Professional Documents
Culture Documents
NEWSLETTER
Winter 2014-2015
Wescott
Mia
BIC Babies!
Marley
I Did It for My
Grandchildren
That was the sentiment voiced
by waterman Tim Bell, who is featured
in the latest BIC documentary film,
Watermen, by filmmaker James
Spione. Tim was incredibly generous
with his time and his stories while we
interviewed and shadowed him during
his workday. As we thanked him, Tim
shrugged his shoulders and explained in a soft voice that it was really about his grandchildren: he was
doing this so his grandkids can have a piece of their grandfather forever.
In capturing the stories of Tim Bell and others like him, the BIC is preserving core aspects of
the Eastern Shores culture and heritage, and making sure that future generations will have access to
them. Each film or book brings a rich treasure of personal stories that resonate with families
everywhere. BIC is able to take these personal stories to venues across the Commonwealth through
the BIC On the Road outreach program.
The most satisfying part of BIC On the Road is being able to connect with a wide range of ages
and groups representing different spheres of influence. This fall, the outreach effort is reaching
audiences from the Cape Charles Library, where a dozen preschoolers chuckle about Hog Island sheep
shenanigans during story hour, to the 2014 Richmond Folk Festival, where thousands of attendees
learn about decoy carvers perfecting their craft and passing it on to subsequent generations. So Tim
Bells legacy to his grandchildren also becomes his gift to the Eastern Shore and well beyond.
Meet
The Carvers
Grayson Chesser Cigar Daisey
Arthur Leonard Ken Marshall Cork McGee
Cameron McIntyre Ian McNair Mark McNair
Pete Peterson P.G. Ross
Museum News...
There is a magic that happens at the BIC when the right person with
the right piece of history walks in the door at the right time! This season,
that magic has centered on the memory of Harry Holcomb, a founding
member of the BIC and volunteer extraordinaire. Though Harry passed
away last year, his legacy to the BIC lives on through the careful accessions
processes he established and the Smiths Island history he so lovingly
sought to preserve.
Growing up in a New England shipping family, Harry heard tales
about one of his grandfather's ships, the Massasoit, having wrecked off the
coast of Virginia. After moving to the Eastern Shore, Harry attended a
dinner party and met Virginia Walker. As they exchanged personal
histories, Harry discovered that it was Virginias grandfather, U.S. Life
Saving Service Captain George Hitchens, who led the rescue of the
Massasoit on Smiths Island! Bolstered by this discovery, Harry devoted
much of his energy and time to preserving the story of the Massasoit and
other aspects of Barrier Islands history. The BIC could never have dreamed
of having such a knowledgeable and dedicated volunteer!
Harry Holcomb
A second set of Smiths Island (or Smith Island, as it is now commonly known) coincidences occurred
recently. As the gallery was being updated this summer, two new artifacts found their way to the BIC:
a pocket watch that belonged to Capt.
George Hitchens, loaned by the
Captains great-grandson, Donald
Hitchens
a remarkable fragment of 1700s brown
stoneware pottery discovered on Smith
Island this summer, donated by Nature
Conservancy employee Karli Rogers
These additions will add even more
context to the Smith Island gallery. Harry
would be very pleased!
Additional Collections updates:
Stoneware Pottery
Saturday, January 24
1:00 - 4:oo p.m
Cost: $85 per person
(pre-registration required)
Artists and craftsmen will be supplied a solid
color, previously painted fish body or
Chesapeake Bay sailing workboat by artist
Bobby Bridges that they will turn into a
creative masterpiece by adding rusty steel or
copper patina and other detail. The power of
their imaginations will produce a work of fish
or boat art ready to swim the Eastern Shore
breezes in their own backyard or adorn that
perfect spot in their room. Class size limited
to 10 people.
Painting to Music
Abrakadoodle
Childrens Art
Class
(ages 5-10)
Wednesdays
Feb. 11thMarch 18th (6 weeks)
3:45-4:45 p.m.
Cost: $75 (pre-registration required)
Students will learn about shades and tints, free
form shapes, Cubism, printing and study several
artists including Paul Klee, Peter Max, and
Jackson Pollock. They will use tempera paint,
acrylics, watercolor paint, liquid watercolor, and
other art media to explore music through our
art.
Candle Making
Classes*
with instructor
Mary Clements
The Hog Island Sheep in a Twisted Christmas Tale Rolled and Dipped
Tuesday, November 11th from 1:00 -4:00 p.m.
Cost: $35
Each participant will make at least one rolled and one
pair of dipped candles. Participants will learn about
basic equipment needed for safe wax work. Students
will make a rolled candle from a preformed foundation
and create their own sheets for rolls. They will learn
pouring tips as well as how to decorate and package the
candles.
Container and Mold
Tuesday, December 2nd from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $35
Dates to Remember
Jay Ford Growing a Better
Future: Food Forests, A
New Food System
Friday, Jan. 16 at 10:30 a.m.
