View an original copy of the Declaration in Farmington

FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington is inviting the public to see an original 1776 Dunlap Broadside copy of the Declaration of Independence and be part of a series of related community events beginning Thursday.

The document is on a statewide tour and will be on public display at the UMF Emery Community Arts Center on Oct. 2 and 3. Members of the public are encouraged to reserve a free ticket at mainehistory.org. Events are free and open to the public.

Before the Declaration was formally handwritten and signed on parchment in August of 1776, “copies of the Dunlap Broadside were dispatched by mounted messengers across the colonies. It was publicly read to the troops and citizens. This broadside was how the American people learned they were an independent nation,” say organizers.

Among the events in conjunction with the tour are a panel discussion on the Declaration, other historical artifacts on display and a reception (all at the Emery Community Arts Center), guided tours by the Farmington Historical Society, and American works by violinist Lydia Forbes and pianists Yuri Funahashi and Steven Pane at UMF Nordica Auditorium, Merrill Hall.

The Emery Community Arts Center gallery is on Academy Street. For hours and more information, go to emeryarts.umf.maine.edu.

Spend an evening with Walt Whitman in Lewiston

LEWISTON — Cambridge actor, educator, lecturer and historian Stephen Collins will perform a one-man show as one of America’s greatest poets when he presents “Unlaunch’d Voices: an Evening with Walt Whitman” on Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 5-7 p.m. in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library.

As Whitman, Collins explores the “Leaves of Grass” poet’s young life and then his maturing and later years, including “… the most important work of my life …” nursing the wounded soldiers in the hospitals during the Civil War.

“Through poetry and readings of actual letters, we experience Whitman’s movement from selfishness and selflessness and his growth into a mature artist who is at peace about ‘himself, God and death,'” say organizers.

This event is free and open to the public. No reservations or tickets are required. The performance lasts about an hour and will be followed by a Q&A.

The Lewiston Public Library is located at 200 Lisbon St. For more info call 207-513-3134 or email LPLCirc@lewistonmaine.gov.

Attend the Sprinchorn exhibition opening in Lewiston

LEWISTON — On Thursday, Oct. 1, from 4-6 p.m., Bates College will host the opening of a three-month exhibition of works by Carl Sprinchorn titled “Points of View.”

The exhibition chronicles the life and work of modern artist Carl Sprinchorn (1887-1971) offering more than 70 drawings, pastels, watercolors and paintings from the collection at the Bates College Museum of Art.

“Emigrating from Sweden to study with Robert Henri as a teenager, Sprinchorn first drew from observation in New York City. He then spent years traveling to Europe, Santo Domingo, Mexico, and the American West. His first prolific period of artmaking in Maine took place in Monson in the 1910s and ’20s, when he produced mysterious figures and moody landscapes,” say exhibit organizers. “Returning to Maine at the end of the 1930s, Sprinchorn portrayed rural life around Shin Pond through sweeping seasonal landscapes, striking portraits of male figures, and lively sketches of hunting and logging.”

Beginning with the opening reception, the exhibition will be available through Dec. 19. Museum hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday and holidays. For more information, go to museum@bates.edu.

The museum is at 75 Russell St.

Catch comedian Brian Glowacki in Rangeley

RANGELEY — The Rangeley Friends of the Arts presents comedian Brian Glowacki with special guest Brian P. Brown for one show only Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. at RFA Lakeside Theater in Rangeley.

Glowacki has been a national touring opener for comedian Bob Marley as well as headlining many clubs and festivals. He became the first independent, local comedian to headline the historic Wilbur Theatre in Boston, has performed at the Funny or Die “Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival,” and earned honors at the Burbank Comedy Festival, Big Pine Comedy Festival and San Diego Comedy Festival. 

General admission tickets are available only at bglowcomedy.com. Cash bar (beer/wine) and concessions before and during the show.

For more information, go to www.rangeleyarts.org. The theater is at 2493 Main St.

Take in Five for Fighting in Gardiner

GARDINER — Five for Fighting and Lace & Lee will perform Thursday, Oct. 1, at Johnson Hall Opera House.

Grammy-nominated Five For Fighting has released six studio LPs, including the platinum-certified “America Town” and “The Battle for Everything,” and the top-10 charting “Two Lights” and signature “Superman.” Five For Fighting’s music has also been featured in more than 350 films, television shows and commercials.

Lace & Lee is a folk-rock duo heavily influenced by the mystical wisdom of ’60s and ’70s storytelling, with a twist of humor and bard-like prose, say organizers.

The show is from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tickets are $50. For more information and tickets, go to www.johnsonhall.org.

The opera house is at 280 Water St.

Taste the local harvest in Lewiston

LEWISTON – On Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 4-7 p.m., a free family-friendly fall festival will take place downtown featuring live music, local vendors, fall activities, a photo booth and more, with options to sample food from a host of area restaurants and enjoy a beverage garden.

The downtown’s annual Taste the Harvest festival is hosted by several local organizations and supported by many area businesses to highlight local talent and food while celebrating the season.

Attending the festival is free. For those wishing to taste their way through the evening, organizers say an “affordable Taste the Harvest experience with lower-priced tasting options” will be available from an array of local restaurants, allowing participants to “choose from eight, four or two tasting options and create your own adventure by visiting the participating locations that interest you most.”

For more information, prices, a list of participating restaurants and more, go to business.lametrochamber.com/events/.

The event will be centered around Dufresne Plaza at 72 Lisbon St.

Seek a musical respite at Oasis of Music in Lewiston

LEWISTON — On Wednesday, Sept. 30, Oasis of Music at Trinity Commons will present the fiddle music of Don and Cindy Roy beginning at 12:30 p.m. 

The Roys are the premier fiddle and piano duo of Maine, whose music has been dubbed “the aural signature of the Pine Tree State,” organizers say.

They direct the acclaimed fiddle orchestra Fiddleicious and are recipients of the National Heritage Fellowship award for their accomplishments.

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, the Vanessa Jones Duo will bring an afternoon of original folk/Americana music to the Oasis of Music beginning at 12:30 p.m. Accompanying Jones will be Jerry Adams on bass.

The Maine-based multi-instrumentalist has performed with a wide variety of bands, from jazz, to punk, country, Celtic, rock, classical, Americana/folk, choral, theater, blues, alternative, and beyond. “(Jones) enjoys bringing sparkle to the human experience through the sharing of songs based in honesty, imagery, truth, pain and love,” say organizers.

The Oasis of Music is at Trinity Commons, 247 Bates St. Admission is free, with donations accepted. For more information call 207-344-3106.

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