Galleries

Picture This: 90 Years of Storybook Art

Thompson Gallery

Exhibition Open: February 3 – May 6

In celebration of the Wenham Museum’s 90th year, the museum presents Picture This: 90 Years of Storybook Art, an exhibit exploring how toys have provided inspiration to authors and illustrators since the genre of children’s literature began. This playful exhibit features classic toy stories that come to life through more than 50 original illustrations, books, and the toys themselves, in a colorful display engaging for all ages. Discover nearly a century of cherished stories including Alexander and the Wind-up Mouse by

Leo Lionni, Raggedy Ann in the Golden Meadow by Johnny Gruelle, and The Dolls’ House by Tasha Tudor. Children will have fun playing with replicas of the timeless toys that inspired the storybooks, dress in character costumes, and become an illustrator as they create their own picture book starring favorite childhood toys.

To complement the Picture This exhibit, the museum is hosting a special exhibit, Draw Me a Story: A Celebration of Contemporary New England Children’s Book Illustrators from March 2 to March18, 2012 with a family-friendly Illlustrators Reception on Sunday, March 4, 2 – 5 pm.  The tales of Tasha Tudor come to life as children ages five and up discover the simple life of 19th-century New England at the museum’s Tasha Tudor Tea Party on Sunday, March 18, 1pm. And meet the award-winning children’s author-illustrator Matt Tavares at a book signing of a special edition of Zachary’s Ball: Fenway Centennial Edition on Saturday, April 21, 2pm.

A Celebration of Contemporary New England Children's Book Illustrators

March 2 - March 18, 2012

Free with museum admission

Under the Big Top: A Century of Circuses

Egbert Gallery

August 26,-February 5

Come one, come all to the “Big Top” (in miniature) to see The Greatest Show on Earth! Reminisce about childhood trips to the circus with a display of vintage toy circus wagons, miniature animals, tiny sideshow acts and trapeze artists. Children dress in kid’s clown costumes and marvel at the awe-inspiring circus photos of photojournalist Vicky Gewirz.

Let's Paint the Town Red

West Gallery

December 13 - March 4
From the big scarlet bow on a brightly-wrapped parcel to the glow of poinsettias and holly, the color red has always cheered us in the dark of the year.  Associated with life and vigor, a little dash of red is what we all need at this season.  Come to West Gallery and be energized by a selection of red dresses from our collection.  From a cherry red taffeta bubble dress to a garnet velvet gown, every shade of the color will be on display.

Happy 90th Birthday

West Gallery

March 27–June 17

This year the Museum celebrates its 90th year! Get the party started with a display of pretty party dresses and accessories—what you might wear to a birthday party—carefully chosen from the museum’s historic collection to celebrate each decade of the museum’s life and its costume collection. 

“On Parade”: The History and Heritage of the Community Band – Wenham

Egbert Gallery

March 9-June 17, 2012

Proud and patriotic. Shoes polished. Uniforms buttoned. The marching band calls New England’s main streets to attention. Musical instruments and photos tell the story of how the community band David Clark founded right here in Wenham proudly hailed streets from Wenham to Boston celebrating Memorial Days, Christmases, and even Boston’s 350th anniversary.

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