased to host an exciting guest lecture series that will spark critical conversations about controversial topics relating to the changing history and charged current events of this area. The idea behind this 4-part series is to provide a platform where important ideas can be discussed, where cross cultural connections can be explored, and hopefully where common ground and understanding can be found within our community.
We offer a huge thanks to Williams Financial for making this lecture series possible. Be on the lookout for the dates and speaker line-up in the spring!
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A Grant for Free Programming |
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Bennington Museum is pleased to announce that Concerts in the Courtyard will return once more this summer season. Last year, over 900 people passed enjoyed the food, music, kids activities, and good company. Thanks to an anonymous grant we will be able to hire 14 regional performing groups to play this outdoor free concert series for each Friday from June 3rd through September 2nd, 2022, from 5pm to 7pm, weather permitting.
The Museum plans to provide children’s activities at the adjacent picnic tables, and will continue our partnership with the Avocado Pit to provide food and drink for the event.
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Musician Applications are open until the end of March. |
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A Welcome Tour
Come explore the Museum for the first time, or join us to help welcome our new members and donors. The Welcome Tour will take place on Friday, January 21st from 4pm - 5pm. RSVP here to let us know if you can make it!
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Join the Monument Society
The Monument Society is a group of Museum supporters who enjoy sharing their love of art, culture, and food with like-minded friends!
Members of the Monument Society receive all the benefits of a top level membership, plus exclusive tours with the executive director, previews, openings, discounts, and special recognition. Moreover, by joining at this level, your investment will bolster arts and culture in our community, and strengthen the Museum's fantastic educational and exhibition programming throughout the year.
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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.
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