The articles in the Spring 2017 issue of the Friends Newsletter include:
For the complete contents of this newsletter please see FoJMB Newsletter #36, Spring 2017 or go to the next page for the Scribd version.
‘The Artistic Expressions of John Muir’
A talk by
Michael Wurtz
at
Dunbar Town House – Saturday 13 May
beginning at 7.00pm but come along from 6.30pm[1]
Mike is Head of Special Collections at the University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA., and one of his principal roles is as curator of the John Muir Papers and over a dozen Muir related collections.
Muir the artist is not a title that many would give him but, using artistic images from Muir’s journals, manuscripts, letters & drawings, Mike will examine how Muir used his masterful observational skills to study, promote, and protect our natural places. He will also use others to share some of Muir’s gripping near-death adventures – such as the time he experienced a Yosemite Valley earthquake.
[1] Enjoy a glass of wine or a soft drink and a chance to meet Mike and fellow Californian Jamie Hinrichs, an environmental historian and PhD student at St Andrews University.
The articles in the December 2016 issue of the Friends Newsletter include:
For the complete contents of this newsletter please see FoJMB Newsletter #35, December 2016 or go to the next page for the Scribd version.
The articles in the August 2016 issue of the Friends Newsletter include:
For the complete contents of this newsletter please see FoJMB Newsletter #34, August 2016 or go to the next page for the Scribd version.
The articles in the March 2016 issue of the Friends Newsletter include:
For the complete contents of this newsletter please see FoJMB Newsletter #33. March 2016 or go to the next page for the Scribd version.
The articles in the November 2015 issue of the Friends Newsletter include:
For the complete contents of the newsletter see FoJMB Newsletter #32. November 2015.
Notification of the Annual General Meeting appeared in FoJMB Newsletter #32. November 2015 as follows:
Notice of Annual General Meeting
Wednesday 13th January 2016
at 6.45pm for 7.00pm
Dunbar Town House Museum,
High Street, Dunbar
Agenda
(i) Report on year’s activities
(ii) Filling any vacancies on Council*
(iii) Other competent business*
Non-members will be warmly welcomed
Following the AGM there will be showing of the video
Mile, Mile & A Half
Hike, Laugh & Inspire on the John Muir Trail
In an epic snow year, five friends leave their daily lives behind to hike California’s historic John Muir Trail: from Yosemite to Mt. Whitney (the highest peak in the contiguous U.S.). Their goal – complete the journey in 25 days while capturing the amazing sights & sounds they encounter along the way. Inspired by their bond, humour, artistry & dedication, the group continues to grow: to include other arists, musicians & adventure seekers. Before they all reach the summit, hiker and viewers alike affirm the old adage – it’s about the journey, not the destination. Come walk with us.
* Please note that nominations for Council accompanied with the nominee’s agreement in writing and items for consideration under other competent business should be lodged with the Secretary, c/o John Muir’s Birthplace Museum, 126 High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1JJ by Monday 11th January 2016.
A Very Colourful Life
When the Scottish Government decided to mark the centenary of Muir’s death in 2014 by celebrations on his birthday, Dunbar Primary School resolved to be involved. After all, DPS is descended from the school he attended in Dunbar and is the only school that can claim Muir as a former pupil. When the Muirs emigrated to Wisconsin in1849 there were no school for the state was new and part of the American frontier. When schools were built, John as the oldest boy could not be
spared from farm work.
The pupils and staff had to mark his life with something really spectacular. But what? It was a parent-member of the DPS School Council who had the brilliant idea which would involve every class. Eden Blair had lived in Oregon and knew the story of Muir’s life. Could the school somehow recount the story of Muir’s life?
There were 34 classes, so Eden selected 34 key events in Muir’s life and wrote a couple of sentences describing each. Scraps of material, buttons, coloured tape and the like were collected divided up into 34 bundles. Then an event, a bundle of bits, a square metre of canvas, and the challenge to produce a collage illustrating their event were given to the teacher of each class.
Pupils and teachers set to with enthusiasm and inspiration to turn Eden’s words into a picture and gradually 34 original panels began to take shape, each a page in Muir’s very colourful life. On 21 April 2014, they made their first public appearance as part of Dunbar’s John Muir Centennial celebrations.
Then, in early February of this year, Friends offered to finance the production of a book which would make the panels available to a much wider audience. A text to accompany the illustrations would provide a young person’s biography of John Muir.
Professional photographer Rob McDougall, himself a DPS former pupil,
photographed the panels and donated copies of his images. Emma Westwater, of Source Design, who has been involved in all but one of our books, was enlisted to design the 72-page book. A final proof was delivered to the printers in April 2015.
The print run was 3,500 with each of the county’s 34 primary schools receiving a free class set. DPS received an additional 1,000 copies. Selling at £5 per copy, these will provide the school with the resources to maintain the panels for the future.
Copies are available from Dunbar Primary School and John Muir’s Birthplace, or by post by sending a cheque for £6 (£10 overseas for p&p) to Friends, John Muir’s Birthplace, 126 High Street Dunbar EH42 1AQ
2015 sees the 125th anniversary of the creation of Yosemite National
Park. The persuasive writings of John Muir were instrumental in the
legislation passing speedily through Congress and the Park came in to
being on 1 October 1890.
To mark the occasion the John Muir Birthplace Trust and Friends of
John Muir’s Birthplace are delighted to welcome the Andante Chamber
Choir from the Scottish Borders who will perform a number of choral
pieces with an American flavour, including a work specially composed
in honour of Muir. The choir will be supported by four instrumental
guests and there will be readings from Muir’s writings.
The concert will be in Belhaven Church at 7.30 pm on Friday 23
October
The July (#31) issue of the FoJMB Newsletter is now available online. Please see the Current Newsletter page for full details. The permalink for this edition is FoJMB Newsletter #31, July 2015.
