Ashley Bryan Center

THE ORGANIZATION IS ORGANIZED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES INCLUDING PROVIDING A VENUE FOR EXHIBITS OF ART AND ARTISTIC COLLECTIONS; SPONSORING SEMINARS, LECTURES AND GATHERINGS THAT ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE THE CREATIVE ARTS; AND PROVIDING AN EDUCATIONAL SETTING TO DESCRIBE AND CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND CREATIVITY OF ASHLEY BRYAN.

FISCAL YEAR 2023 WAS A CONSIDERABLY QUIETER ONE FOR THE ASHLEY BRYAN CENTER THAN 2022. THE EXHIBITION FOCUSING ON BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD CONTINUED AT THE MAINE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND THEATER. ADDITIONALLY, THE CENTER EXECUTED LOANS FOR EXHIBITIONS AT COLBY COLLEGE - ASHLEY BRYAN/PAULA WILSON: TAKE THE WORLD INTO YOUR ARMS; PENN'S CELEBRATION OF ASHLEY'S ARCHIVE - BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD - THE CREATIVE SPIRIT OF ASHLEY BRYAN; THE GILLEY MUSEUM IN SOUTHWEST HARBOR - AVIAN ARTISTRY: TREASURES FROM MAINE COLLECTIONS; AND THE SOUTHERN VERMONT ARTS CENTER IN MANCHESTER, VERMONT - ASHLEY BRYAN: THE SPIRIT OF JOY. NICK CLARK ALSO WROTE AN ESSAY FOR THE CATALOGUE PUBLISHED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EXHIBITION AT PENN. SANDY CAMPBELL, ONE OF THE CENTER'S BOARD MEMBERS, CONTRIBUTED A PIECE, AS WELL. THE CENTER ALSO BEGAN ITS COMMITMENT TO DISPERSING THE CONTENTS OF ASHLEY'S HOUSE WITH A GIFT OF THREE SHELVES OF TOYS TO THE MUSEUM OF PLAY IN ROCHESTER, N.Y. THIS WILL BE AN ONGOING PROCESS. IN JULY, IN PROXIMITY TO ASHLEY'S BIRTHDAY, KEITH MORRIS WASHINGTON DELIVERED THE ASHLEY BRYAN HONORARY LECTURE AT THE JESUP MEMORIAL LIBRARY IN BAR HARBOR, MAINE. IN DECEMBER, THE BOSTON POPS REPRISED THEIR HOLIDAY PROGRAM - THE GOOD NEWS VOYAGE WHICH INCLUDED ASHLEY'S WHAT A MORNING SET TO SPIRITUALS. THERE WERE CONTINUED ONGOING REQUESTS TO REPRODUCE ASHLEY'S WORK IN MAGAZINES RANGING FROM GENERAL INTEREST PERIODICALS TO MORE SPECIALIZED PUBLICATIONS. AS WELL, NUMEROUS SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES AROUND THE COUNTRY REQUESTED USE IMAGES OF ASHLEY'S WORKS IN PUBLIC PROGRAMS. THE CENTER COOPERATED FULLY TO ACCOMMODATE THESE VARIOUS REQUESTS AS WELL AS OTHER INQUIRIES DRIVEN BY AWARENESS OF THE CENTER THROUGH THE WEBSITE. THE STORYTELLER PAVILION CONTINUED TO ENGAGE VISITORS, WITH DOCENTS ENHANCING THE EXPERIENCE, THE PAVILION WELCOMED OVER 1,300 VISITORS OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER. THE PAVILION REDUCED ITS HOURS FROM 42 HOURS 10 -4 SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AFTER LABOR DAY TO 20 HOURS 11-3 FIVE DAYS A WEEK, AND AFTER COLUMBUS DAY, IT WAS OPEN BY APPOINTMENT. AFTER CLOSING, WORK WAS COMMENCED ON THE ADDITION, DESIGNED TO HOUSE ASHLEY'S DINING TABLE AND SURROUNDING SPACE WHERE HE ENTERTAINED VISITORS. THIS WILL PROVIDE THE VISITOR WITH AN INSIGHT TO HIS "HABITAT." THE EXPANDED PAVILION OPENED ON JULY 1, 2024.

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TRANSFERS OF ARTWORK TO OTHER INSTITUTIONS.