In October of 2006, one of the most sacred and well-documented sites of ancient petroglyphs on the eastern seaboard of the United States was returned to its original peoples, the Passamaquoddy Tribe. The site is known as “Picture Rocks” and lies on the Machias Bay in “Downeast” Maine. The rock carvings and peckings date as far back as 3,000 to 5,000 years and its most ancient peckings may be as old as 10,000 years. Believed to be made by Shamans, the petroglyphs are positioned such that they are the most visibleat the Fall or Spring Equinox and thus the name of the Exhibition, The Equinox Petroglyph Project: Interpretations by Women and Children.

Our Mission

The Equinox Petroglyph Project is an effort to document and interpret the ‘Picture Rocks’ from the female point of view and that of the Passamaquoddy youth through visual, auditory, and tactile works of art. Through a traveling exhibition we hope to educate and bring greater awareness of the Passamaquoddy culture to a wider public.

Who we are:

Historically, all interpretations of the petroglyphs have come from an outsider’s, male point of view. While most of the young people represented in the Exhibition are Passamaquoddy, the older women artists represent those who have pure Passamaquoddy heritage, those with some Passamaquoddy ancestry, and those with no Tribal heritage. All exhibitors live in Washington County or regularly visit the Machias Bay area.

Introduction by Mark Hedden (click)

Press Release  June 2008 (click)