COVER STORY
Artistic women T
THROUGH TIME
he New Bedford Whaling Museum is offering the perfect opportunity for people to see women's past contributions to South Coast society with its "Celebrating Women and Work" workshop. The program is on Zoom on Wednesdays January 26, February 2, 9, and 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Thursdays January 27, February 3 and 17 from 9:30 a.m. to Noon. On Saturday, February 12 from 9:30 a.m. to Noon, the workshop will be conducted in-person at the museum. “Lifelong learners are invited to join us for an eight-session program celebrating women's work,” explained Catherine Saunders, coordinator of the museum's "Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast" virtual exhibit, of which this program is an off-shoot. Saunders said this will be a chance for attendees to explore treasures in the Whaling Museum's collection made by women, learn about women who succeeded in the traditional maledominated workforce, and see past women’s handiwork in the home. She said this is the museum's first such program. Women over the age of 65 are encouraged to apply. Though the program
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In advance of March being Women's History Month, it's time to see how the Women of the South Coast have contributed in the past and will contribute into the future.
is open to the general public, priority will be given to women who are part of the ARAW (Association for the Relief of Aged Women). The program is made possible through the participation of the ARAW and through its Community Partnership Grant funding. Advance registration is required; the fee is $15 for the eight sessions. The program will include a presentation from Whaling Museum staff who will bring out treasures from the museum collection not on display that have been made by or used by women. On the in-person day (Saturday), attendees will visit the museum's exhibits with the help of docents who will point out items of interest from the women's perspective, such as mementos of the captain's wives who accompanied their husbands on whaling voyages. One example, she said, is the work of Marian Shaw Smith, who took some of the first photographs ever taken of whaling life. Attendees will also meet with the museum librarian who will show them original papers of historic women from the museum collection. Once such woman, Edith Guerrier, taught immigrant women to make pottery as a way for them to make
February 2022 | The South Coast Insider
by Michael J. DeCicco
money. Guerrier compiled a notebook for their thank-you notes to her. Attendees will also be able to see original recipe books and do family recipe swaps. Additionally, there’ll be a presentation from the Lowell Maritime History Park on women who worked in the textile industry and a visit to New Bedford's Fishing Heritage Center to explore its exhibit on "Women's Work on the Sea, On Shore, At Home, In the Community". Saunders said the program has two goals. The first is to provide a meaningful program for older women who, especially under current COVID pandemic conditions, can be isolated and forgotten about. The program gives them the opportunity to share their own stories as well as hear of stories like theirs, she said. The second goal, she added, is to "shine a woman's lens on the story of the South Coast."
FINDING FILMMAKING
In Fairhaven, you'll find a bright future star of the women of the South Coast. Alyssa Botelho, a recent graduate of the film program at the University of Rhode Island, is already an award-winning filmmaker.
