Winter 2014-15 Newsletter

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NEWSLETTER

Eastern Shore of VirginiaBarrier Islands Center

Winter 2014-2015

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

Heart of the Community, Soul of a Culture

Snow on the Half Shellby Diane Ginsburg

This BIC exclusive gallery-wrapped canvas comes in avariety of sizes and ready to hang.

Look inside for more great gift ideas!



I am so excited! I have a new little grandson, Hayes, born in Austin, Texas on

October 1st. My first grandson, Gabe, will turn 5 soon and has a baby sister due by

Christmas. And by mid-January, another little bundle of joy is due in Virginia Beach.

With all these grandbabies coming into my life, I’m spending a lot of time wondering

what my legacy to them should be.

Growing up in rural eastern North Carolina, both sets of grandparents

delighted in imparting to me their respect and appreciation for the wisdom of those

who work the land and the water. In addition, my Grandma Lallie instilled in all of us

the value of music and art, as well as the joy of pulling out the shiny silver for guests. I

have my country doctor Granddaddy to thank for teaching me the importance of

serving and being trusted by your local community. I am super proud that the BIC’s My First Field Trip

program is recreating some of those same elements that my grandparents instilled in me: exposure to

culture, an understanding of local history, and using good manners as a sign of respect.

Recently, founding Board Member Ann Dearman personally experienced My First Field Trip. This

was her first visit since the BIC opened its doors in 2002. Ann was able to watch as the four-year-olds

enthusiastically absorbed the top shelf music and art lessons, learned how to use an old-fashioned pump to

draw water from the ground and, most importantly, were positively reinforced in their use of good manners. Ann also learned how the local community continues to support the BIC. After recalling the many difficult

and critical decisions faced by the founding board members, Ann was thrilled to see that her hard work in

those early days continues to pay off.

I am inspired and grateful every day that this property provides such a perfectly yummy and inviting

setting to share with the community. All children should grow up understanding where they’re from and

what makes them who they are, and I love that the BIC helps preserve important local values and traditions,

as my grandparents did for me. Thanks to wonderful people like Ann Dearman, all our children can connect

with their history and learn what makes them special. What a wonderful legacy to leave the Eastern Shore!

arley

Wescott

ia

BIC Babies!



“I Did It for MyGrandchildren”

That was the sentiment voiced

by waterman Tim Bell, who is featured

in the latest BIC documentary film,

Watermen, by fi lmmaker James

Spione. Tim was incredibly generous

with his time and his stories while we

interviewed and shadowed him during

his workday. As we thanked him, Tim

shrugged his shoulders and explained in a soft voice that it was really about his grandchildren: he was

doing this so his grandkids can have a piece of their grandfather forever.

In capturing the stories of Tim Bell and others like him, the BIC is preserving core aspects of

the Eastern Shore’s culture and heritage, and making sure that future generations will have access to

them. Each film or book brings a rich treasure of personal stories that resonate with familieseverywhere. BIC is able to take these personal stories to venues across the Commonwealth through

the BIC On the Road outreach program.

The most satisfying part of BIC On the Road is being able to connect with a wide range of ages

and groups representing different spheres of influence. This fall, the outreach effort is reaching

audiences from the Cape Charles Library, where a dozen preschoolers chuckle about Hog Island sheep

shenanigans during story hour, to the 2014 Richmond Folk Festival, where thousands of attendees

learn about decoy carvers perfecting their craft and passing it on to subsequent generations. So Tim

Bell’s legacy to his grandchildren also becomes his gift to the Eastern Shore – and well beyond.

BIC On the Road highlights:

In partnership with the Eastern Shore Soil and Water Conservation District, the BIC screened the

film Watermen for every 6th grade public school class in Accomack County, and some private

schools – that’s over 400 students! The film served as the culmination to the annual Watershed

Festival, with the theme “Compare the Chesapeake Bay of 1800’s to Today.”

Andrew Barbour, author of The Hog Island Sheep in Red, White and Ewe , read the story to

children and adults attending the Pungoteague Elementary School Family Literacy night, and

story hours at the Cape Charles Library and Northampton Free Library. All three locations

received donated books.

