Spring Newsletter 2016 E XHIBITIONS AND E VENTS C ALENDAR June July August Sept 4 Mad Hatter’s Party 11 Storytellers Festival 12 Lecture: Tapestry in America 24 Downtown Concert Series —FrostKings 15 Downtown Concert Series—Ballycastle Band 17 New Exhibit—Good Earth—Opening Reception 29 Downtown Concert Series—Rosewood 12 Downtown Concert Series—Barbarroja Latin Band 26 Downtown Concert Series—Jumping the Gun 9 Downtown Concert Series—Sunnyside Jazz 17 Textile Art Exhibit and Sale F r o m t h e D i r e c t o r. . . I have been noticing a recent resurgence in the concept of "storytelling. "Storytelling happens in many situations, from kitchen-table conversation to religious ritual, from libraries and museums to performances for thousands of paying listeners. Some storytelling situations demand informality; others are highly formal. Some demand certain themes, attitudes, and artistic approaches. But one thing is constant—storytelling has always been essential to human development; and the passing down of oral histories, the retelling of tales and the art of captivating an audience with a well-told story have been around for millenia. And what a powerful tool it is! We all have memories of hearing stories as young children—listening to stories about real events and real people told by our parents and grandparents, or enjoying a re-telling of a fairytale or a favorite book, listening to poetry, or seeing a performance of Shakespeare. Storytelling allows us to use our imaginations and lose ourselves under the spell of the storyteller. But storytelling is also an important way to communicate and cultivate community. Shared stories , which are the essence of any community, can inspire and transform a group of people to collectively claim a sense of camaraderie and accomplishment. When one person's story can become three or twenty or one hundred people's stories, then the shared history can serve to bring a community closer. Museums are using storytelling as a method to share their mission and focus attention on their exhibits. After all, the real purpose of a museum is to bring people and communities together and into contact with each other. By caring for local, regional, national and international collections, museums bring meaning, context and consistency to our more fragmented and diverse 21st century cultural and community life. The real things that are a museum’s stock in trade: the people, stories, and objects of art, history and science, are the raw materials of inspiration, and inspiration leads to good storytelling. METC has a wonderful story to tell. For us, this means a renewed focus is on lifelong learning and how we tell our story and story of the people of New Jersey. We are looking at who we are now and how the past has influenced our present. And our story is your story—one that inspires, educates and encourages imagination. Inside this Issue Chairman’s Letter The Craft of a New Logo New Exhibit—Good Earth: Pottery and Terra Cotta Industries in New Jersey Spring Hat Show Success Orange Initiative Continues METC’s mission And more! Museum of Early Trades & Crafts 9 Main Street, Madison, NJ 07940 973-377-2982 fax: 973-377-7358 www.metc.org Spring 2016 Newsletter Page 2 The Chairman’s Letter O ur Museum began operation in 1970, so at age 46 we are a “middle aged” institution. It’s time for reflection, reevaluation and revitalization. That process has been going on for over a year now, and the results are appearing everywhere. We are still the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, but we now promote the acronym METC as our public identity and the symbol of our rebranding activity. You will notice our new logo on this issue of our newsletter, and we have new letterhead and business cards. Our outdoor sign will be refreshed soon, and our completely renewed website is now live at www.metc.org. It will take a while for our refreshed identity to supersede the old completely, but it is a worthwhile and much needed change. Tom Judd, M ETC Board Cha ir Our future is almost limitless, and we are embarking on an exciting new journey. We hope that our members and friends, old and new, will join us on that journey. - Tom Judd, Board Chair The “new METC” is not just new graphics. We have been deeply examining every aspect of our operation. While we remain true to our mission by remaining grounded in the past, we aim to be a modern and relevant 21st century institution. We seek to embrace the needs and interests of our audience while helping them to understand how the work and lifestyles of our forebears have influenced who we are and how we live today. Almost everything we do can be traced through history. METC is a museum of history, but one that is now more focused on the present while looking to the future. We will