"Mariposa Afternoons" begins; Mariposa Museum, Peterborough

Peterborough, New Hampshire - On Oct 17th at 2pm the fifth season of the Mariposa Museum’s “Afternoons” begins with A Time to Dance, presented by author and photographer Richard Nevell.  He will screen two films, Country Corners and Full of Life A-Dancin’ which capture the importance of traditional country dancing in New England and Southern Appalachia respectively, from colonial times to the present, and illustrate how dancing served to foster a sense of community in rural America.

The two films co-produced by Richard Nevell and filmmaker Robert Fiore, were funded by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and broadcast as PBS specials.

On October 24th, for the presentation Textiles and the Stories They Tell, Terry Reeves, Education Director at the Museum will share examples of textiles from the Mariposa’s extensive collection to explore how the design elements, the use of fabrics, colors, and especially subject matter tell the stories of other cultures.  Over the centuries these textile artifacts and their stories have been significant in preserving the history and tradition of many peoples throughout the world.

On November 7th at 2pm in her program Baked Beans and Fried Clams--How Food Defines a Region Edie Clark, notable editor and journalist, offers a celebration of baked beans, fried clams, fish chowder, Indian pudding— classic foods distinctive to New England. Drawing from such diverse resources as Fannie Farmer, Julia Child, Haydn S. Pearson and her own vast experiences for enlightenment and amusement, she will lend perspective on how contemporary life has distanced us from these regional classics.

Storyteller/historian Jo Radner will present Braving the Middle Ground Stories of Pre-Revolutionary Northern New England in the final program in the “Afternoons” series on November 14th at 2pm.   She will tell the tales that defined New Englanders in the 17th and 18th centuries, shaping their identities and view of the world. Juxtaposing Native American oral traditions and stories told by her New England ancestors she will reveal a complex “middle ground” in which English settlers and Native peoples saw one another as defenders and trespassers, relatives and aliens, kind neighbors and ruthless destroyers.

All presentations begin at 2:00 pm, followed by refreshments.  The programs on November 7th and November 14th are free thanks to a generous sponsorship from the New Hampshire Humanities Council.  The other programs are $5 per person, Members free.

Mariposa is wheelchair accessible.

Press Contact: Mose Olenik
Mariposa Museum & World Culture Center
26 Main Street
Peterborough, NH  03458
603-924-4555