Cahoon Museum of American Art

Guided Tour of the Cahoon Museum
2026-08-20 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-08-27 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Cahoon Museum, 4676 Falmouth Road (Rte. 28), Cotuit, MA, 02635, United States
Offered every Thursday, this guided tour highlights something special about the museum’s historic house and current art exhibitions. A great way to get an insider’s sneak peek during a visit to the museum.
Included with museum admission.
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Afternoon with Nantucket Basket Maker Jack Kaminski
2026-08-20 14:00 - 15:00
Join the museum for an intimate artist talk with co-curator and exhibiting artist Jack Kaminski presented in conjunction with Stave and Cane: Nantucket Baskets. In this conversation, Kaminski will reflect on his personal journey as a maker, including how he first encountered the tradition of Nantucket basketry and the mentors and moments that shaped his path. This program offers the opportunity to hear directly from an artist deeply engaged with his medium—an afternoon of reflection, process, and passion that reveals the human story behind the art.
$20 per person/free for museum members
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Nantucket Basket Workshop with Helaine Buckley
2026-08-21 10:00 - 14:00
Friday, August 21, 10am-2pm AND Saturday, August 22, 10am-2pm
Discover the art of Nantucket basketry as you create your own 6½” round Nantucket Lightship lidded bowl. Perfect for beginners and experienced weavers alike, this hands-on workshop offers a rewarding and approachable project rooted in tradition.
Each participant will receive a beautifully crafted cherry wood base, matching solid rim, and fitted lid—complete with your choice of acrylic carved knob for a personalized finishing touch. Using traditional reed staves and natural cane, you’ll learn time-honored weaving techniques as your bowl takes shape.
With all materials and tools provided, all you need to bring is your enthusiasm. Leave with a handcrafted piece that reflects both your creativity and the enduring elegance of Nantucket basketry.
$475 per person/$450 per member
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Wild Journals Workshop with Artist Susan Porter
2026-09-19 10:00 - 16:00
Join instructor Susan Porter for this exciting workshop to stimulate your creativity, unleash your colorful inner self, and launch your journals onto a new path. Many of us keep journals to gain insight into ourselves and our lives or to mark events that have special meaning for us. Others, like artist Rockwell Kent, whose work is featured in the exhibition Rockwell Kent: A Force of Nature, make travel journals or journals to commemorate special passages in their lives. This workshop will help you bring your journals to a whole new level. Give your creativity a boost as you add color, texture, collage, layers, and 3D forms to your journals. Build secret compartments, add flaps, tags, and windows into your pages. Beginners and practicing artists are welcome.
Susan has exhibited at the Cahoon Museum in the past and is an active member of the New England Book Art Club.
$120 per person/$95 per member
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Member's Preview: Julia Cumes: Invisible Threads: Portraits and Stories of Our Global Neighbors and Ralph Cahoon: Fashioning A Fantasy World
2026-09-24 09:00 - 10:00
Join Cahoon Museum Curator, Leeann Ream, for a walkthrough of the museum’s new exhibitions: Julia Cumes: Invisible Threads: Portraits and Stories of Our Global Neighbors and Ralph Cahoon: Fashioning a Fantasy World. Explore how each of these artists uses images to construct narrative and to compose visual elements that shape the stories we perceive through their distinctive artistic voices.
Free for members. Not a member? JOIN
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Fall Open House
2026-10-03 10:00 - 16:00
Join us for a festive day at the museum filled with art, family activities, and special celebrations!
From 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, families are invited to enjoy a hands-on family program with creative activities inspired by our exhibitions—perfect for children and caregivers to explore art together.
From 1:00–3:00 PM, continue the festivities with an opening reception for Julia Cumes: Invisible Threads: Portraits and Stories of Our Global Neighbors and Ralph Cahoon: Fashioning A Fantasy World. Meet participating artists and enjoy light refreshments as we celebrate creativity in our community.
Free admission
Family program: 10AM-12PM
Reception for Julia Cumes: 1-3PM
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Gelliprinting Workshop: Printmaking Without a Press
2026-10-14 13:00 - 16:00
Learn gelli printing, a printmaking process that does not require a press, and explore textures and layers by combining materials to make a finished print. In this introductory workshop, a variety of tools and materials will be supplied. Instructor Christine Martell has been teaching a wide range of gelli printing techniques for more than 30 years. Open to all levels, and materials are provided.
$65 per person/$55 per member
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SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY: Join us on November 4th for a follow-up workshop that delves into more advanced and nuanced techniques—especially image transfers. Learn how to choose the right type of image, fine-tune your paint application, and coordinate timing and paper selection to improve your results. With hands-on guidance and real-time troubleshooting, you’ll gain valuable insight into the subtle techniques that will bring your work to the next level.
These Gelli printing workshops are perfect for those who love to experiment, embrace imperfection, and expand their creative toolkit in a supportive, process-focused environment. Sign up for both sessions to receive a discount—or choose just one that fits your interests.
Both workshops: $120 per person/$100 per member:
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Evening with Julia Cumes
2026-10-22 17:00 - 18:30
Join us for a special evening celebrating exhibiting artists Julia Cumes and Lipe Borges and their work in the exhibition Julia Cumes: Invisible Threads: Portraits and Stories of Our Global Neighbors, beginning with an engaging artist talk followed by a public reception in the galleries. Guests will have the opportunity to hear directly from the artists about their creative process, inspirations, and current work, and to enjoy light refreshments while viewing the exhibition.
$35 per person/$25 per member/free for patron members
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Intentional Images: Photography Workshop
2026-11-07 13:00 - 17:00
Saturday, November 7, AND Sunday, November 8, 1-5 pm
Join exhibiting artists Julia Cumes and Lipe Borges for an immersive, hands-on workshop is designed to help photographers build a strong foundation with their DSLR or mirrorless camera. Whether you’re refining your skills or moving beyond automatic settings, this experience focuses on the core elements that elevate everyday images into compelling visual stories.
Participants will explore the essential principles of composition, learn to use light effectively, and develop an understanding of visual storytelling. Emphasis is placed on photographing with intention—moving beyond simply capturing moments to thoughtfully creating images that communicate mood, meaning, and perspective. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with stronger technical confidence, a sharper creative eye, and practical tools to approach photography with clarity and purpose.
$275 per person/$250 per member
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Afternoon with Julia Cumes and Lipe Borges
2026-11-14 14:00 - 15:00
Join exhibiting artists Julia Cumes and Lipe Borges for an in-depth exploration of their project Invisible Threads: Portraits and Stories of Our Global Neighbors. In this engaging presentation, they will share additional images and stories beyond those featured in the current exhibition, offering deeper insight into the individuals and communities at the heart of the work. Julia and Lipe will also discuss the inspiration behind the project, as well as the challenges, discoveries, and meaningful moments they encountered along the way.
$20 per person/free for members
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