continue to present programs that look back to our roots, but there will be many more that examine the world of today and ponder the world of the future. What we eat, how we dress, where we work, what we create, and how we communicate are all aspects of our lives that reach back through all of history, but they are continually changing. We believe that remembering the past can help us to understand and adapt to our current and future lives. Our future is almost limitless, and we are embarking on an exciting new journey. We hope that our members and friends, old and new, will join us on that journey. - Tom Judd New Logo—Symbolically Moving Forward I magine putting the last forty years of your life in one picture. Then try to put the next 10 years into the same picture. That was the challenge presented to local graphic artist and painter, Dennis McKee of Dennis McKee Designs, when asked to create a new logo for METC. "The logo had to honor the past, yet be open to new opportunities for the museum," said McKee. "It had to represent the past, the future, and METC's new active role in telling its story as a museum and a community center for Madison." McKee worked with Executive Director Deborah Farrar Starker, Board Chair Tom Judd, and Strategic Director, Michele Luciano Faas, and after more than 15 different designs the team reached agreement on the present logo. Dennis McKee The design for the new METC sign "The use of symbolism is very important in the new logo design," explained McKee. "The slanted parallelogram denotes forward movement. The golden 'swash' is the bridge between the past and into the future. The simple block letters are indicative of contemporary letterforms. The letters aligned with the edge of the parallelogram creates a feeling of expansion. The predominant red gives a sense of activity and assertiveness." "METC was so very fortunate to have graphic artist Dennis McKee create its new logo and branding image for us," said Deborah Farrar Starker. "Dennis helped us define exactly what message we wanted our logo to convey and guided us expertly through the process. It was a true pleasure to work with him and we are thrilled with the final result. This new branding clearly captures the positive energy and new ideas that will help us increase our visibility, our appeal, our impact and our recognition in the community and beyond." - Erin O’Donnell Spring Newsletter 2016 Page 3 Upcoming Exhibit: Good Earth: Pottery and Terra Cotta Industries O ur upcoming exhibit, Good Earth: Pottery and Terra Cotta Industries in New Jersey, follows the world-famous New Jersey clay industry from the earthenware jugs of the colonial kitchen to the terra cotta masterpieces that shaped American skylines in the late 19th century. During this time, artisans and entrepreneurs competed to harvest the rich clay resources of New Jersey's rivers. Over 40 terra cotta companies called New Jersey home over the state's six-decade reign as the terra cotta capital of the world, eventually merging into mega-companies like Atlantic Terra Cotta in Perth Amboy and Rocky Hill and designs that live on in the Woolworth Building and the Flat Iron Building in New York. People have appreciated the durability of pottery for thousands of years. In New Jersey, Native Americans began making pottery for storage and cooking before 200 B.C.E. The earliest attempts to start pottery shops in New Jersey date to the late 1600s. Most of these early potters were farmers with small backyard kilns and kick wheels who made kitchen crocks for their neighbors from clay they harvested and prepared by hand. Even as the craft of pottery evolved into grandiose forms, the basic technologies and skills of the trade remained the same. Today, handmade pottery is experiencing a renaissance as people continue to rediscover how pottery can be both practical and artistic. The exhibit will also feature tools and original pottery from the museum's collection as well as photographs, shop drawings, terra cotta and brick molds, and examples of ornamental terra cotta pieces. A special highlight of this exhibit will be two c. 1899 terra cotta finials from the museum's building, removed for renovation and on display for this one-time-only show. Their fleur-de-lis design exemplifies the artistic flair of late 19th century terra cotta ornaments. "Granite disintegrates and crumbles...Marble soon moulders into dust...but hard, well-burnt clay endures forever The exhibit will open on July 17 and will run through December 31, 2016. - Kristin Lapos in the ancient landmarks of mankind." - Walter Geer The Story of Terra Cotta, c. 1920 METC Moving Forward U pdating our Permanent Exhibits As METC moves forward to focus on the extraordinary stories we tell, we are in the planning stages of reinterpreting our existing