Welcome
The Wendell Gilley Museum celebrates the life and work of Wendell Gilley, a pioneer in the field of decorative bird carving. It teaches the art of bird carving 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.
If you are feeling inspired, consider joining our creative community–carving classes, programs for kids, and members’ carving club continue into spring. And if you can’t fly in, follow the flock on Facebook. School and community groups are welcome to arrange programs and tours.
Exciting news: online collection catalog is underway!
The dIGITAL ARCHIVE
The Gilley is excited to announce work on a new online collection catalog! Over 2019, with the help of staff, trustees and volunteers, we expect to have most of our original permanent collection done, with newer acquisitions, works of art on paper, and a sizeable archive to follow in coming years.
We'd like to thank software architect and consultant George Soules for setting us up and providing technical guidance and support - we're honored to be joining the network of local cultural institutions who share this same digital archive platform! If you'd like to learn more about this great resource, just get in touch.
Funded in part by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission, this is a crucial project for the museum which will make our collections accessible and inspiring to more people. It will take several years and many resources to complete. If you'd like to be involved with this project or to be a sponsopr, contact us at info@wendellgilleymuseum.org or 207 244-7555.
EXHIBITIONS - COMING SOON
HAROLD HAERTEL
Main Gallery space, May 2019 - October 2019
Harold Haertel was a carver from Dundee, Illinois who was born the same year as Wendell Gilley. Harold and Wendell worked in the same world of bird carving but despite many similarities in their background and work, their carvings are very different. In 2019, we will tell a story in our museum about bird carving that explores the lives and work of these two extremely talented carvers. Museum member, and carver, Paul Heartel will curate this exhibition with the help of museum carver Steven Valleau. This exhibition is possible thanks to the generosity of Tom Haertel - Harold's son, and a carver himself. See a preview at our December 16, 2018 Open House.
The FARNSWORTH and the GILLEY join forces
Special exhibition space, June 29 - October 16, 2019
We are excited to be collaborating with the Farnsworth Museum on an exhibition that highlights paintings of Maine, featuring a range of important painters such as Fitz Henry Lane, George Bellows, Marsden Hartley, Neil Welliver, Emily Muir, Jaime Wyeth, and many more. The exhibition will also feature outstanding modern bird scupltures by Maine artists Edwin Gamble and Bernard Langlais and by Louise Nevelson. Stay tuned for more details of this show in the new year. If you'd like to be part of this exciting show, contact us to ask about sponsorship, which includes benefits such as public acknowledgement and special events. info@wendellgilleymuseum.org or 207 244-7555.
Gratitude & giving
We've had a wonderful year here at the Gilley, full of special exhibits, a variety of workshops, activities and carvings. We would like to thank all our supporters, trustees and volunteers, and for all those who donated at the end of 2018. You keep the museum alive and creative, and we are truly grateful for your generosity, time and talent!
We continue welcoming donations in support of our work year-round. Give online to the Wendell Gilley Museum, or contact us about volunteer opportunities. Donations and memberships are tax deductible.
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Annual Holiday Open House was Incredible!
We would like to extend special thanks to our member carvers, to the student artists who came from various local schools - Trenton, MDES, Conners Emerson, Tremont, Pemetic, and the Schoodic Arts for All afterschool program - as well as their teachers, who made it all possible! Thank you also to Sips for the wonderful food and The Jazz Collective for the great music, and of course - to those who came out to see the carvers and students' works! It was lovely to have all of you over and share the evenin. To watch photos from the event, click here.
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