Exhibitions

The Hollinshead, Cox, and Fleischner Galleries

Stay Safe, Stand Strong: Martha’s Vineyard in 2020

The year 2020 rocked Martha’s Vineyard — and the nation — with the combined forces of the Corona virus and the lockdown, the murder of George Floyd and the rise of Black Lives Matter, the Presidential impeachment hearings, the death of Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and the November election. With reports of appalling weekly death tolls from Covid and no vaccine yet in sight, we were urged to stay safe by remaining behind closed doors, and people arriving to the Island were ordered to self-quarantine for 14 days. During this year, photographer Dan Waters wandered the Island with camera in hand, capturing signs that the Vineyard community was nonetheless very much alive and strong. This exhibition of photographs, all made with traditional black-and-white film, invites visitors to relive the year 2020 through its roller-coaster twists and turns — at times poignant, at times heartening — and the inspiring ways in which Vineyarders pulled together to strengthen and encourage each other. With most people’s faces half-hidden behind masks, the story unfolds through glimpses of gratitude, resignation and humor, with cries of passion interspersed with acts of extraordinary kindness.

Grain Family Gallery

Finding Our Way Home: The Denniston Family and 11 Masonic Avenue

Step inside the inspiring story of Rev. Oscar Denniston, his family, and the vibrant community he nurtured at 11 Masonic Avenue in Oak Bluffs. From its beginnings as the Oakland Mission serving immigrant families, to its transformation into the Bradley Memorial Church, this historic space was a home, a sanctuary, and a beacon of hope for people of all backgrounds.

Adele H. Waggaman Community Gallery

Where They Still Remain

African American and Wampanoag History Intertwined

This exhibition explores the work of photographer and writer Austin Bryant, who focuses on the connections between African American and Wampanoag communities on the Island over the past several hundred years. Featuring a mix of his own photography, archival images, and historical newspaper articles, he rebuilds the histories lost to time and erasure.

The Grain Family, Hollinshead, Cox, and Fleischner Galleries

Jaws at 50: A Deeper Dive

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of JAWS, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum is proud to present the first-ever comprehensive exhibition dedicated to the film's production on Martha’s Vineyard. Through photographs, oral histories, original art, and movie props, this exhibit will delve into how the Island became the fictional Amity Island, showcasing the Vineyarders who brought the movie to life and the enduring legacy of Spielberg's blockbuster.