Main Level Exhibit New Jersey Family, originally installed in 1996. Using our collection of artifacts and material culture from the 18th and 19th centuries, our exhibits communicate, reveal and form connections, with the audience providing a tangible link between us and people of past societies. The current exhibit interprets a typical rural family circa 1800, displaying the division of labor among family members, and is informative and historically accurate, but lacks vibrancy, interactive components, adequate lighting, and accessibility. Modern exhibit design and interpretation will help give meaning to these early settlers' lives by revealing connections to larger stories that resonate with 21st century families. Phase 1 of this project, for which we anticipate receiving NJHC funding, will include planning criteria to identify audience, message, objects and themes. We will re-design the exhibition and the space while retaining the basic theme of the early New Jersey Family and further develop and expand the visitor's engagement and understanding of this topic. O ral History Project Our Education and Curatorial staff are in the process of developing a major proposal to create a comprehensive Oral History Project at METC. Oral Histories are verbal documents that contribute to an understanding of the past. We will be engaging high school students, historians and Humanities experts to partner with us on this project which will culminate in an exhibit focusing on these oral testimonies and interpretations of New Jersey History. Page 4 Spring 2016 Newsletter Spring Hat Show Success! O Monika Stebbins Spring Hat Show Director n March 6, METC hosted the Spring Hat Show and became a fashion showcase of over 50 handcrafted modern hats created by milliners from The Milliners Guild. Over 60 guests enjoyed the hat fashion show along with light refreshments, and the opportunity to purchase these one-of-a-kind hats. METC Curator, Kristin Lapos also led a guided tour through the museum's latest exhibit, The Milliner’s Tale: The Craft of Hat Marking during the early part of the afternoon. The show was directed by Monika Stebbins, milliner, co-curator of the exhibit and owner of the newly opened Hat Shop Madison. Eric Hafen, Artistic Director of the Bickford Theatre, was Master of Ceremonies for the show. After the show, the hat sale was enthusiastic and proceeds went to METC programming. Modeling the gorgeous hats were former Olympian JoJo Starbuck, historian Janet Foster, actress/ singer/musician Deborah Fennelly, freelance marketer Chris Anderson, and former Madison resident and pharmaceutical advertising executive Leah Starker. Hair and makeup for the models was provided by Salvatore Minardi Salon. METC thanks our event sponsors, Irene Maroney, Rodger Herrigel, Andrew B. Boles and Codfish Park Design for their support of this event and their continued support of the Museum. - Erin O’Donnell Milliners Kathy Anderson and Wanda Chambers Virginia Wilson, Board Trustee, wearing a beautiful hat by Monika Stebbins Margaret Merson enjoyed the day with her mother and grandmother Janet Foster, model and hat enthusiast, trying on hats after the show. Patricia Fox, NYC stylist, and milliners Sally Caswell and Ellen Christine after the show. METC Beyond the Walls W ho knew that museums could be...well...gross? METC is proud to be a part of Historic Speedwell's new exhibit called "Commodes, Coffins, and Consumption,” part of the “Gross Tour,” which runs from April 1 to October 31, 2016. METC contributed several "gross” items from its collection that help to illustrate how 19th century families like the Vails (who lived at Historic Speedwell) handled toiletry, medicine, and food before the Industrial Era. METC contributed 16 objects, including a lard press, a leg brace, bleeding cups, a head saw, a hog scraper, obstetrical forceps, syringes, and a tooth extractor. We encourage our METC members to go and have a “stinky, sticky” visit to the Vail House for a gross tour. This exhibit highlights how very disgusting history can be! - Kristin Lapos Page 5 Spring Newsletter 2016 Interns Connect METC to Local Universities T Kristin Lapos, former intern and METC’s new Curator of Collections he Museum of Early Trades & Crafts is fortunate to have an ongoing interning relationship with several local universities. This academic year, seven college students representing three universities, have worked with us. Cathy Walter (Seton Hall University, M. A. Museum Professions 2016): "One of the best things about working at METC is the location. Madison has such a wonderful, small-town feel and the residents are so supportive and appreciative of the museum!" Cathy has assisted with weekend coverages, exhibits, and children's craft programs. "Definitely the most special