DesBrisay Services
Exhibits
 

 Heritage Gallery
 
Visitors can step back in time to the 1880’s and visit Judge DesBrisay’s Victorian sitting room, and see the First Nations Gallery and the famous Morris cradle, the only surviving work by noted 19th century Mi’kmaq artist, Christianne Morris. morris_cradle
 
The Settlers Gallery displays a variety of early textiles, including an 1877 biscuit quilt by Anna Strum, while the Gallery of Industry offers a look at early shipping on the LaHave River.
 
In Kidology Korner learn about the lives of children during the Victorian era, then see creepy and crawlies in the Natural History gallery. Pay tribute to the veterans of war in the Military Exhibit, then experience the development of Bridgewater from the early industries at Sebastapol, to the Great Fire of 1899 and the town's incorporation in 1899.
  

 

Folk Art Gallery 
  
Depending on who you ask, the definition of folk art varies!  The best way to describe folk art is to say it is the craftsmanship of people from a local area which depicts the everyday life and times they shared.  It creates a simple nostalgia for the pre - industrial society.

 

folk artSee delightful folk art pieces by such well known artisans as George Acker, Clarence Aulenback, Garfield Campbell, Walter Cross, Ellison Eagles, Collins Eisenhauer, Wesley Hubley, Eddie Mandaggio, William Mansfield, Bradford Naugler, Leo Naugler, Ransford Naugler, Lawrence "Tubby" Oickle, Bradford Russell, Carroll Slauenwhite, Ronald Strum, Norman Veinott, Charles Westhaver, Harry Wile and James Zwicker.

 

 
Community Exhibit Centre

This centre allows for rotating exhibits, each running for about 6 weeks. The exhibits are a mix of our own, focusing on a specific theme or topic, and community presentations.

2010 Exhibit Schedule
 

Under the Covers, Quilts from our Collection, February 22-March 28

Lunenburg County Elementary School Art Fair, April 15-May 2
 

DesBrisay’s Curiosities, May 24-Sept 12

100th Anniversary of Canadian Girl Guides, Sept 26-Nov. 7

Christmas Exhibit, Nov 28-Jan 1  

 

 

 

 

 
 
Programs and Events

Women's Work Project - Celebrating our Story! 
Tuesday, March 23, 2:00pm
Women of all ages will enjoy hearing Anna Davison, respected quilter, designer and teacher from Mahone Bay, who was the inspiration behind this project which celebrates, validates, encourages and motivates women in pursuit of their dreams - in the home, in business and in the community. The project launched in 2008, and Anna has spoken tonumber of across the Province since then. Anna's presentation includes a slide show, scrapbooks of women’s stories, theme music, inspirational quotes, and a display of quilted wall hangings depicting the work of many women both in traditional roles and today's modern world, includingmade by native women in Canada, Thailand, Laos and Africa. 

 

Mahone Bay potter, Pam Birdsall, designed the clay version of the Womens Work Project logo, and the resulting line of jewellery is being sold as a fundraiser for the far-reaching project. Visit http://www.womensworkprojectquilt.com for more details on the jewelry line. Anna will have jewelry available for purchase at the end of her presentation!  Please call 543-4033 to reserve your seat.  Included in museum admission fee.

 

Hand Applique Workshop with Anna Davison
Saturday, March 27, 10am-4pm
Fee:  $25 + $5 for kit = $30
Anna Davison of Mahone Bay will be our instructor.  Drop into the Museum and select your design from the three samples, register and pay for the workshop, and pick up your information sheet and supply list. Complete kits for each sample are available @ $5 each. They include design fabric, background fabric, batting and backing to make a 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" block.  Also templates, sewing needles and matching thread, pencils for marking designs.  Paper and fabric scissors will be available for use. 

Note:  A minimum of 8 participants is required to hold the class [maximum of 15] with the registration cut-off date of Monday March 22, 2010.  Call 543-4033 for more information or to register. 

 

Sing Along with South Shore Ukelele Players
Sunday, April 11, 2-4pm
Museum admission fee
Under the direction of Sandra Orbritsch, this group performs a variety of music, ranging from ragtime, bluegrass, big band, country, gospel, and even songs for the children.  Come along and enjoy an afternoon of music, sing-a-long and refreshments!    

 

Shipwrecks and Treasure Hunters - The Controversy

Wednesday, April 21, 7pm - John Wesley Chisholm
Wednesday, May 5, 7pm - Terry Dwyer

The province estimates there are about 10,000 shipwrecks around Nova Scotia, giving it one of the richest maritime histories in the world. And Nova Scotia is the only province to allow treasure hunting. Critics say the Treasure Trove Act should be abolished. The archeological community says it should be thrown out and replaced with legislation that protects underwater archeology, just as archeological sites on land are protected.

John Wesley Chisholm, a Halifax diver, produced a documentary for National Geographic, called Wrecksploitation, looking at how governments and communities around the world deal with marine cultural heritage.  Mr. Chisholm likens the Nova Scotia Treasure Trove Act to privateering. He said shipwrecks are not supervised in any meaningful way and recreational divers may take trinkets without realizing the impact of their actions in terms of Nova Scotia’s marine cultural heritage. 

Terry Dwyer, a Halifax diver and author of two books and numerous articles on shipwrecks and treasure, says divers are preserving what is left of these wrecks by recovering artifacts and providing documentation the province wouldn’t otherwise have, and the Nova Scotia Museum and people of Nova Scotia have benefited from a number of salvage projects that have recovered thousands of artifacts, plus gold and silver coins.

DesBrisay Museum invites you to hear both sides of the argument!  Admission is $4 per person.

Shipwrecks and Life Savers
Thursday, June 3, 7pm
Jay White, Halifax historian, will give an illustrated talk on Life Saving Stations along the south shore of Nova Scotia. In the 18th and 19th centuries when shipwrecks were common, these stations were beacons to warn sailors about nearby dangers such as shallow seacoast waters, and the men of courage who worked there and were responsible for saving hundreds of lives. Admission is $4 per person. 

 

Down the Road...

  • Museum Day, June 12 
  • Kid’s Pirate Day, August 14
  •  Ada’s Dessert Party,  September 12 
  • Christmas Open House,  December 5

 

 

 
 
STUFF FOR KIDS!

Have fun in Woodland Gardens!

DesBrisay Museum is lucky to be situated in the heart of Woodland Gardens.  This park has walking paths, a duck pond, treed areas, and it's a great place for bugs, birds, ducks and squirrels.

 

norway ratWe've put together some fun information for kids about Woodland Gardens and its diverse habitat.  Have a look!

A Kid's Guide to Woodland Gardens

 

Life in a Pond

Pond Algae

Microorganisms found in the Duck Pond

Insects in the Duck Pond

Insects found throughout Woodland Gardens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Multipurpose Room Rentals

Thanks for thinking of the Museum’s Multipurpose Room as a possible venue for your meeting or event. 

It is usually helpful to view the room before booking it for your event, but we understand that's not always possible. So, here is a brief overview of our museum:

  • The DesBrisay Museum is set in a 25 acre park, a pleasant natural setting with winding trails and a large duck pond. 
  • Our modern brick building contains a Heritage Gallery, an Exhibit Centre, a Visible Storage Gallery, a small gift shop, and a MultiPurpose Room.
  • The Museum is wheelchair accessible, and has parking for 30 vehicles.
  • Smoking is not permitted on any Town owned property. 

Click here to see details of the MultiPurpose room.

 

To book our room for your event, print out this form and fax it to the Museum at 902-543-4713, or call us at 543-4033. We look forward to doing business with you!

 
Read more... [Multipurpose Room Rentals]