Opens September 13, 2013
This fall Mystic Seaport is hosting an exhibit of the work of two American photographers who have documented very different aspects of life on the water in black and white. The exhibit features the work of Milton Moore, who documented the work of Cape Cod fishermen during the 1970s, and Barry Winiker, who photographs luxury cruise ships.
“We are very happy to share the work of these two important photographers whose work exemplifies the spectrum of ways we connect with the sea,” said Jonathan Shay, the Museum’s director of exhibits. “From the luxurious environment of cruise ships to the gritty setting on fishing boats, these photos show the extremes of work and play that the oceans provide. I love the photos not only for this documentation but also for their exceptional artistry.”
Milton Moore’s show is entitled Working Men, Working Boats: Images of the Cape Cod Fishery in its Heyday. Moore is currently a news designer with The Day newspaper of New London. Thirty years ago, while working for the Cape Cod Times, he produced this body of work. He has recently digitized and restored these historic images. The photographs have a timeless feel, capturing techniques that date back far before the 1970s.
“When I look at these photographs now, these images of men hauling nets and dredges no longer seem connected to my own hand, but are like some family heirloom I have always known,” Moore said. “It is as easy for me to imagine these photographs as records from the 1930s as to conjure the cold winds and shifting light of the days when they were made.”
Barry Winiker’s show is entitled Sun Ships: Modern Cruising. Winiker’s photographs of luxury ships contrast with the rugged environment of fishermen. His fascination with the photography of cruise ships and ocean liners began in 1980 when he boarded a passenger ship in New York City and discovered a world of style, design, and function. His photographs from the past three decades record passenger activities and the architectural and design elements on board.
“My views from the deck are documentary and informative, as well as interpretive,” Winiker explained. “They are concerned as much with architecture and design as they are with weather conditions, time of day and play of light and shadow. The wealth of shipboard visual information is enormous–it is a subject that inspires, challenges, and offers immeasurable possibilities.”
The exhibit is now open and is located on the second floor of the Stillman Building.
