If you’ve raised children, looked after children or read to children, chances are you’ve encountered Richard Scarry’s immortal Busytown stories and met Huckle the Cat, his sister Sally, Mr. Frumble and of course, Lowly Worm. One of the stories begins something like this (it’s been a few years since I read this, so forgive me if the quotation is a little bit off!):
It’s early morning in Busytown. My, what a busy place!
That line went through my head all last week, as we were a very busy place indeed. The week began with Arts & Culture Week, part of Peterborough’s Seniors Month event, organized by indefatigable community organizer (and former Canoe Museum Board Member) Pat Hooper.
Monday it was photography and artisans and a wigwam drop-in. Tuesday brought the New Horizons band, square dancers and singers. Wednesday was painting, Thursday was theatre, artisans and a wigwam drop-in and Friday offered more music and journal and memoir writing. So far, so good and pretty busy. As the psalm says, there was definitely some “joyful noise,” especially when the kids from Spring Valley PS got together with members of the Fairhaven Choir.
Many of the events were taking place in our multi, multi, multi-purpose space, also known as the Education Room. At the same time as these activities, a troupe of volunteers and staff from Community Living Peterborough were getting ready for the second big event of the week.
“Peterborough in Portrait” is a unique community art show that invited professional, amateur and aspiring artists to create portraits in a variety of media. The Canoe Museum is proud to be the venue for the exhibit of these unique works of art. We’ve known for some time that according to the Fire Marshall’s office the Education Room can hold 177 people. Now, thanks to Community Living, we also know that it can hold more than 250 works of art! The show organizers worked hard all week, in between square dancers and wood turners and musicians, to hang and label the portraits in time for the opening gala on Saturday, June 15th. The art is on display until June 22nd, and some of the works are also for sale if you would like to support a great cause.
And it isn’t over yet, because on Saturday, June 22nd we’re hosting the Small Craft Rendezvous, an action-packed day of exhibits, demonstrations and interesting small boats. See you at the Museum! Whew!