The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) screened the BIC film Spirit of the Bird as

part of their documentary series at the 2014 Richmond Folk Festival. The weekend-long free

annual festival attracts over 125,000 people. Eastern Shore decoy carvers Grayson Chesser and

P.G. Ross, both featured in the film, demonstrated their craft at the festival.

The latest film, Watermen, will air on Hampton Roads public television station WHRO in early

December during the station’s fund drive week. Stay tuned to the BIC Facebook page and Channel 15

for more details…!



The Carvers

Grayson Chesser ●Cigar Daisey

Arthur Leonard ●Ken Marshall ●Cork McGee

Cameron McIntyre ● Ian McNair ● Mark McNair

Pete Peterson ●P.G. Ross

Reception Exhibit

Friday, November 7th

5:00-8:00 p.m.

Tickets will be limited

$20 per person

Call 757.678.5550 to R.S.V.P.

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 casual conversations with Virginia’s

finest carvers. These talented artists will have

a range of their work on display and will also

have some pieces for sale.

Virginia’s 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

d’oeurvres, art, traditions, and stories.

Meet

Come shop with us - order by phone - shipping available!

757.678.5550



Museum News...

There is a magic that happens at the BIC when the right person withthe right piece of history walks in the door at the right time! This season,that magic has centered on the memory of Harry Holcomb, a foundingmember of the BIC and volunteer extraordinaire. Though Harry passedaway last year, his legacy to the BIC lives on through the careful accessionsprocesses he established and the Smith’s Island history he so lovinglysought to preserve.

Growing up in a New England shipping family, Harry heard talesabout one of his grandfather's ships, the Massasoit , having wrecked off thecoast of Virginia. After moving to the Eastern Shore, Harry attended adinner party and met Virginia Walker. As they exchanged personalhistories, Harry discovered that it was Virginia’s grandfather, U.S. LifeSaving Service Captain George Hitchens, who led the rescue of theMassasoit on Smith’s Island! Bolstered by this discovery, Harry devotedmuch of his energy and time to preserving the story of the Massasoit andother aspects of Barrier Islands history. The BIC could never have dreamedof having such a knowledgeable and dedicated volunteer!

A second set of Smith’s Island (or Smith Island, as it is now commonly known) coincidences occurredrecently. As the gallery was being updated this summer, two new artifacts found their way to the BIC:

a pocket watch that belonged to Capt.George Hitchens, loaned by theCaptain’s great-grandson, DonaldHitchens

a remarkable fragment of 1700s brownstoneware pottery discovered on SmithIsland this summer, donated by NatureConservancy employee Karli Rogers

These additions will add even morecontext to the Smith Island gallery. Harry

would be very pleased! Additional Collections updates:

The Congressional Silver Medalpresented to James Doughty for the1892 rescue of the San Albano, donated by his great-grandson, Sam Taylor;

Outdoor information markers about the buildings and history of the alms house,donated by retired BIC historian, JerryDoughty;

A new display about the geography of barrier islands in the Map Roomcreated by summer intern, Bess Badger;

A Native American display withhundreds of artifacts, collected andinterpreted by Bob Bredimus; and

The white cross marker andinformation about the souls buried inthe Almshouse cemetery, by MiriamRiggs.

Capt. Hitchens’ Pocket Watch

Stoneware Pottery

Congressional Silver Medal

Barrier Islands Display

Harry Holcomb



Come Learn With Us!

Painting to Music

Abrakadoodle

Children’s Art

Class

(ages 5-10)

Wednesdays

Feb. 11th—March 18th (6 weeks)

3:45-4:45 p.m.Cost: $75 (pre-registration required)

Students will learn about shades and tints, free

form shapes, Cubism, printing and study several

artists including Paul Klee, Peter Max, and

Jackson Pollock. They will use tempera paint,

acrylics, watercolor paint, liquid watercolor, and

other art media to explore music through our

art.

Parent and Child

Decoy Carving

Class with

P.G. Ross

(3-session class)

Saturday, Dec. 6

Saturday, Dec. 13 ANDSunday, Dec. 14

1:00-3:00 p.m.

