The Wendell Gilley Museum and the Southwest Harbor Public Library are teaming up to host poet and park ranger Christian Barter to the Museum on Tuesday, Sept. 23 from 6 to 7pm as part of an occasional series called Reading with Wings.

An award-winning poet, Barter explores nature and human nature in his verse, and he has a critically lauded new collection called “The Ends” that he will share that night. In “The Ends,” Barter explores both the landscape of Maine and the lives lived there. In “Champlain,” a poem that imagines the discovery of Mount Desert Island where Barter has lived most of his life, and in “Acadia,” a poem written in honor of the park, he addresses the issue of our stewardship of the earth; in a series of sonnets dedicated to the outsider artist James Hampton, he explores what it means to devote a lifetime to the creation of a work of art.

Office Manager

The Office Manager is responsible for supporting the administrative and financial operations of the Wendell Gilley Museum.  This position is an integral part of a small team that works hard to keep the Museum vibrant and sustainable for our community. This is a full-time, exempt position. Click to see the full job description.

Award-winning writer Annaliese Jakimides will teach a flash fiction workshop, using art currently on display at the museum as inspiration. “Likely, you'll surprise yourself with what bubbles up,” says Jakimides. 

“Flash fiction is known by many names, including sudden fiction, short-short stories, and microfiction. Although people often think it's a ‘new’ form of writing, it's been around for as long as we've been writing stories.”

Jakimides has placed in the World's Best Short-Short Story Contest multiple times and is the winner of the Acadia Prize in poetry. She has more than five hundred publications in magazines, journals, anthologies, and newspapers, and broadcast online and on radio.

Bar Harbor artist Amy Pollien specializes in art inspired by the flowers in her garden. Now she is offering a two-hour flower-drawing workshop at the Gilley.

Her work is based on close observation of local plants, wildlife, and geology, as well as weather, time of day, and season. She creates a curious combination of landscape and still-lifes that are composed of items from her own garden.

All materials will be supplied, though you are welcome to bring your own materials if you like. Spaces are limited and reservation is required.