project I've worked on is installation of The Milliner's Tale. All the creative, productive energy was exciting and inspiring." Alexa Zbieranowski (Drew University): "One of my most meaningful tasks was helping Kristin (Curator of Collections) with phase one of the deaccessioning project. It has even opened my eyes to a new interest in collections management! I have learned skills at METC that I never would have encountered in the classroom. From working with archival software to observing school programs, I have learned how METC puts a mission into action through an engaging interpretation of the past. I am very grateful for the opportunity to intern in such a warm environment." Interns Daniela Correia (left), Alexa Zbieranowski (center) and David Giacomini David Giacomini (Drew University): "The environment was friendly and welcoming from the moment I walked through the door. I have met so many wonderful people, and I hope I get the opportunity to come back next year." David's plans are to become a history teacher. "I absolutely love getting the opportunity to assist with the education programs at the Museum. It is so great to see the children working on and enjoying the crafts and lessons. Interning with the museum has allowed me to practice my skills and learn many new ones as well." Daniela Correia (B.A. Rutgers, 2016): “I enjoyed assisting the educators during the programs and being able to observe and learn from the best.” Other interns working at the Museum this year are Peggy Shriber (Seton Hall University) and Ruth Dorton (Seton Hall University) will both be attending graduate school in the Fall. Kristin Lapos (Seton Hall University, M. A. Museum Professions 2016) will continue on at METC in her new position as Curator of Collections. Cathy Walter, Seton Hall Intern Working with college students is a win-win situation for all involved. The interns take part in meaningful work-related experiences, and METC receives invaluable assistance from the brightest and best students around. We wish them luck in their studies and look forward to continuing our relationships with them in the future.” - Meg Wastie METC Moving Forward S TEM in Education Programming Providing learning opportunities both in and out of the classroom is the focus of METC's mission. One of the most exciting concepts in education today is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). A recent report by from the National Science and Technology Council to the President of the United States, stated that "advances in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have long been central to our Nation’s ability to manufacture better and smarter products, improve health care, develop cleaner and more efficient domestic energy sources, preserve the environment, safeguard national security, and grow the economy." As a museum that interprets the history of technology from the 18th and 19th centuries, we integrate STEM concepts into many of our already existing programs for students in K-12. For example, Curriculum guidelines frequently incorporate "big picture questions" for teachers to use with students including: (Technology) How are simple machines utilized to solve a real-life problem? How do simple machines make our lives easier?(Mathematics) When would you need to find the area or perimeter of an object? What quadrilaterals were used to build this simple machine? (Social Studies) How did technology change our region? METC's Educators are attending workshops and symposia to learn more about integrating these STEM concepts into our educational programs and we are committed to working closely with curriculum administrators around the region to establish cutting-edge programming. Page 6 Spring 2016 Newsletter Orange Initiative Continues METC Mission "T his is the best place I've ever been!" exclaimed a 2nd grader from Seth Boyden School in Maplewood at the end of his field trip to the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts. Thanks to a grant from the Orange Orphans Society, METC has again been able to offer programs free of charge to schools in Orange, East Orange, West Orange, South Orange & Maplewood. The grant generously provides funds for METC programs for students in grades pre-K through 12, covering all costs: program, craft supplies, staff coverage, and round-trip transportation. Students enjoying their day at METC Throughout April, May & June, close to 400 students will be visiting METC for programs ranging from Early American Toys & Tales, to Simple Machines, to Creative Journal Writing in a museum setting. Each program provides a background lesson that supports New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards as well as METC’s mission. Each lesson also includes a take-home craft relevant to the lesson. "We loved every