Rufus Porter Museum Bridgton, Maine

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 544
Bridgton, ME 04009

Street Address       View Yahoo map

67 North High St (Route 302)
Bridgton, ME 04009

Web: www.rufusportermuseum.org

Museum Hours

June 3 - October 12, 2008

Tuesday - Saturday		11am - 5pm

Other hours by appointment

Admissions

Adults $5
Seniors $4
Children under 15, free

Description

Rufus Porter, artist and inventor, who lived from 1792-1884 and spent his boyhood years in Bridgton, Maine, helped to create an American culture. In his early years, Porter was a portrait painter then later moved on to landscape painting on walls of private homes. His use of a vivid palette and broad, open brushstrokes was a departure from the styles and content of European art. Because most of his murals were unsigned, it was not until the mid 1930’s that this body of work was authenticated. Today he is recognized as a leader of American folk art and founder of the Scientific American magazine.

The Rufus Porter Museum has been formed to celebrate the contributions of Rufus Porter to American arts and industry. The museum preserves a home at 67 North High Street in Bridgton, Maine. This home, containing Porter murals painted circa 1828, establishes the nucleus of the Rufus Porter museum. The Center plans to place a structure on the property that will become an exhibition, research and teaching facility devoted to the creative arts and sciences of the 19th and 20th centuries. Rufus Porter was, among many other things, a teacher of the arts. We carry on this tradition by hosting our Cultural Heritage Series scheduled the second week of July annually. Our students and instructors come from all over the U.S. to share a love of traditional folk art. Students have become instructors and instructors are frequently students. Our website has the most current information on upcoming classes.

History

The Rufus Porter Museum opened in June of 2005 to celebrate the contributions of Rufus Porter to American arts and industry. During his lifetime he was a musician, artist, publisher, author, inventor, and landscape muralist. He was the founding editor of Scientific American Magazine, still published today and holds over 100 patents.

Artifacts Collections

The Rufus Porter Museum, a folk and decorative arts museum, is the only entity devoted to Porter’s work and displays his 1828 murals as well as other examples of his remarkable career. He founded the Scientific American magazine in 1845 to encourage the innovations which were vital to the Industrial Revolution.

On Exhibit:

• Rufus Porter Artwork and Inventions
• 1845-6 Scientific American magazines
• Folk art by George Washington Appleton, John Bellamy, John Brewster, J.H. Davis, John Mead, James Lombard, & William Prior
• Camera Obscura Demonstration
• 1838 Westwood MA set of murals, Porter’s finest work

Research Collections

Excellent collection of folk and decorative arts books and magazines. Many original Scientific American issues from the 1800's.

Library

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars
Appointment required: True

Services


Gift Shop

Publications

2007 Historic Needlework Exhibit (16-page full color catalog)

·	Spring and Fall Newsletters
·	2008 Folk Art Exhibit (28-page full color catalog)
·	Rufus Porter Rediscovered by Jean Lipman (1980), 2008 Reprint
·	Curious Arts by Rufus Porter, 2008 Reprint

Programs

The Third annual Cultural Heritage Series is scheduled for July 8 - 12, 2008 in Bridgton, Maine. The series is highlighted by a 3-day class in Rufus Porter Style Mural Painting by Linda Carter Lefko and a full day class by Jacqueline Hansen on the Waldoboro Technique of Rug Hooking. Other classes include Theorem Painting, Psyanky, Historic Quilt Repair, Folk Painting, Gourd Art, Felting, Antique Finishes, Vinegar Graining, Herbal Wreath Making with Betsey-Ann Golon, Herbal Remedies, Broom Making, Gravestone Preservation, Tying Maine Streamers, Old Window Repair, Repair of Historic Plaster, Practical Preservation of Old Homes with Les Fossel & Linda Griffin and Historic Embroidery Stitching. Opening Cocktail Party at the museum for instructors and students on July 8th. Keynote Speaker is Ron Bourgeault of Northeast Auctions and Antiques Roadshow (Thursday, July 10). Visit our website for full class descriptions and registration information.

Staff

Nancy Smoak, Projects Director
Phone: 207-647-2828
Email:

Beth Cossey, President
Phone: 207-647-3724
Email:

Julie Lindberg, Curator (Volunteer)
Phone: 610-909-1529
Email:


Museum Type

Art
Culture
History
Historic House
Specialized


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