Shelter Island History Museum
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    • Witness the Manhansett
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    • The Soap, The Salesman And The Sailor
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  • Calendar
    • 2025 Events & Programs >
      • April 19 : Spring Farmers Market
      • May 24-August 30: Havens Market
      • June 7: Shelter Island House Tour
      • June 28 - October 11: Generations of Shelter Island Impressionists Exhibit
      • July 2: Sock Puppet Playtime!
      • July 25: ArtSea Art & Science
      • July 28-Aug 15: Summer Children's Theater Program
      • August 13: Basket Weaving Workshop
      • August 14: Children's Basket Weaving Workshop
      • August 19: ArtLab Workshop
      • September 6: 3rd NY Regiment Encampment
      • September 27: Oysters 'R' Here Event
      • October 11: Harvest Festival Market
      • November 29: Holiday Farmers Market
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May 2019 through November 2019

Alan Shields:
​Where art life met island life


Documentary: "Shields" by Julius Braunschweig circa 1983

            Our father, Alan Shields, in many ways was larger than life. And yet was one of the most down to earth people you'd ever meet. A true Renaissance man, he enjoyed many facets of life and became a master of things he was passionate about; fishing, hunting, gardening, foraging for mushrooms and, of course, making art.
          A farm boy from Kansas, Alan never forgot his Midwest roots. He imbued that history in his art as well as in the way he lived off the land here on the Island. Ultimately living half his life on Shelter Island, Alan spent more years making art in this place than anywhere else. He traveled the world collaborating with art patrons, master print-makers and paper-mills, and showing in renowned galleries and museums. Between his travels he was here--first in Eel Town and then in Hay Beach--where he weaved himself into this community as a husband, father, fisherman, hunter, ferry captain, neighbor and friend.
          His art life blended seamlessly with his Island life and each influenced the other. Local welders would fashion metal armatures for his artwork and his boat Stinkpot V. He used mono-filament to hang art from the ceiling and to land big-eye tuna off Montauk. Colorful beads adorned his neck, whether he was at Church, at an art opening, or working on North Ferry. 
           It's safe to say that there was no one like our father. And even though he left this earth far too soon, we are grateful he lives on in his art and the people who knew him. We are also very grateful to Bill Pedersen and the Shelter Island History Museum for the honor of showing his work in this beautiful new space. Our father loved Shelter Island, loved making art, and we are proud that he is part of American art history and of this special place.
----Victoria Shields & Jason Shields

WORKS FEATURED IN HISTORY CENTER EXHIBIT
  • Beads in Trees
  • Two Four Too, 1978. Relief printing serigraph, stitching, handmade paper, edition of 20
  • Black Bart, 1974. Screenprint, lithograph, embossing, dye, collage, two-sided  on Arches paper, edition 12
  • Sweaty, 1975. Watercolor and thread on handmade paper
  • Kool Test #4, 1974. Watercolor and thread on handmade paper
  • Pole paintings, 1994, Acrylic, canvas on metal pipe:​
                       Thanks for All These Big Smiles
                       Willie Fox is a Babe Among Men
                      Leslie
                      Untitled (with beads)
                     How Can We Find a Needle in This Place
  • Martian Worm Village, 1996, Woodcut & stamping on handmade paper, edition of 41
  • Rickey, 1978, Relief, screen print & stitching on handmade paper, edition of 8
  • Elmo's Treasure Map Light, 1980-81, Woodcut, stitching on two sheets of handmade paper, edition of 18
  • Untitled, circa 1985, Watercolor, stitching collage on handmade paper, from the collection of Richard Smith
  • Progresso Friends with Yo-Yo, 1987, Watercolor, thread, strip, relief on handmade paper
  • Skin Care Product, 1988, Watercolor & thread on handmade paper
  • Napkin Rings, circa 1993, Wearable art piece made of acrylic on wood beads, made for & from the collection of Edie Landeck
  • Wood Tick, 1995, Wearable art piece made of acrylic on wood beads, & set in custom wood stand, made for & from the collection of Elizabeth & Bill Pedersen
  • Untitled necklace, 2000, Wearable art piece made of acrylic on wood beads, from the collection of Elizabeth & Bill Pedersen
  • Untitled cube, circa 2000, Watercolor on cotton pulp-dipped galvanized steel
  • Polka Scent, 2002, Acrylic, beads & thread on canvas
  • Put A Name On It Please, 1972, Acrylic, cotton belting, thread, beads
  • Alan's ferry shirt with beaded whistle, beaded sunglasses, & beaded hat
  • The Magic Poo, 1983, Acrylic, thread, canvas on metal pipe
  • Emergency Alert, 1992, Acrylic on canvas with wool yarn
Alan Shields's  work is also on display
​at The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City:
Artwork by Alan Shields on display at The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City.
Description of artwork piece by Alan Shields at The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City
Photographs of Guggenheim Exhibit from Janet Culbertson
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Partners
    • Our Timeline
    • Annual Reports
    • The Havens House >
      • Construction
      • Renovation
  • Support
    • Donate Now
    • Elizabeth Pedersen Educational Fund
    • Volunteer
  • Online Exhibits
    • History of Shelter Island
    • A Day in the Life
    • Digital Tapestry
    • "The Lords of Menantic" Companion Exhibit
    • "The Prospect of Summer" Companion Exhibit
    • See Their Names Exhibit
    • This Land is YOUR Land
    • The DNA of Shelter Island
    • Voices from the Vault
    • Then & Now
    • Witness the Manhansett
    • Walter Cole Brigham
    • Alan Shields
    • Helena Hernmarck
    • British Woolworks
    • "Connecting from a Quarantine Kitchen"
    • Havens DIMONscape
  • Havens Store
  • HAVENS FARMERS MARKET
  • PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
  • Education
    • The Shelter Island History Project
    • Race, Ethnicity & Class on SI, 1652-2013
  • Living History Project
  • The Collections
    • Digital Collections
    • New York Heritage Digital Collections
    • Donate to the Collections
    • Finding Aids
    • Film Collection
    • House/Building Registry Project
  • From Our Archives
    • The Soap, The Salesman And The Sailor
    • Historic Women of Shelter Island
  • Calendar
    • 2025 Events & Programs >
      • April 19 : Spring Farmers Market
      • May 24-August 30: Havens Market
      • June 7: Shelter Island House Tour
      • June 28 - October 11: Generations of Shelter Island Impressionists Exhibit
      • July 2: Sock Puppet Playtime!
      • July 25: ArtSea Art & Science
      • July 28-Aug 15: Summer Children's Theater Program
      • August 13: Basket Weaving Workshop
      • August 14: Children's Basket Weaving Workshop
      • August 19: ArtLab Workshop
      • September 6: 3rd NY Regiment Encampment
      • September 27: Oysters 'R' Here Event
      • October 11: Harvest Festival Market
      • November 29: Holiday Farmers Market
  • Contact
  • Directors' Log In