Celebrate Longfellow, Class of 1825, February 24-27

Story posted February 14, 2005

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of Maine's most beloved native sons, and one of Bowdoin College's most illustrious alumni (Class of 1825), will be celebrated in Brunswick February 24-27, 2005, during "Longfellow Days."

The four-day celebration coincides with the 150th anniversary of the publication of one of Longfellow's most famous poems, The Song of Hiawatha.

A wide array of cultural and community events in Brunswick are planned to celebrate Longfellow's life, works, and times, including lectures, poetry-readings, concerts, silhouette portraiture, exhibits, house tours and family activities.

In addition, a commemorative broadside illustrated by Dahlov Ipcar will be available for purchase (see below).

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Silhouette drawings by Ruth Monsell Saturday, February 29.

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Thursday, February 24

  • Lecture: "The Portraits of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow" by Charles Calhoun, author of Longfellow: A Life Rediscovered. 5:15 p.m. Bowdoin College, Visual Arts Center, Kresge Auditorium. Free. Information: 725-3253.
  • Dinner/Poetry Reading: "Longfellow Dinner" will feature Longfellow family favorite dishes, period-appropriate wines, and poetry readings by Longfellow descendant Layne Longfellow. 6:15 p.m. Brunswick Bed & Breakfast, 165 Park Row. Cost: $50 per person, to benefit Longfellow Days 2006. Reservations: 729-4914 or info@brunswickbnb.com.

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Martin Perry (left) and Myles Jordan.

Friday, February 25

  • Concert: 19th-century works of Mendelssohn, Chopin and Brahms will be performed on period instruments by cellist Myles Jordan and pianist Martin Perry. 7:30 p.m. First Parish Church, Brunswick. Free; donations accepted to benefit Longfellow Days 2006. Information: 725-3747.

Saturday, February 26

  • Poetry Readings: Poets Robert Chute, Joyce Pye, Maggie Finch, Stephen Petroff, and Herb Coursen will read from their work. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Curtis Memorial Library, Fireplace Room. Free. Information: 725-5242.

  • Silhouette Portraits: Silhouette artist Ruth Monsell will give a demonstration and offer 10-minute sittings for silhouette portraits. Noon-2 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. Pejepscot Historical Society, 159 Park Row, Brunswick. $15 per silhouette. Reservations: 729-6606 or phsoffice@suscom-maine.net. Walk-ins also welcome.
  • House Tour: Tour Longfellow's Brunswick home, which is now the second floor of the Joshua Chamberlain House. 1-4 p.m. Chamberlain Museum, 226 Maine Street. Free. Information: 729-6606.
  • Hiawatha Celebration: "Let's Look at Longfellow's Hiawatha" will feature performances by The Ballet School; a chamber choir comprising Bowdoin College students and community members ("Hiawatha's Wedding Feast" by composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor); Bowdoin student musicians; animator Kevin Tacka (Chapter V of The Song of Hiawatha); Longfellow actor Don Lipfert; and host Layne Longfellow. 2 p.m. Bowdoin College, Visual Arts Center, Kresge Auditorium. Free. Information: 798-4156.
  • 19th-Century Winter Fun: Ice skating, bonfire, horse-and-buggy rides, and treats. 3-5 p.m. Brunswick Mall. Free. Information: 798-4156 or 729-6606.

Sunday, February 27

  • Service: Worship service with Rev. Brad Mitchell, who reflects on Longfellow's life in Brunswick as a student, professor and Unitarian. Service includes music and poetry readings. 10 a.m. Unitarian Universalist Church, 15 Pleasant Street. Free. Information: 729-8515.
  • House Tour: Tour Longfellow's Brunswick home, which is now the second floor of the Joshua Chamberlain House. 1-4 p.m. Chamberlain Museum, 226 Maine Street. Free. Information: 729-6606.
  • Poetry and Birthday Cake: Poets Jeniferlee Tucker, David Matson, Joyce Pye, Kara Douglas, and Dana Uger will read from their work. 2-4 p.m. Bookland, Hardcover Café, Conference Room. A birthday cake to commemorate Longfellow will be unveiled. Free. Information: 725-2313.
  • Service: 19th-century chapel service, historically and theologically based on Longfellow's beliefs, with Rev. Thomas Mikelson. Mikelson is pastor at First Church on Harvard Square, which was Longfellow's home church when he taught at Harvard. 4 p.m. Bowdoin College Chapel. Free. Information: 798-4156.

Ongoing

  • Exhibit: "Longfellow's Hiawatha from the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Collection." 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Bowdoin College, Hawthorne-Longfellow Library, 1st floor. Free. Information: 725-3288.

COMMEMORATIVE BROADSIDE FEATURING DAHLOV IPCAR ILLUSTRATIONS

The commemorative broadside features original, previously unpublished art by Dahlov Ipcar.

David Wall at Applecart Press, located in historic Fort Andross on the Androscoggin River, will print the broadside. Wall uses digital and classic letterpress equipment to press the ink into the paper, a process some printers refer to as "kissing the paper."

Because it is so labor intensive, letterpress is now considered to be an art form in printing.

The 11x17" broadside features three stanzas from Longfellow's The Song of Hiawatha, the poem that was chosen as the central theme for Longfellow Days 2005. The celebration coincides with the 150th anniversary of the poem's publication.

The broadside will be sold in a standard edition for $10, as well as in a numbered, limited edition signed by Ipcar for $50.

The limited edition will be printed in three colors on Nideggen paper from the Zerkall mill in Germany, which specializes in mould-made papers. The nature of the printing process will require Wall to hand feed each of the prints through the press for each of the colors - in other words, three runs through the press for each broadside.

The standard edition of the broadside will be on sale at the Pejepscot Historical Society, Gulf of Maine Books, and Longfellow Days events.

The limited edition will be available at Bayview Gallery, Eleven Pleasant Street, and Park Row Interiors, and may be reserved by calling 798-4156.

Proceeds from the sale of the commemorative broadside will benefit Longfellow Days 2006.

POETS IN THE SCHOOLS

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow published his first poem for the Portland Gazette in 1820, at the age of 13. From that time on, writing and poetry would be his life. "Look, then, into thine heart, and write!" Longfellow advised in Voices of the Night: Prelude.

Approximately 300 Brunswick elementary school students will get a chance to follow Longfellow's advice during the Poets in the Schools program, February 14-18. At that time, seven Brunswick-area poets will share Longfellow's poetry in 14 classrooms, then model for students the way to write poetry of their own.

Poets will assist fourth-grade students at Longfellow, Hawthorne, Coffin, and Jordan Acres elementary schools, as well as fifth and eighth grade students at St. John's School. "I look forward to this experience," said Hermia Tucker, fourth grade teacher at Hawthorne Elementary. "I believe the children will respond with enthusiasm."

Participating poets are Gary Lawless of Nobleboro; Martin Steingesser of Portland; Robert Chute of Brunswick; David Matson of Brunswick; Kara Douglas of Lisbon Falls; Bob Roberts of Bath; and Tess Hartford of Brunswick. Bonnie Mason of Topsham is coordinating the program.

The Poets in the Schools program operates under the auspices of Longfellow Days and is funded by a grant from the Senter Fund.

Longfellow Days is sponsored by the Brunswick Downtown Association and Bowdoin College.

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