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      Curator Talk

      Salem as Muse: Lucy Cleveland, Author and Textile Artist

      Saturday, May 23, 2026 from 10 am—12 pm

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      Sculpture of "There was an old lady who lived in a shoe"

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      In-person
      Location: Morse Auditorium

      Included with admission; preregistration encouraged. 

      Lucy Hiller (Lambert) Cleveland , "There was an old lady who lived in a shoe.." (detail), 1840-1860. Paper, watercolor, linen, leather, silk, cotton, ink, wood. Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Morck, 1998. 137846. Peabody Essex Museum. Photo by Lucy Cleveland. 

      In 2026, as part of the Salem 400+ initiative, PEM will present "Salem as Muse," a series of talks that highlight works represented in PEM’s collection. These programs will explore a diverse range of subjects that connect to the unique history and character of Salem, Massachusetts.

      Curator-at-Large Paula Richter will give a presentation centered on Lucy Cleveland: textile artist, children's book author, 19th-century reformer and abolitionist. Born in Salem in 1780, Cleveland traveled to China and Indonesia with her husband, a sea captain, and published more than a dozen books. One of her artworks is on display in Salem Stories.

      About our presenter

      Paula Richter
      Paula Richter

      Since 2009, Paula Richter has been responsible for curatorial research and support of the museum's changing exhibition program, related publications and core activities within the curatorial department. She has participated on exhibition teams for more than a dozen recent and upcoming exhibitions and numerous gallery installations and rotations, including The Salem Witch Trials 1692. She previously worked for the Cape Ann Historical Association, the Sargent House Museum and Landmark College. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Richter writes and lectures on American textiles and fashion and New England art and decorative arts. She also leads PEM’s partnership with Handwork 2026, presented by Craft in America. 

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