Wendell Gilley Museum Of Bird Carving The

THE WENDELL GILLEY MUSEUM IS A COMMUNITY CENTER THAT CELEBRATES THE LIFE AND WORK OF WENDELL GILLEY, A PIONEER IN THE FIELD OF DECORATIVE BIRD CARVING. IT TEACHES THE ART OF BIRD CARVING AS WELL AS OTHER HANDS-ON CREATIVE PROGRAMS AND PRESENTS ART EXHIBITIONS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON PEOPLE, NATURE AND ART. THE MUSEUM ENDEAVORS TO INSPIRE APPRECIATION OF THE VISUAL ARTS, ENGAGEMENT IN ARTISTIC CREATIVITY, AND RESPECT AND CARE FOR THE NATURAL WORLD.

ART EXHIBITIONS - THE WENDELL GILLEY MUSEUM HAS REGULAR GALLERY HOURS MAY THROUGH MID-DECEMBER AND YEAR-ROUND TOURS FOR GROUPS. EVERY YEAR, IN ADDITION TO ROTATING EXHIBITIONS DRAWN FROM THE GROWING PERMANENT COLLECTION , THE MUSEUM MOUNTS AT LEAST ONE MAJOR, TEMPORARY EXHIBITION BRINGING ARTIFACTS FROM OTHER MUSEUMS AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS TO SOUTHWEST HARBOR. SEVERAL FREE ADMISSION DAYS ARE HOSTED ANNUALLY BY THE MUSEUM TO ENCOURAGE ATTENDANCE REGARDLESS OF ECONOMIC MEANS. IN ADDITION, ADMISSIONS FEES HAVE BEEN KEPT DOWN AND A LOW-COST MEMBERSHIP OPTION IS OFFERED AS WELL FOR THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS.

BIRD CARVING AND OTHER HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS - OUTSIDE OF VISITOR HOURS, THE MUSEUM BUILDING IS AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP MEETINGS AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS AT NO CHARGE. BIRD CARVING WORKSHOPS ARE OFFERED YEAR-ROUND AND OTHER HANDS-ON CREATIVE PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED PERIODICALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SESSIONS RANGE FROM 1 1/2 HOURS TO 10-WEEK SERIES OF 3-HOUR CLASSES TO MEMBERS, SCHOOL GROUPS, SENIOR GROUPS AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. MUSEUM MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO MEMBERS' CARVING CLUB HELD WEEKLY NOVEMBER- APRIL, ENSURING REGULAR YEAR-ROUND ACCESS TO THE MUSEUM.

NATURAL HISTORY PROGRAMS - NATURAL HISTORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED YEAR-ROUND TO SCHOOL GROUPS, HOMESCHOOLERS, AND OTHER ADULT AND CHILDREN'S GROUPS. EXAMPLES OF CURRENTLY OFFERED PROGRAMS ARE OWL ECOLOGY, "MY CHANGING NEIGHBORHOOD" STORYBOARD, AND "BUILD-A-BIRD." DURING MUSEUM VISITING HOURS, FILMS, PERSONAL TOURS AND CARVING DEMONSTRATIONS ARE REGULAR FEATURES. THE MUSEUM LIBRARY IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC USE WITH SPECIALIZED HISTORICAL RESOURCES AS WELL AS CURRENT PUBLICATIONS FOCUSED ON BIRDS OF THE WORLD AND THE WORLD OF BIRD CARVING. A COLLECTION OF MOUNTED BIRDS IS MAINTAINED AS REFERENCE MATERIAL FOR ARTISTS AND NATURALISTS. THE MUSEUM GIFT SHOP STOCKS LOCAL BIRD CARVINGS, CARVING TOOLS AND SUPPLIES, ORIGINAL BLANKS, AND INSTRUCTION BOOKS, AS WELL AS BIRD-RELATED BOOKS, AUDIO-VISUAL GUIDES, BINOCULARS, AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST TO AVIAN AFICIONADOS. THE MUSEUM STAFF WORKS WITH SCHOOL TEACHERS, OTHER EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE CUSTOMIZED TOURS AND WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS AND ADULTS OF ALL AGES.