PRESS RELEASE: MARTHA’S VINEYARD MUSEUM ANNOUNCES EXCITING SPRING PROGRAMMING

Press release: April 2025

Martha’s Vineyard Museum Announces Exciting Spring Programming

Vineyard Haven, MA – The Martha’s Vineyard Museum is delighted to unveil a diverse lineup
of events and exhibitions for April 2025, offering enriching experiences that celebrate the Island’s
rich history, culture, and community spirit.

Upcoming Events:

• Needle Felting for the Curious: An Introductory Workshop
  Date: Saturday, April 12, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  Description: A hands-on workshop led by artist Becky Nutton, exploring the art of
  needle-felting.
  
• Lost Landmarks and Hidden Histories III
  Date: Wednesday, April 16, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
  Description: An exploration with MVM Research Librarian Bow Van Riper of once-iconic
  Vineyard landmarks that have vanished from the landscape but whose stories endure.
  
• Sequan: Cultural Perpetuity With More Than Human Relations
  Date: Sunday, April 26, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
  Description: A conversation with Brad Lopes and Taylor Smalley on Wampanoag
  communities’ relationships with their more-than-human relatives.
  
• 3rd Annual Earth Day Festival
  Date: Saturday, April 19, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
  Description: A celebration bringing together Island organizations dedicated to
  environmental preservation, featuring hands-on activities and community engagement.
  
• A Captain and His Catboat: The Story of Tigress
  Date: Thursday, April 17, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
  Description: Join Captain Kurt Peterson as he shares the story of Tigress, his hand-painted
  wooden catboat and a living piece of Vineyard maritime history.
  
• Everyone Has to Eat! Taste and Learn About Island-Raised Meat
  Date: Tuesday, April 22, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
  Description: Jo Douglas shares her journey from vegetarian to farmer—and offers samples
  of her locally raised meats, prepared by Chef Gina Stanley.
  
• Finding Our Way Home: Stories from the Denniston Family Archive
  Date: Tuesday, April 29, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
  Description: Discover the legacy of Rev. Oscar Denniston and his family through rarely
  heard stories, historic artifacts, and curatorial insight.

Ongoing Exhibitions:

• Faces of a Century
  Dates: January 21 – May 4, 2025
  Description: A selection of thirteen rarely-seen portraits showcasing individuals who have
  impacted the Vineyard over the past 100 years.
• Stay Safe, Stand Strong: Martha’s Vineyard in 2020
  Dates: January 25 – May 4, 2025
  Description: Photographs by Dan Waters capturing the Island’s resilience during the
  challenges of 2020.
• Finding Our Way Home: The Denniston Family and 11 Masonic Avenue
  Dates: February 18 – May 4, 2025
  Description: Exploring the inspiring journey of Rev. Oscar Denniston’s family, and the
  vibrant, multicultural community they fostered at 11 Masonic Avenue in Oak Bluffs.
• Where They Still Remain
  Dates: March 1 – June 29, 2025
  Description: Austin Bryant’s highlights the intertwined histories of African American and
  Wampanoag communities on Martha’s Vineyard.
• Vanity: The Last Working Catboat
  Dates: March 22 – March 8, 2026
  Description: Discover the story of Vanity, the last working catboat of Martha’s Vineyard,
  through artifacts, photographs, film footage, and archival materials.

Coming Up

• Jaws at 50: A Deeper Dive
  Dates: May 24 – September 7, 2025
  Description: In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Jaws, this massive exhibition
  explores the making of the film, its impact on the Island, and the community that brought
  it to life—anchored by Amity Homecoming Weekend, a five-day event of programs, talks,
  and celebration.

For more information on these events and exhibitions, please visit the Martha’s Vineyard
Museum’s website at mvmuseum.org/events.

About Martha’s Vineyard Museum
The Martha’s Vineyard Museum inspires all people to discover, explore, and strengthen their connections to the Island and its diverse heritage. Through exhibitions, programs, and a vast collection of artifacts, photographs, and oral histories, the Museum preserves and shares the stories of Martha’s Vineyard—past and present. Located in Vineyard Haven, the Museum offers year-round opportunities for learning and engagement for visitors of all ages. For more information, visit mvmuseum.org.