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Recreating Spacetime

October 20, 2016 by Aidan Black

Betsy Wyeth’s reconstruction of the sail loft makes Allen Island especially unique with regard to its spacetime.  In a way the building seems to defy the rules of spacetime altogether.  The original sail loft has rich historical roots in Port Clyde that Betsy Wyeth attempted to maintain in its reconstruction, but can the spacetime of the building truly be preserved?  Much of the design and even boards that make up the sail loft on Allen Island today are the same as the ones that were used to create it in 1822.  So in a physical sense Betsy has preserved much of the historic value of the loft.  However, spacetime relies on the flow of ideas and experiences.  Despite her good intentions and attempt to recreate the sail loft the way it once was, Betsy Wyeth cannot fabricate past memories with this building that would enrich the its spacetime.  Perhaps the spacetime of the building could have been enriched though if David Morey, the man who dismantled the loft because he considered it a “valuable building,”  reassembled it.  Nevertheless the historical significance of the building, whether she experienced it or not, makes the loft all that more valuable to Betsy Wyeth.  Furthermore, I think this adds to the attraction of the museum because of its marine and fisherman themes.  Ultimately she may not be able to preserve the spacetime of the building, but in creating the museum in the reconstructed loft she is establishing a new, historically rich spacetime open to the public.

Filed Under: Oct 20

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