Peabody Essex Museum

05/31/2026

“Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone” closes in one week! ⏳

Don’t miss your chance to check out the first major retrospective of the acclaimed 19th-century sculptor Edmonia Lewis. Born in Greenbush, New York in 1844, Lewis became the first sculptor of Black and Indigenous (Mississauga) descent to achieve international recognition. Make sure to visit the exhibition before it closes on Sunday, June 7!

🎟️ Tickets to this exhibition are included with museum admission. Plan your visit today and learn more at pem.org!

📸: Kim Indresano/PEM

05/31/2026

Meet Harriett Low, a 19-year-old Salemite whose journey to China in 1829 gave us a remarkable firsthand look at the early 19th-century maritime trade.

After a four-month voyage, Harriett arrived in Macau, the Portuguese colony that served as the primary residence for American and European merchants in East Asia. She documented in her diary how these merchants then traveled to Guangzhou, the only port in China where foreigners were permitted to purchase and sell luxury goods. Her detailed records offer a unique window into this era of strictly controlled international commerce. You can find this portrait of Low on display in our Asian Export Art gallery!

🗓️ Want to learn more about Harriet Low? On Saturday, June 13 at 1 pm, join Karina Corrigan, Deputy Chief Curator, The H.A. Crosby Forbes Curator of Asian Export Art, for the next installment in our Salem as Muse curator talk series and learn more about Low’s fascinating story! Grab your tickets today at pem.org/events/salem-as-muse-harriet-low-with-karina-corrigan?date=2026-06-13&time=01:00

🎨: George Chinnery, Portrait of Harriet Low, 1833. Oil on canvas. Museum purchase, made possible by the Lee and Juliet Folger Fund, Joan Vaughan Ingraham, and an anonymous donor, 2001. M18709. Peabody Essex Museum.

05/30/2026

Calling all young artists! 🎨

Join our special summer experience, “Creative Kids: Emerging Artists,” from July 13–17. Artists ages 11 to 13 will draw inspiration from PEM’s diverse collections to create original art while enjoying games and activities. Families are invited to a special showcase and reception on Friday, July 17, at 4 pm to celebrate their incredible creations! We’re excited to share that financial aid is now available for this program. Registration closes on Monday, June 22.

🎟️ Secure your spot today at pem.org/events/creative-kids-emerging-artists?date=2026-07-13&time=09:00

📸 Kathy Tarantola/PEM

05/29/2026

📚 Our PEM Reads series celebrates the art of literature and the creative act of writing through a series of book club readings and author events.

🗓️ On Sunday, June 7 at 2 pm, join author Julia Cooke for a discussion about “Starry and Restless: Three Women Who Changed Work, Writing, and the World”, a triple-biography of Martha Gellhorn, Emily “Mickey” Hahn and Rebecca West, all trailblazing reporters who transformed journalism while reinventing the possibilities for women of their times. Cooke takes readers through the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s, from Omaha Beach on D-Day to the Congo and the Nuremberg Trials. This discussion will include a book signing with the author! Register today!

Join author Julia Cooke, as she introduces us to an earlier moment of journalistic transformation through a curator-moderated discussion.

05/28/2026

We have exciting news from Yin Yu Tang! 🐟

There are signs of new life this spring in Yin Yu Tang! Our team was delighted to discover a baby goldfish in one of the home’s ponds, a discovery that carries cultural significance. Did you know that the carp is an important symbol in Chinese culture? The carp symbolizes success, perseverance and strength. There are other fish-inspired symbols hidden in the home, too: Chiwen, a dragon with a fish body, is a common architectural motif believed to prevent fires. In fact, you can spot two Chiwen figures on Yin Yu Tang over the main entrance of the house. As our ongoing preservation work continues, these two original sculptures have been carefully protected.

We are excited about the year ahead! We anticipate completing the roof replacement, masonry repairs and decorative painting by the end of the year. Additionally, we look forward to opening a new interpretative gallery where visitors can learn more about the history of Yin Yu Tang and the Huang family who lived there for eight generations.

05/26/2026

Enjoy tea time at PEM! 🫖

On Thursday, June 11 at 11 am, celebrate the rich and global history of tea! Join Salem’s favorite tea blenders, Diehl Marcus and Company, for a guided tasting of five custom blends. You'll learn about the ingredients, benefits and origins of these brews from the team who curate them for their Salem store, and take home a sample of your favorite blend!

🎟️ Register today at pem.org/events/tea-tasting-with-diehl-marcus-company-2?date=2026-06-11&time=11:00

05/25/2026

Celebrate the holiday weekend at PEM! Please note, active duty military and veterans receive free admission to PEM, on Memorial Day and every day.

☀️ As we mark the unofficial beginning of summer, we've compiled five reasons to stop by in June:

1️⃣ Explore our thought-provoking exhibition, “Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone” before it closes on June 7!

2️⃣ Free museum admission on Saturday, June 6 during Salem Arts Fest!

3️⃣ Engaging programs for all ages, including our upcoming Juneteenth celebration

4️⃣ Salem history highlights from Native American Art, the Salem Witch Trials and the city’s maritime past, including our Salem 400+ celebrations and programs

5️⃣ Weekly drop-in art making for families and other hands-on activities every weekend!

📸 Kathy Tarantola/PEM

05/24/2026

How did Edmonia Lewis create her sculptures?

In our exhibition, “Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone,” we pull back the curtain on the artist’s meticulous multi-step process for creating her works in marble. Through a groundbreaking collaboration with Woburn-based Skylight Studios and a 3D scan of the Smithsonian’s “Old Arrow Maker,” we were able to recreate Lewis’ artistic process. A sculpture starts with building a preliminary model in clay over wood and wire, followed by plaster casting durable models to serve as sculptural templates. And finally, marble carving, using pointing tools to methodically transfer measurements onto stone.

⚒️ See the recreations of each step for yourself in “Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone” before it closes in two weeks on Sunday, June 7!

🗓️ Join us for a special GenPEM visit to Skylight Studios on Friday, May 29, at 6 pm! Enjoy an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of their Woburn studio to learn about their work on “Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone” and other projects across Greater Boston. Cocktails and snacks are included. Register today at my.pem.org/25121/genpemskylight?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=REM%7C5.29%7CGenPEM%7CSkylightStudios&utm_content=version_A&sourceNumber=

📸 Kim Indresano/PEM