One Book One Island is an annual collaborative project of community partners and sponsors on Nantucket that seeks to promote reading and community by encouraging the entire population of Nantucket Island to read, discuss, and reflect on the same book. Organizers hope to instill the importance of life-long learning for youth and adults and to provide opportunities for fun and enlightening activities for the island’s winter community.
This year’s selection, The Yellow House by Sarah Broom, was chosen for its relatability and accessibility to readers of all ages and backgrounds. Broom’s memoir, published in 2019, tells the story of her family—their history, their lives, and their home in the city of New Orleans. Themes of race and discrimination, home and identity, run through the book and make this a timely, relevant, and essential read for 2021.
One Book One Island events for 2021 include programs for readers of all ages and in multiple languages involving arts and crafts, informational speakers, book discussions, a scavenger hunt, music, and cuisine. Below is a list of the 2021 OBOI events. All programs are online unless otherwise indicated. Visit the Atheneum website for links to online programs as they arrive.
Artists Association of Nantucket presents “Home,” a collaborative exhibition.
Cecilia Joyce & Seward Gallery, 19 Washington Street
Mar. 26 – Apr. 2: Open Weekdays 11-4PM, Saturday 11-2PM, Closed Sunday
This year’s book, The Yellow House, lends itself to themes of family, home, architecture, still life interiors, the color yellow, and stormy weather (the New Orleans house in the books was damaged by Hurricane Katrina),” says AAN’s Robert Frazier. “This installation is sure to feature beautiful art, photography, textiles, and perhaps some ceramics.”
Continuing the theme, AAN intern Brady Pattee is partnering with some AAN preschool students to bring to life a large watercolor yellow house that will hang in the Washington Street gallery window. The work will represent the feeling of a family house that kids grow up in.
AAN Craft – Grab and Go – Painted Story Quilt
Visual Arts Center, 24 Amelia Dr.
Pick up Mon – Thurs, 9AM-4PM, while supplies last
Quilt-making is a centuries-long storytelling medium utilized by many cultures. It’s an art form that can teach basic math skills, recycle cast-off materials, encourage cooperation and provide comfort. Artist and author Faith Ringgold is renowned for her painted story quilts. She surrounds her narrative paintings with a quilted fabric border, which creates visual art that tells a story in color, texture, and pattern.
Like Faith, students select a story to illustrate — either from a book, family history, or an experience of their own — then create their selected scene on fabric using watercolor pencils and pastels. With the remaining fabric, students design swatches to create a border, while learning about textile design in the process. Swatches may be shared among young designers, just as fabrics have been shared by families and communities for centuries for the purpose of creating quilts. This project is something families can do together to share their stories of what home means to them. If participants wish to bring their finished work to the gallery on drop off days, they will be exhibited as part of the One Book One Island event for all to see and enjoy. Drop off on Mar. 23 & 24, 10-5PM at the Cecelia Joyce & Seward Johnson Gallery, 19 Washington St.
Mar. 22 at 7pm
Monday Movies Discussion with Moe – The History of Systemic Racism in America: ‘Reconstruction: America After the Civil War’
Richard ‘Moe” Moore and members of Nantucket Equity Advocates will host a three-part series using documentaries to guide a conversation about the history of systemic racism in America. Participants will watch the films on their own prior to the Zoom meetings.
This month’s film is ‘Reconstruction: America After the Civil War’ (Hours 3 & 4). The series’ second half looks beyond that hopeful decade, when the arc of history bent backwards. It became increasingly clear that many Southern white people were never willingly going to accept this new social order and that the federal government was not prepared to provide African Americans with consistent or enduring protection of their new rights. This film is available on PBS.org and through the library. Registration required.
March 24, 5PM
Book Discussion in Spanish facilitated by Wilda Falconer
Mar. 24, 5:30PM
Every House Holds a Story: Food for Thought with Mary Bergman
Discover historic Nantucket homes that are featured in works of literature, with Mary Bergman, Executive Director of Nantucket Preservation Trust.
Mar. 25, 7PM
NCMC Jazz night
Nigel Goss, Jason Sullivan, Aidan Sherry, and Ecliff Graves present a jazz performance and discussion of the unique aspects of New Orleans style jazz.
Mar. 27, 10-12PM
An Art Project about your Home from the NHA and NCS
Kids can learn about their homes and record interesting facts and features in their House History Booklet. In their booklets, artists can paint their favorite part of their house, draw a picture of their favorite room, the view from their room, or a pet! Booklet includes links on how to research information for your house. Younger kids can create a collage of a house using a template, tissue paper and torn paper. The NHA & NCS team will be available outside the Whaling Museum, dressed as houses and distributing the take home activity kits.
Mar. 28, 2:30-4PM
Historic Properties Scavenger Hunt
The Bike Club is sponsoring a free ride on Sun, Mar. 28 to complete the NHA’s Historic Properties Scavenger Hunt. The ride will begin and end (with hot chocolate!) at Graceline Institute, 41 Main Street. Masks & helmets required.
Mar. 29, 7PM
Yummy Monday – The Gumbo Edition
New Orleans resident Ron Bocage demonstrates how to make Seafood & Andouille Gumbo using ingredients available on Nantucket. The first 15 people to sign up will receive a spice packet courtesy of Annye’s Whole Foods.
Mar. 31, 6:30pm
Clemmons Vermont Family Farm: “Stair Stories: Reclaiming Heritage and Home”
Dr. Lydia Clemmons leads an interactive presentation on the history of her family’s farms and how it fits into the wider history of African Americans. Her talk will cover Black property ownership, storytelling, the Great Migration, history and race.
Fri, Apr. 2, 6:30-8PM
Memoir Writing Workshop with Jennifer Carlson
Sat, Apr. 3, 2PM
Book Discussion of The Yellow House
Apr. 5, 6PM
Gender and Race discussion
Nantucket Equity Advocates and the committee on Women’s History discuss gender and race as themes of The Yellow House.