Cost: $75 per person

(due at registration)

What could be more fun than carving a bird? How

about sharing the experience with your child or

parent? In this first class of its kind offered at the BIC,

parents (or grandparents) and their child can learn

and practice the technique of carving together underthe guidance of P.G. Ross. Each person will make a

full sized cork mallard to hunt with (choice of a drake

or hen) and finish the class with a pair of mallards,

one made by the parent and one by the child. Class is

limited to 12 people. Pre-registration is

required . Cost includes materials and use of

instructor’s tools. NOTE: the class is open to

individuals as well as child/parent combos.

Fish & Boat Art class

with

Bobby Bridges(ages 7 and up)

Saturday, January 24

1:00 - 4:oo p.m

Cost: $85 per person

(pre-registration required)

Artists and craftsmen will be supplied a solid

color, previously painted fish body or

Chesapeake Bay sailing workboat by artist

Bobby Bridges that they will turn into a

creative masterpiece by adding rusty steel or

copper patina and other detail. The power of

their imaginations will produce a work of “fish

or boat art” ready to swim the Eastern Shore

breezes in their own backyard or adorn that

perfect spot in their room. Class size limited

to 10 people.

Save the Date!

Art & Music on the Farm

Saturday, May 23, 2015

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



Candle Making

Classes*

with instructor

Mary Clements

Rolled and Dipped

Tuesday, November 11th from 1:00 -4:00 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 2nd from 1:00 - 4:00 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 skincare 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.

Ring in the Holidays at the

Barrier Islands Center!December 7th

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. Enjoy wool spinning demonstrations by

Karyn Belknap of “Ten Good Sheep,” as well as

music by ESO’s Youth Chorale.

Cameron Waff Art Show

1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Cost: FREE!

Original Paintings from The Hog Island Sheep in

Red, White and Ewe by illustrator Cameron Waff.Ever wished you could have a favorite illustration

from a book on your wall? Now is your chance!

Waff’s original paintings featured in the BIC’s 2nd

book will be for sale.

9th Annual How Did Santa Claus Get Down

a Twisted Chimney?

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

Cost: $20

What a fun way to ring in the holidays! Students willdecorate 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.

UVA Ecological Reflections Melding Science and Art

Lecture and ExhibitThursday, February 18th at 5 p.m.

Cost: FREE

Dr. Art Schwarzchild, research faculty member in the Department of Environmental Sciences of the UVA

College of Arts and Sciences and site director at the University’s Anheuser-Busch Coastal Research Center

in Oyster, will speak about the art and ecology workshop he developed to help local public school teachers

integrate environmental sciences into their classes through the melding of art and science. A three- day for

-credit class provided local and regional art teachers an opportunity to learn and practice the techniques

used in plein air painting, along with an introduction to the ecology and environmental issues impacting

salt marshes. The art exhibit will feature the teachers’ seaside plein-air paintings created during the class,

while artist-in residence Alice McEnerney Cook’s paintings will be for sale.



Dates to Remember

November 7

Meet the Carvers

***

November 11

Rolled and Dipped Candle Making ***

December 2

Container and Mold Candle Making

***

December 6, 13 and 14

Parent and Child Decoy Carving Class

with P.G. Ross

***

December 7

Book ReadingCameron Waff Art Show

9th Annual Twisted Chimney Class

***

January 16

Growing a Better Future: Food Forests,

a New Food System

***

January 24

Fish and Boat Art Class

with Bobby Bridges***

Feb. 11, 18, 25, Mar. 4, 11 and 18

Painting to Music

Abrakadoodle Children’s Art Class

***

February 18

Science and Art Lecture and Exhibit

***

February 19

Gone But Not Forgotten—The History of

the Ferry Service

on the Eastern Shore

***

February 28

BIC’s Oyster Roast Fundraiser

***

March 20

Ireland in Song and Story

Jay Ford “Growing a Better

Future: Food Forests, A

New Food System”

Friday, Jan. 16 at 10:30 a.m.

Jay Ford, owner of Shine andRise Farm, an organic farm

f o l l o w i n g p e r m a c u l t u r e

methodology in Painter, will talk

about the benefits of food

forests. A food forest is an

efficient food production and

land management system which

mimics a woodland ecosystem by substituting edible trees,

shrubs, perennials and annuals. Shine and Rise Farm is

partnering with Shorekeepers and Central Green to create

Virginia’s first food forest.