Jay Ford, owner of Shine and
Rise Farm, an organic farm
following permaculture
methodology in Painter, will talk
about the benefits of food
forests. A food forest is an
efficient food production and
land management system which
mimics a woodland ecosystem by substituting edible trees,
shrubs, perennials and annuals. Shine and Rise Farm is
partnering with Shorekeepers and Central Green to create
Virginias first food forest.
Ron West Gone But Not Forgotten - The History of
the Ferry Service on the Eastern Shore
Friday, Feb. 19 at 10:30 a.m.
Ron Wests talk and slide show will cover the era of the
Cape Charles and Kiptopeke ferry service. Car ferries began
to operate from Cape Charles to Norfolk in the 1920s. That
ended with the opening of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge
Tunnel in 1964. Come relive those restful 90-minute rides
across the Bay and learn the history of the area.
Ireland in Song and Story
Friday, March 20 at 10:30 a.m.
Back by popular demand! Celebrate Irelands musical
heritage with Gregg Kimball and Mary Smith as they
perform traditional Irish songs and discuss the historical
and cultural factors that helped to shape the music of the
Emerald Isle. From lively slip jigs to haunting ballads, the
songs tell the story of a people who endured famine,
hardship and emigration, but retained a vibrant and
indomitable spirit. Visit Mary and Greggs website at
www.maryandgregg.com
Cost: FREE!
November 7
Meet the Carvers
***
November 11
Rolled and Dipped Candle Making
***
December 2
Container and Mold Candle Making
***
December 6, 13 and 14
Parent and Child Decoy Carving Class
with P.G. Ross
***
December 7
Book Reading
Cameron Waff Art Show
9th Annual Twisted Chimney Class
***
January 16
Growing a Better Future: Food Forests,
a New Food System
***
January 24
Fish and Boat Art Class
with Bobby Bridges
***
Feb. 11, 18, 25, Mar. 4, 11 and 18
Painting to Music
Abrakadoodle Childrens Art Class
***
February 18
Science and Art Lecture and Exhibit
***
February 19
Gone But Not ForgottenThe History of
the Ferry Service
on the Eastern Shore
***
February 28
BICs Oyster Roast Fundraiser
***
March 20
Ireland in Song and Story
A&L: The oyster roast! Actually, we treasure the BIC staff most. From our perspective as writers and
editors, they get it. For each book, they told us what they wanted to achievein terms of subject matter
and educational goalsand then stood back and let us do our thing. That was very refreshing, and it
allowed us to produce books that (we like to think) are both entertaining and informative. Indeed, the
staff's willingness to mix historical truths in these books with over-the-top ovine idiocy shows that they
understand not only the BIC's mission but its audience, too. They recognize that kids will happily
inhale history if it's topped with a little sugar.
BIC: How did you come up with the idea for the first book?
A&L: Laura and Sally actually gave us the ingredient list: the Hog Island sheep, the Almshouse,
Amanda Doughty, and the twisted chimney. Of course, the fact that this breed of sheep is named after
pigs just begged to make itself a key element. The plot (where the sheep assume Santa's role at
Christmas) came to Andrew almost immediately, and he scribbled the first draft down in a matter of
minutes. If you know Andrew, this is very unusual. Normally, he writes at a pace best described as
glacial.
BIC: What have you learned while working on these projects?
A&L: These are the first fiction books that either of us has tackledand the first time that Andrew has
written for children. We have two kids of our own, though, so we have strong ideas about the kind of
books we like to read. We much prefer books that work at two levels: one that appeals to children and
another, more sophisticated level that keeps parents from sinking into a stupor. In both books, we tried
to keep kids and adults in mind.
We also learned a great deal working with artist Cameron Waff. As you work on a book, you create
images of the scenes in your mind. So it's absolutely fascinating to see how an artist interprets your
story on his own terms. Cameron's paintings were very different from what either of us had imagined,
yet they work magnificently.
BIC: What do you hope readers of the Hog Island Sheep books will take away?
A&L: First, we hope they will laugh enough to want to read the books again and again. Second, we
would like to think that readers might gain a new appreciation for their heritage, the area's history, and
the remarkable place that we call home. Ultimately, though, we want readers to take away a vital
lesson: If they ever have the opportunity to name a breed of animal, think very carefully first.
BIC: Will there be a third sheep book?
Contact Information
PO Box 206, Machipongo, VA 23405
757.678.5550
barrierislandscenter@gmail.com
Norfolk Academy
Chesapeake Bay Fellows
Lower-Northampton County
Mothers of Preschoolers Group
PRSRT STD
Non-Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
Permit #206
Machipongo, VA
23405
BICs
Oyster Roast Fundraiser
February 28, 2015
4-8:00 p.m.
$75 per person
Advanced ticket sales to BIC members
January 6 thru 13, 2015