Smithsonian Institution’s Traveling Exhibit, “Between Fences”

Do “good fences make good neighbors?” Why?  Montpelier Mansion, in cooperation with Maryland Humanities Council, will explore this and other aspects of the cultural history of fences and land use as it hosts the local showing of Between Fences, a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition. Between Fences will be on view beginning September 19 and continuing through November 7.

Montpelier Mansion and the surrounding community has been expressly chosen by the Maryland Humanities Council to host Between Fences as part of the Museum on Main Street project – a national/state/local collaboration . The exhibition will tour six communities in Maryland from September 2010 through August 2011.

Through a selection of artifacts, photographs and illustrations, Between Fences will surprise audiences with its exploration of the multiple meanings behind this everyday icon. Whether made of split rails, decorative white pickets, or tall chain link, a fence conveys information about the people who built it, how they view and use their property, and the nature of their relations with their neighbors. Such barriers speak eloquently about how we view our communities and country as well.

Montpelier Mansion and “Between Fences”

All hosts of the Between Fences traveling exhibition are charged with creating a companion exhibit – as well as supporting programs such as lectures, performances, school programs, and more – based on their own community’s history with boundaries.  Montpelier Mansion has chosen to base their companion exhibit and supporting programs on the metaphorical boundaries faced by immigrants throughout history.  Starting with the arrival of Richard Snowden, an indentured servant who’s great, great grandson built Montpelier Mansion, Laurel has always been a destination for those seeking opportunity in a new land.  We will explore the challenges and successes of newcomers – both forced migrants like Africans brought here to be enslaved, and voluntary immigrants coming here to find opportunities – to this area from the 1600s to the present, striving to find common ground between the early European settlers and more recent immigrants from Latin America, Asia and Africa.

Do You Want to Be a Part of “Between Fences”?

We all have immigrant stories.  Whether you immigrated here yourself or are several generations removed from your ancestors who did, we would like to hear your memories and stories.  We are conducting interviews with residents of Laurel about their families’ immigrant experience.  The immigrant did not have to settle in Laurel, we’re just looking for family immigrant stories of people who live here now.  These stories will be featured somehow in our exhibit.  We are also looking to borrow family photographs and mementos that somehow help to tell the story of your immigrant experience.  If you would like to help us with this exhibit, you can fill out an interview questionnaire at http://www.pgparks.com/between_fences, or call Holly Burnham at (301) 377-7817, or email Montpelier Mansion at montpeliermansion@pgparks.com, and put “Between Fences” in the subject line.

Thank you very much.

Between Fences has been made possible at Montpelier Mansion in Laurel, MD by the Maryland Humanities Council.

Between Fences is part of Museum on Main Street, collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and The Hearst Foundation.