Ron West “Gone But Not Forgotten - The History of

the Ferry Service on the Eastern Shore”

Friday, Feb. 19 at 10:30 a.m.

Ron West’s talk and slide show will cover the era of the

Cape Charles and Kiptopeke ferry service. Car ferries began

to operate from Cape Charles to Norfolk in the 1920s. That

ended with the opening of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Tunnel in 1964. Come relive those restful 90-minute ridesacross the Bay and learn the history of the area.

“Ireland in Song and Story”

Friday, March 20 at 10:30 a.m.

Back by popular demand! Celebrate Ireland’s musical

heritage with Gregg Kimball and Mary Smith as they

perform traditional Irish songs and discuss the historical

and cultural factors that helped to shape the music of the

Emerald Isle. From lively slip jigs to haunting ballads, thesongs tell the story of a people who endured famine,

hardship and emigration, but retained a vibrant and

indomitable spirit. Visit Mary and Gregg’s website at

www.maryandgregg.com

Cost: FREE!

http://www.maryandgregg.com/

http://www.maryandgregg.com/



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:

Nathan Cobb, Jr.

One of the most revered decoy carvers from the

Eastern Shore region was Nathan F. Cobb, Jr. who

lived from 1825-1905. He and his father Nathan Cobb

Sr. and two brothers Warren and Albert, came down

from Massachusetts in the mid-1830s and settled on

Sand Shoal Island, one of Virginia’s Barrier Islands,

which they named Cobb’s Island. Nathan Jr. was a

wildfowl market hunter, and he and his dad and

brothers formed a salvage team for shipwrecks off the

coast of the Barrier Islands. The Cobbs owned and

operated a sportsmen’s resort called the Cobb Island

Hotel and Hunt Club. It attracted the wealthy from the

North and other notables such as former Confederate

President Jefferson Davis.

It is possible that all the Cobb men carved their own

decoys to hunt over, but experts believe that most of

the carving was done by Nathan Jr. and his son

Elkanah, who identified their work by carving their

initials into the bottom of the bird. Nathan Cobb’s

carving style was reminiscent of New England and

Barnegat Bay, reflecting the area the family had come

from and their travels along the coast.

The Cobbs carved their decoy bodies from the masts of

wrecked ships. Using natural materials found on the

island, Nathan carved goose and brant necks from

holly branches. The beautiful natural line of the

branch created the illusion of movement, which

helped set Nathan Jr.’s decoys apart from the rest. The

subtle tilt of a bill evoked the feeling that the artist

knew and studied his subjects very well. Cobb also

used glass eyes imported from Germany, as well as

copper nails taken from wrecked ships. The storms

that ravaged the island unfortunately destroyed many

of this master’s decoys, but there are still some of

these treasures around today and they bringastronomical prices at auction.

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



Cape Charles Christian School

Fierce Arrow

Abrakadoodle Cooking Camp

Lower-Northampton County

Mothers of Preschoolers Group

Check out what’s been going on around the BIC...

Norfolk Academy

Chesapeake Bay Fellows

My First Field Trip

Student

Red, White & Ewe Book

Reading at the Cape Charles

Library

Naval Weather Service

Association

Hampton Roads Chapter

Dogs on the Farm

My First Field Trip

Student

Dogs on the Farm



PRSRT STD

Non-Profit Org.

US Postage

PAID

Permit #206

Machipongo, VA23405

Barrier Islands Center ● PO Box 206 ● Machipongo, VA 23405

Feast on local Eastern Shore oysters and

clams, pork barbecue, grilled chicken and

more...all in the comfort of a heated tent

$10 for Chatham Vineyards wine and a fine

selection of beer on tap, including refills

Warm up with local Eastern Shore Coastal

Roasting’s coffee and peanuts

Save the date

BIC’s

Oyster Roast Fundraiser

February 28, 2015 4-8:00 p.m.

$75 per person

Advanced ticket sales to BIC members

January 6 thru 13, 2015

Winter 2014-15 Newsletter

Documents

Transcript of Winter 2014-15 Newsletter