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AUGUSTA — University of Maine at Augusta professor Lisa Botshon recently received a $100,000 National Endowment for the Humanities Grant to support statewide programming for “Maine’s Mid-Century Moment,” highlighting Maine’s cultural history as part of the state’s bicentennial.
The first event in scheduled for in partnership with the Maine State Library, from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 28, encompassing a community read for “We Took to the Woods” on the second floor of the Maine State Library.
The University of Maine at Augusta has announced a yearlong program of events exploring the artists, writers and innovators shapin and chronicling Maine’s mid-century cultural evolution. Maine’s Mid-Century Moment has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
“UMA is honored to have received this NEH grant, especially in support of programming celebrating Maine’s Bicentennial,” said UMA President Rebecca Wyke. “Congratulations to Professor Botshon for a very unique and compelling area of emphasis in Maine’s history.”
“By focusing on Maine’s mid-century, we anticipate many attendees will be familiar with the writings, paintings, and activities highlighted by these events,” stated Boptshon, a UMA English professor. “Our gatherings should reveal connections between the artists, writers, and entrepreneurs who came into prominence during this time period. Part of the yearlong program will include our ‘What do you know?’ campaign, seeking stories about mid-century individuals and events.”
UMA will partner with the Maine State Library on a community read focused on Louise Dickinson Rich’s bestselling 1942 memoir “We Took to the Woods,” facilitated by Candace Kanes. While less well known today, “We Took to the Woods” proved to be a literary touchstone nationwide, garnering serialization in the pages of the “Atlantic,” selection by the Book-of-the-Month Club, multiple translations and re-issues, and even an Army edition. This work is one of the first rustication memoirs, blending humorous anecdotes about living off the grid with observations about Maine woods culture, flora, and fauna; generalized advice; musings on contemporary society; charming dog (and skunk) stories; and the occasional recipe.
Copies of “We Took to the Woods” may be borrowed through the Maine State Library, and a variety of objects owned and used by Louise Dickinson Rich, including her typewriter and metal writing desk, will be on view at the neighboring Maine State Museum. The museum will be open late and free of charge the evening of Jan. 28.
Over the course of 2020, in partnership with 11 various cultural institutions, UMA will sponsor 15 events around the state highlighting a variety of the makers who helped define Maine for the nation in the middle of the 20th century. While some of them, like author Louise Dickinson Rich and painter Marsden Hartley, continue to inspire, others have faded from view. An investigation of some of the major players and concerns of this moment provides not only an understanding of prevailing issues of the mid-20th century, but insights into current state culture and conflicts.
For a full listing of the year’s events, please visit “Maine’s Mid-Century Moment.” All events are free and open to the public.
