Our very own Gerald W. R. Ward is talking this evening about the deeper meanings and symbolism of quilts and bedcovers. Join us for what is sure to be a fascinating talk!
Tonight at 7:30 pm via Zoom Member/Donors: FREE Non-Members: $15
Eventide by Alastair Dacey is one of more than 100 works of art available in our auction fundraiser
Museum Shop Lives up to “All Things Portsmouth” tagline
Responding to one of the most frequent requests she received from customers, store manager Beth Gross-Santos commissioned original artwork for this exclusive Portsmouth hoodie! Get yours today!
Stop by–brick & mortar or online–and check out all the other cool Portsmouth gear we have available! Umbrellas, t-shirts, water bottles, tea towels, throw pillows…. you name it!
“Threads” Exhibition to Close November 9
The “Threads” exhibition’s last day will be Monday, November 9, but the community quilts will be on display during the annual Gingerbread House Contest until Christmas!
We are currently open Friday–Monday, 10am–4pm. Stop by and visit our safe, comfortable, and spacious gallery and museum shop, and enjoy the “Threads” exhibition and the Community Quilts!
Color & Comfort: Quilts in Context
If you can’t make it in to see the quilts in person, join us for a talk by our own curator of collections, Gerald W. R. Ward, about quilts, their place in our lives, and their meaning.
Quilts and coverlets, in addition to being examples of outstanding needlework and beautiful works of art, have symbolic value and functional purposes. They hold many meanings for people and have played a central functional role in the domestic interior for centuries. In his talk, Ward will examine some of the symbolic meanings of quilts, and also look at them in the context of the bed chamber, examining them as one element in a constellation of related objects and examining changing patterns and rhythms of life over–and under–the covers.
Thursday, September 24 at 7pm via Zoom FREE for Member/Donors $15 for Non-Members
Congratulations to the Winner of ourJohn Paul Jones Jubilee Wine Raffle!
The winner of our fantastic wine raffle was…..(drum roll please)…….none other than the amazingly lucky and totally awesome Sharon Parker!
Thank you to everyone who purchased a wine raffle ticket and entered our contest! The raffle raised more than $1,500 in support of our programs and exhibitions. Thanks as well to the members of the Portsmouth Historical Society Board of Trustees who provided the wine for the raffle. Santé!
John Paul Jones Jubilee Auction Showcases Gorgeous and Unique Seacoast Art
Our John Paul Jones Jubilee Benefit Auction, running until 6pm on October 7, 2020, features wonderful works of two- and three-dimensional art, including oil and watercolor paintings, weaving, jewelry, photography, drawing and sculpture, by artists all over the greater Seacoast. The proceeds from each winning bid will benefit equally both Portsmouth Historical Society and the artist—and YOU! This art could be in your home! Or perhaps consider a gift for a wedding, birthday or anniversary. Not here on the Seacoast? No problem! Art can be shipped. Bid now! Bid high! And Bid often!
Walking Tours End October 31, So Don’t Delay and Register While You Can!
Our Walking Tours end October 31! Book now to be sure you get a spot. Tours are smaller this year, and all guidelines for the health and safety of our visitors are followed. This is a fantastic way to get out of the house and learn something about Portsmouth!
Private tours can also be scheduled, just call or email Robin Lurie-Meyerkopf, our walking tour manager! For more info on what tours are available and to book tickets, click below!
PHOTO CAPTION: City Manager Karen Conard, Portsmouth Historical Society Board President Daniel Hoefle and Facilities Manager Robin Lurie-Meyerkopf cut ribbons officially opening the ”universally accessible” public restrooms at the Discover Portsmouth Welcome Center. (Photo: Raya on Assignment)
PORTSMOUTH—Marking the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the City of Portsmouth and the Portsmouth Historical Society (PHS) this week officially opened ”universally accessible” public restrooms, in the Discover Portsmouth Welcome Center, a city-owned building.
PHS board chair Dan Hoefle announced that the restroom project removed “the last barriers for the use of the Historical Society’s facilities for all members of the public, whether they be differently abled or not.” Hoefle observed that “at some point in each of our lives, whether we’re using a baby-stroller, a wheelchair, or a walker, we will all eventually need—and be entitled to—accommodation of our differing abilities, through elements of universal design.”
The project was a joint effort of the Portsmouth Historical Society with the City’s Community Development Department, which works with the Community Advisory Committee, and administers Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds provided by the federal government’s U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Construction work on the $250,000 project was made possible with generous supplemental funding from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts’ Conservation License Plate Program (aka ”Moose Plate” fund). Planning of the project began with design work contributed by the Newfields firm, Martini Northern, LLC. Work was performed by the Laconia construction contractors Bonnette Page & Stone, with construction designs created by the Manchester firm, Dennis Mires PA, The Architects.