part!" wrote one teacher on her evaluation of their program in April. METC has also provided an incentive for these students and their families to come visit again. Each participating student receives a guest pass for free admission for a family for a return trip to the Museum, "the best place [to be]!" - Meg Wastie The annual Stuffed Animal Sleepover was a rousing success for our guests and their fuzzy friends. The sleepover guests got into much mischief, to the delight of their owners who picked them up the next day! METC went to the dogs for International Children’s Book Day! Therapy dogs from St. Hubert’s Paws for People listened as children read a variety of books. Winston, a very patient Newfoundland, was a BIG hit! The Museum Educators Roundtable I n February, the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts hosted the first meeting of the Museum Educator Roundtable, a forum for museum educators to meet, discuss current issues, share ideas and plan collaborations. Invitations were sent out to museum educators from Paterson to Princeton. Representatives from METC, Liberty Hall in Union, Historic Speedwell, Fosterfields, and Maccullough Hall, all in Morristown, and the Jacobus Vanderveer House in Bedminster were in attendance at the inaugural meeting. Meg Wastie , C urat or of Educat ion The group members discussed topics ranging from pricing, curriculum-relevancy, successes and less-than-successes, possible museum collaborations, and variety of programs. All felt that "venting and validation" were the key words of the day as nods of agreement accompanied each speaker's comments. The Roundtable is scheduled to meet every two months, with each meeting attracting new participants. Liberty Hall in Union hosted the April meeting and Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms in Morris Plains and the Snyder Academy of Elizabethtown came on board. Fosterfields in Morristown will provide the setting for June's meeting. It's great to meet with others who do the same work. Even though our individual missions are diverse, we all have similar issues in common. The participants are excited to share with one another, and are happy with this wonderful new network of colleagues. - Meg Wastie Page 7 Spring Newsletter 2016 Family Event! Mad Hatter Party—June 4th—12 to 4 p.m. O n Saturday, June 4th from 12 pm - 4 pm, put on your favorite hat and join us at the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts (METC) for a Mad Hatter Party! METC invites families and friends to this whimsical celebration of hats and fun featuring live music from local band Half-Step Down, outdoor games with prizes, silly hat making and other crafts, face painting, guided tours of the museum, a popcorn stand, and a visit from the 5 Brother Ice Cream Truck. Guests are encouraged to wear a favorite hat, a silly hat, or a hat from a character in literature or movies. A raffle for a free family membership to METC (value $60) will be held at the end of the day. Sponsored by Investors Bank of Madison. Put on your favorite hat and bring the family to the Mad Hatter Party June 4, 12-4 p.m. Admission - includes access to all games, crafts, guided tour and one ice cream treat $10 for children (ages 2-17) $5 for adults (ages 18-100) (Family Maximum Admission is $35) Guided Tours - These brief, family-friendly tours will be led by Kristin Lapos, Curator of Collections, and will engage even the youngest guest. Two tours are available, no preregistration required: 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lecture! Tapestry in America: The Little Known History T he art of tapestry making has been around for thousands of years and is basically unchanged in technique and structure. Most are familiar with the European work of the medieval and renaissance periods featured in many of our museums. However few are aware that tapestry has held an important place in the history of the Americas. On Sunday, June 12th at 2 p.m. (Admission $10, includes admission to METC) Tapestry artist and conservator, Susan Martin Maffei will touch on the history and the influence on present day works. This lecture is in advance of METC's Textile Art Exhibit and Sale at METC on September 17-18, 2016 at METC. “Traffic” by Susan Martin Maffei Susan Martin Maffei is an internationally known tapestry artist whose background includes art studies at The Art Students League in NYC, tapestry training at Les Gobelins in Paris, apprenticeship and studio work at the Scheuer Tapestry Studio, NYC and conservation of antique textiles at Artweave and Gail Martin Gallery, NYC. She has been weaving her work professionally since 1985. She has taught, lectured and exhibited in both the Americas and abroad and has work in both public and Susan Martin Maffei private collections. Downtown