The Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, the first and only Smithsonian Affiliate in Maine, will open a new permanent exhibit May 1. “People of the First Light” explores the life, history and culture of Wabanaki people.
The museum will be closed through Saturday while the exhibit is installed in the main gallery.
“The exhibit’s content, artifacts, images and interactive and participatory elements have been informed by the Abbe’s recently adopted interpretive framework, as well as input from our Native Advisory Council and native advisors,” Julia Gray, director of collections and interpretation at the Abbe, said in a press release. “When complete, this exhibit will form the new core of our exhibits program and will offer a new dynamic for our educational programs.”
While the exhibit is considered permanent, it will be designed so that topics can be updated to reflect changing events. Ongoing conversations with Wabanaki advisors will guide additional changes as needed.
“People of the First Light” will be the museum’s largest exhibit, but there will be other changing exhibitions, like the popular annual Waponahki Student Art Show, in the smaller galleries.
For more information, go to abbemuseum.org.
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