“The City of Portsmouth is strongly committed to universal accessibility,” declared Elise D. Annunciata, Community Development Coordinator and manager of the restroom project for the City. “We’re proud to have been able to complete this ADA-compliant project, despite challenges posed by the global pandemic.”
The upgrades of the restrooms in the Discover Portsmouth Welcome Center are part of the Portsmouth Historical Society’s efforts to make the entire facility accessible. Last year, with the support of the Portsmouth Rotary Club and Portland Glass, the Historical Society installed new ADA-compliant doors in the Welcome Center and its adjacent Academy Gallery, including automatic door-openers. An existing ramp provides access to the main lobby shared by the buildings, and an elevator provides access to the upper-level gallery.
The modern restrooms complement carefully-designed social distancing provisions and abundant hand-sanitizer that together have attracted back many of the Historical Society’s longtime fans to its current quilt exhibition, ”Threads”, soon to feature two ”Community Quilts” assembled from squares created by members of the public during their recent periods of self-isolation.
“The restrooms are now essentially complete,” observed PHS director Brian LeMay, “but we should probably not be surprised if the interiors continue to change a bit. There seems to be a distinct streak of whimsy among members of our exhibition and education staff, who have suggested that these might be appropriate places to capture the attention of visitors when they’re in a contemplative mindset, with modest exhibits on things like the history of plumbing or sanitation in Portsmouth. I suspect we may have some repeat visitation at these exhibits.”
About Portsmouth Historical Society
Founded in 1917, the Portsmouth Historical Society is a nonprofit institution devoted to promoting the significance of the past, the art, and the cultures of the Seacoast region, as well as the larger world in which Portsmouth has played a significant role. PHS maintains three primary facilities: the Discover Portsmouth Welcome Center, the Portsmouth Academy Gallery, and the John Paul Jones Historic House Museum. It’s also home to the Portsmouth Advocates for Historic Preservation, and the Portsmouth Marine Society Press. For information on its current exhibition of quilts, “Threads: A Community Quilt for 2020,” or about becoming a member, a volunteer, or contributor, visit the Society’s website www.portsmouthhistory.org or call 603-436-8433.
Arts, history, and culture define Portsmouth, and we realize that the artist community, so integral to the city’s unique character, has been hard hit by the pandemic. Portsmouth Historical Society has also seen financial challenges due to the stay-at-home order and social distancing requirements. To that end, we have decided to use our annual fundraiser, which provides a significant portion of the Society’s income, as an opportunity to “pay it forward” in support of artists. Our online auction will feature more than 100 original works of art by more than fifty artists, with 50% of the net proceeds from the sale of each item going to the artist.
Bid from Anywhere in the World
Bidding opens to the public on Thursday, September 10 at 9pm.
Bidding Closes on Wednesday, October 7.
If you are a Portsmouth local, and would like to see a work of art in person before bidding, please contact Joyce Tucker, joyce@portsmouthhistory.org to set up a viewing appointment.
Our 2020 John Paul Jones Jubilee and Auction Fund-A-Need will allow Portsmouth Historical Society to commission a piece of public art or sculpture from a regional artist to be displayed on permanent view at the Discover Portsmouth Welcome Center. In this way, we can support local artists, celebrate public art, and help enliven our facility, which is considered to be the gateway to the rejuvenated West End of downtown Portsmouth!
To support our 2020 Fund-A-Need, please click on the “Donate Now” button in the sidebar on our Bidding for Good page, or click below!
Above: The center medallion of the “Washington” coverlet, on display in the “Threads” exhibition. Probably made in Bolton, England, ca. 1780; cotton. Portsmouth Historical Society; Gift of Mrs. John F. Tyler (2005.033).
“Coverlets & Counterpanes of New Hampshire: Bedcovers for a New Nation”
Tonight’s talk will focus on that other kind of bedcover popular in New England in the early 19th century, the coverlet. Learn about the luxury furnishings displayed to impress visiting VIPs like George Washington and the marquis de Lafayette, and the artisanal industry of their creation, here in New Hampshire.
Left: Tonight’s speaker, Jennifer Swope, assistant curator of Textile and Fashion Arts at the MFA, Boston.
The local artists participating in our online auction have submitted some phenomenal works to the cause! Proceeds from each item auctioned will be split equally between Portsmouth Historical Society and the artist, thus supporting arts in the Seacoast two ways!
Jubilee ticket holders will have exclusive access to our online party, receive a gourmet goodie-bag of snacks for the show, get a sneak preview of the art to be auctioned, and see the “Threads” community quilt unveiled!
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of shop manager Beth Gross-Santos, we now have an online retail establishment with a select number of items available for purchase.
Members can still receive their 10% discount! Keep an eye out for a special email with your discount code!
Anything Planned for the Weekend?
You’ll be surprised what you don’t know about Portsmouth! Our five-star rated walking tours are a great way to get outdoors! Check them out here!
