The Vashon Heritage Museum is proud to announce the first release of A Contemporary Exploration of Vashon and Maury Islands on Friday, Dec. 3. The video series, created by island educator, photographer, and author Barb Gustafson, will be released in batches every other Friday through March 2022.

“We are thrilled to be presenting this contemplative and thoughtful look at our island community,” said Elsa Croonquist,” Vashon Heritage Museum Executive Director. 

“Islanders and visitors alike will enjoy taking a look at our island and making new discoveries through Barbara’s narration as she takes the viewer on a contemplative and thoughtful journey down the roads and through the trails to beaches and island neighborhoods, allowing a glimpse of our neighborhood history and a look at where we live on Vashon today,” concluded Croonquist.  

The series is an extension of Gustafson’s book The Heart of Vashon: Sharing Our Stories in Pictures and Words. With the help of editors Michael Monteleone and Dennis Lambert, the 16-part series explores neighborhoods of the island through photos and the stories of the people who lived there.

The inspiration for Gustafson’s project stemmed from the initial lockdown and isolation during the pandemic in March 2020. While escaping for outdoor time around the island and taking photos, she thought of those individuals who could not leave their residences. Gustafson assembled several slideshows to share over Zoom with the community at Vashon Senior Center.

“I was able to pop in my kayak and glide peacefully through the water, explore the wide beaches and intertidal zones at low tide, and wander the many wonderful woodland trails,” said Gustafson. “While doing these activities, I realized how many individuals and families could not experience these rejuvenating outdoor moments.”

The first series focuses on the north end of Vashon Island, including the Dolphin Point, Vashon Heights, Dilworth, and Colvos areas. In the episodes, Gustafson reads childhood stories from Brian Benno and Nick Molvik, and reads poems from Deb Phillimore Dammann and Lorna Delano Cunningham.

Click here to view the video series.

This project is made possible by the Office of the Secretary of State through the Washington State Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.