Artists paddling the 31’ canoe (built by Mike Maybury) in early morning on Penobscot Bay. Photo: Brian Wasser
A UNIQUE RESIDENCY AT THE INTERSECTION OF ART + THE OUTDOORS
The Village Canoe is a multi-disciplinary program that uses the vessel of the canoe, the structure of an expedition, and the institution of the artist residency to explore craft, community, and collaboration.
Our identity can be found almost entirely in our logo. The large group of people in one big canoe are all connected with one another. The experience is housed under the form of the gothic arches of our pop-up exhibition space, our canoe-building workshop, and the vessel that acts as a container holding the beauty from collaboration in each of these elements when put together.
PROGRAMS
Whether it’s in a large group on the big expedition, a smaller and more local experience, or a pared-down version you can do on your own, we hope these programs meet your needs.
BIG GROUP
Large group residency from river to sea
LOCAL
Half-day residency locally with guide
REMOTE
Remote residency kit to DIY
Canoe build
Winter 2020-2021
“The task of commissioning or building a canoe can be a great achievement in the health of a small community, signalling the growth of organizational ability, the ability to inspire young people and impose discipline, and the growth of hope and pride.”
Central to this project is the form of the canoe as vessel. The canoe acts as a medium of exchange: between humans and nature, and between humans and other humans. As a boat, the canoe can be versatile on both rivers and ocean — perfect for Maine’s riverine and coastal water trails. The second phase for this project to build a canoe.
An innovative design-build scheme, derivative of the rich canoe traditions of Maine — both historical and cultural — this transhistorical canoe will also make modern adjustments that span myriad designs, functions, origins, and capabilities. The goal? To further reinforce this boat as functional art, an invitation to new opportunity, and symbol of community. It’s an art boat! It is a hybrid! Both of these things are purposeful!
The canoe inherently encourages growth of important personal qualities, while paddling in tandem with a boat-load of other paddlers, including, but not limited to: teamwork, flexibility, self-and-other-care, accountability, and value of process.
After the 2019 expedition, the artists hosted a free, pop-up, waterfront exhibition. It began with a parade, lasted only three days, and included everything from dancing to singing, craft demonstrations and panel discussions, and more.
NEWS
Want to support this thing?
“All facets of the contemporary canoe experience - planning, building, fundraising, practicing, traveling - combine to make our communities strong and vital in the old ways.”
We have been working with individuals, partner organizations, grantors/foundations, and local businesses to make this project happen so far. There’s still more that we need, if you’re willing to help:
WE NEED EXPEDITION GEAR, LUMBER + MATERIALS FOR THE CANOE, and WOOD FOR THE WOOD STOVE
WE NEED COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS to help with as much of the canoe-build experience as we can offer
WE ARE LOOKING TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND NEED SUPPORT TO PRINT A PUBLICATION
WE CAN ALWAYS USE CAPITAL. WE HAVE A FISCAL SPONSOR SO YOU CAN GET TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS!
“We’re all in this together!”
SUPPORT SO FAR
2019:
Support for The Village Canoe is provided by The Kindling Fund, a grant program administered by SPACE as part of the Andy Warhol Foundation For The Visual Arts Regional Regranting Network, and by the Generations Fund, administered by the Maine Community Foundation.
Additional project support and materials provided by Break The Anchor, a Portugese CRL (non-profit) that aims to bring traditional boat-building back to Portugal by first building a traditional sailing sardine carrier: the Canoa de Picada.
Thank you to Waterfall Arts, partnering with The Village Canoe to bring to life an immersive show in their Hallway Corridor from September - November, and the Belfast Creative Coalition for your continued collaboration, and community-driven engagement with the arts.
2020:
Partial support this year to build the canoe was through the Belvedere Traditional Handcrafts Grant administered by the Maine Community Foundation.
Support from Public Art Learning Fund to develop the public art component of the project, administered through the New England Foundation for the Arts.
Artist Anie Toole takes herself on a remote residency in Quebec, Canada!