Opening Celebration: Knowing Nature at PEM
July 26, 2025
11:00 am
-
3:00 pm
Know before you go
In-person event
Location: Main Atrium, Create Space Studios
Included with admission
The exhibition gallery will be open for self-guided exploration from 10 am–5 pm.
ABOVE IMAGE: Wolf © Tom Walker. All Rights Reserved.
Join us in celebrating the opening of Knowing Nature: Stories of the Boreal Forest, on view in The Dotty Brown Art & Nature Center! Meet one of the featured artists as she creates new quillwork art, explore a boreal forest discovery cart and take part in forest-related hands-on activities!
Tree Trek
11 am–Noon | Meet in front of the museum
Preregistration required.
Join PEM’s Garden and Grounds team to discover the incredible trees that are part of our campus, a newly accredited Level II Arboretum.
The Caterpillar Lab
11 am–3 pm | Create Space 1
Join The Caterpillar Lab in an open exploration of the incredible world of New England caterpillars, some of which are also found in the boreal forest — including monarch butterfly caterpillars! This drop-in will feature a variety of live caterpillars in various stages of development. Educators from The Caterpillar Lab will share incredible but true stories about these creatures’ strange and surprising adaptations, and there will be plenty to see and touch. Check out some little-known native critters munching on their food plants right in front of you. You’re sure to see something new!
Woven Quillwork Demonstration by Elizabeth James-Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag)
11 am–3 pm | Main Atrium
Join Aquinnah Wampanoag artist Elizabeth James-Perry for a demonstration of quillwork: a Native American art form that uses porcupine quills to decorate clothing, jewelry and other objects. James-Perry is also a restoration ecologist, and she will discuss how she sustainably harvests and prepares natural materials (including plant dyes) for her artworks in Knowing Nature and beyond.
Drop-in Art Making: Air Plant Wire Sculptures
11 am–3 pm | Create Space 2
Using a rock, wire and air plants, create a unique nature sculpture to enjoy indoors!
Boreal Short Film Showings
2 pm-4 pm | Morse Auditorium