ASHLEY BRYAN CENTER
60 SAND BEACH ROAD, ISLESFORD, ME 04646 www.theashleybryancenter.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE ORGANIZATION IS ORGANIZED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES INCLUDING PROVIDING A VENUE FOR EXHIBITS OF ART AND ARTISTIC COLLECTIONS; SPONSORING SEMINARS, LECTURES AND GATHERINGS THAT ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE THE CREATIVE ARTS; AND PROVIDING AN EDUCATIONAL SETTING TO DESCRIBE AND CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND CREATIVITY OF ASHLEY BRYAN.

2020 WAS AN UNUSUAL YEAR TO SAY THE LEAST. ASHLEY HAS BEEN SEQUESTERED IN TEXAS FOR THE DURATION. VIRTUALLY ALL IN-PERSON ACTIVITY CAME TO A HALT IN EARLY MARCH. THE STORYTELLER PAVILION REMAINED CLOSED FOR THE 2020 SEASON. THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE BUILDING AND THE ASSOCIATED STATE OF MAINE SAFETY PROTOCOLS SET A HIGH BAR FOR OPERATING ANY NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS DURING THE PANDEMIC. IN THE INTEREST OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR BOTH STAFF AND VISITORS, THE STORYTELLER PAVILION WAS OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY AND DURING SUCH VISITS, STAFF REMAINED OUTSIDE. MASKS WERE REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES. IN SPITE OF OUR ISLAND LOCATION AND THESE SAFETY PROTOCOLS, WE WERE GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY 75 VISITORS BY APPOINTMENT, ONE OF WHICH WE ARE HONORED TO REPORT, WAS THE GOVERNOR OF MAINE, JANET MILLS. EXHIBITION LOANS WERE VERY LIMITED, AS WELL. THE MAINE STATE HOUSE - THROUGH THE ARTS COMMISSION WAS ABLE TO SECURE THE LOAN OF 13 PAINTINGS FOR DISPLAY, ALTHOUGH ACCESS TO THAT FACILITY, TOO, WAS EXTREMELY LIMITED. JULY 13, 2020 WAS PROCLAIMED ASHLEY BRYAN DAY IN THE STATE OF MAINE, AND GOVERNOR MILLS SPOKE WITH ASHLEY AND SUBSEQUENTLY VISITED LSLESFORD IN AUGUST. ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF ASHLEY'S ART, BATES COLLEGE IN LEWISTON, MAINE RECEIVED AN EXTENSIVE GIFT OF ASHLEY'S PAINTINGS AND PRINTS FROM FORMER TRUSTEES HENRY AND DONNA ISAACS, AND DAN MILLS, THE DIRECTOR OF THE BATES MUSEUM, WANTED TO AUGMENT THE CELEBRATORY EXHIBITION IN THE FALL OF 2020 WITH LOANS FROM THE CENTER. THE SHORT TIMELINE AND LOGISTICAL ISSUES PREVENTED US FROM COMPLYING, ALTHOUGH WE HOPE TO ENGAGE WITH BATES AT A FUTURE DATE. BOWDOIN COLLEGE IN BRUNSWICK, MAINE HAD PLANNED TO INCLUDE ASHLEY IN AN IMPORTANT EXHIBITION OF MAINE ARTISTS, SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN JUNE OF 2020. IN EARLY MARCH 2020, NICK CLARK DELIVERED TWO LINO-CUTS FROM ASHLEY'S SPIRITUAL BOOKS AS GIFTS FROM THE CENTER, AND HE WAS IN DISCUSSION FOR THE LOAN OF A PAINTING OR TWO FOR THE EXHIBITION (THESE WOULD HAVE SERVED AS THE BASIS OF AN ADDITIONAL GIFT). DUE TO THE EMERGING PANDEMIC, THE EXHIBITION WAS POSTPONED UNTIL JUNE 2021. THE PUPPETRY CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN ATLANTA GA HAS REQUESTED ONE OF ASHLEY'S PUPPETS FOR AN EXHIBITION IN 2021, AND THE CENTER HAS ACCOMMODATED THIS LOAN REQUEST. WE ALSO BEGAN CONVERSATIONS TO ASSIST WITH AN EXHIBITION AT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND THEATER OF PORTLAND, MAINE, USING ASHLEY'S BOOK, BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD AS THE CENTERPIECE. IN OTHER NEWS OF DISTRIBUTING ASHLEY'S PAINTINGS TO MAINE INSTITUTIONS, THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA MADE ITS SELECTIONS OF PAINTINGS, THUS CLEARING THE WAY FOR PHASE TWO. NICK CLARK HAD REACHED OUT TO THE MAJOR ART INSTITUTIONS IN THE STATE RECEIVING ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE. THE PORTLAND MUSEUM, THE FARNSWORTH MUSEUM IN ROCKLAND MAINE, COLBY COLLEGE, AND BOWDOIN COLLEGE HAVE ALL EITHER MADE SELECTIONS OR ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING THEM - ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN DONE VIRTUALLY, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT FINAL SELECTIONS WILL BE MADE BASED ON CURATORS SEEING THE WORKS IN PERSON - HOPEFULLY THIS SUMMER. ADDITIONALLY, THE CENTER HAS OFFERED ALL OF THE ORIGINAL ART AND RELATED MATERIALS OF ASHLEY'S 2015 BOOK SAIL AWAY - VISUAL INTERPRETATIONS OF MARITIME POEMS BY LANGSTON HUGHES - TO THE MORGAN MUSEUM AND LIBRARY IN NEW YORK CITY. THE GIFT HAS BEEN APPROVED, AND THE DEED OF GIFT IS BEING FINALIZED. THERE WERE CONTINUED REQUESTS FOR ASHLEY TO PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS, ALLOW HIS BOOKS TO BE READ IN VIRTUAL STORY TIMES, AND TO REPRODUCE ASHLEY'S WORK IN MAGAZINES RANGING FROM GENERAL INTEREST PERIODICALS TO MORE SPECIALIZED PUBLICATIONS. THE CENTER COOPERATED FULLY TO ACCOMMODATE THESE VARIOUS REQUESTS AS WELL AS OTHER INQUIRIES DRIVEN BY AWARENESS OF THE CENTER THROUGH THE WEBSITE.

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