Concert Series Returns! The Downtown Concert Series returns to METC for Summer 2016! These popular FREE Friday evening, family-friendly concerts are held outside on the lawn of the Museum where picnicking is encouraged! All concerts go from 6-8 p.m. Sponsored by the Madison Downtown Development Commission. Rosewood entertains the crowds during our 2015 Downtown Concert Series The Downtown Concert Series 2016 June 24th - The Frost Kings July 15 - Ballycastle Band July 29 - Rosewood August 12 - Barba Roja Latin Band August 26 - Jumping the Gun September 9 - Sunnyside Jazz 9 Main Street Madison, NJ 07940 Museum of Early Trades & Crafts founded by Edgar & Agnes Land in 1969 with their original collection of over 3,000 artifacts. Mission Statement The mission of METC is to enhance the understanding and appreciation of America’s past by presenting and interpreting the history, culture and lives of ordinary people through educational programs, through preservation and stewardship of our collection, and through exhibition and demonstration of the trades and crafts practiced in New Jersey from its earliest settlement. Acknowledgements METC gratefully acknowledges generous funding from: Borough of Madison • The Charles L. Read Foundation • F.M. Kirby Foundation • The Fatzler Foundation •Hyde & Watson Foundation • Madison Rotary • Madison Downtown Development Commission • Investors Savings Bank Charitable Foundation • Morris Arts • Morris County Historic Preservation Trust • Orange Orphan Society Or Current Resident The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State. METC Moving Forward METC Board of Trustees Thomas Judd, Chair Ronald H. Partizian, Vice Chair Virginia Wilson, Secretary Irene Maroney, Treasurer Martin Barbato Eleanor Barbash Berman Allen Black Andrew B. Boles Rodger K. Herrigel Christon S. Kellogg Tyler C. Merson Judith N. Mullins Aldona J. Skrypa Jabez Van Cleef N With METC’s renewed membership to the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) it opened the doors to 14 museums in New Jersey, 16 in New York and 37 in Pennsylvania to METC Patrol Level ($150) Members. In New Jersey alone, a METC membership would give free admission to the following museums: Advisors to the Board Barbara Cicco Nino Coviello Stacy Russo David Strand Montclair Art Museum Morris Plains The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms Macculloch Hall Historical Museum Morris Museum The Newark Museum Princeton University Art Museum Visual Arts Center of New Jersey New Jersey State Museum Thank You for Your Support! New & Renewing Members* and Donors to the 2016 Annual Appeal Michele Luciano Faas Director of Strategic Initiatives Meg Wastie Curator of Education Kristin Lapos Curator of Collections Mary Hann Business Manager Erin O'Donnell External Communications Coordinator Educators Kathleen Brennan Barrett, Mary Ellen McVeigh, Margaret Skelly, Stephanie Turner, Nancy Tenenbaum Museum of Early Trades & Crafts Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial Hunterdon Art Museum Monmouth County Historical Association The Monmouth Museum Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center Become a Patron Level Member to METC Today! METC Staff Jefferson W. Kirby Deborah Farrar Starker Executive Director Volunteers Sandy Miller Citron Diane Celler-Samiljan ARM Opens Doors to Over 67 Museums in Tri-State Area New and Renewing Members Mr. Anderson and Ms. Zowader Dr. Donna R. Barnes Ms. Nancy F. Barrett Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Bendelius Mr. Allen Black and Ms. Nancy Northrup Ms. Bette Blank Mr. & Mrs. A. Dean Burling Mr. Garwood N. Burwell The Carter Family Susan Dunne and Family Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Fennelly Mr. Donald Florio Linnea Rhodes Mr. & Mrs. Larry Fuhro Mr. Robert Garman Ms. Margaret Gilhooley 9 Main Street, Madison, NJ 07940 Mr. Thomas H. Judd Mr. Christon S. Kellogg Mr. & Mrs. E. R. Kerkeslager Mrs. Andrew Korinda Mr. & Mrs. Frank Lang Ms. Sally Lebwohl Mr. & Mrs. Salvatore Luciano Ms. I. Maroney & Mr. C. Bergamasco Mr. & Mrs. Andrew W. Moody Ms. Lindsay Morris Ms. Marilyn Musielski Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin E. Ostrom Carol Preston Mr. & Mrs. Nelson Schaenen, Jr. Ms. Judith B. Seery Mrs. Cassaundra Sledge Mr. Rob Sprau 973-377-2982 The Stebbins Family Mr. David Strand & Family Ms. Mildred E. Swartz Mrs. Margery Van Court 2016 Annual Appeal Donors Mr. & Mrs. Mark & Missy Durham Mr. John S. Hemmendinger Ms. I. Maroney & Mr. C. Bergamasco Mrs. Margery Van Court Mr. Lawrence Chidester, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Boles Mrs. Robert Kissane Mr. & Mrs. Salvatore Luciano Ms. Angelina C. Monti Mr. Harold B. Garwin fax: 973-377-7358 www.metc.org
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