Sneak peek: Museum of Eastern Shore Culture at Salisbury University
Stories on the Shore
Salisbury, Md. – What better way to preserve history than a museum? Well, Salisbury University has decided to transform an old site into a new experience. What once was the Powell house and is now the Museum of Eastern Shore Culture at Salisbury University.
Education through Exhibits. Salisbury University has decided to tell the stories of the Eastern Shore by capturing the community on a canvas, and how the past is painted from an artist’s perspective. Museum curator Raye-Vallion Gillette says by exploring other groups, they can include more than just duck decoy.
“It speaks to the cultural heritage of this area, as it pertains to the waterman culture and artistic traditions as well but here at the museum, we want to expand into the cultural heritage for all communities.” They included the Pocomoke Indian Nation, to truly represent the past, present, and progression. “The community in this area and the cultures represented, just keep bringing people back, and eventually, a lot of folks move their families here. And I think it’s the representation of all of those diverse communities.”
Operations Coordinator Alexandra Kean says inclusion is key. “The Ward Brothers, they weren’t just decoy carvers and watermen. They explored painting and poetry… You can’t deny that as times progressed, we have communities that traveled here and now call this place home. We have communities that have lived here their whole lives and not had their story told and I think art gives us a really good opportunity. An accessible way to show those things.” Whether it was something on a canvas, a carving, or a collection, art is being displayed in many ways and the Story of the Shore are being told.
The Museum of Eastern Shore Culture at Salisbury University is located in downtown Salisbury at 218 W. Main Street and is open and free to the public. The grand opening is Saturday, November 2nd from 11:00 am to 4 pm, and regular business hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm and feel free to visit their website for more information.
