Month: July 2015

Classic Novel to be Read Aloud on Board the Charles W. Morgan

Mystic, Conn. (July 17, 2015) — Mystic Seaport will hold its annual marathon reading of Herman Melville’s novel, “Moby-Dick”, July 31-August 1.

The reading begins at noon on July 31 with an actor portraying Melville reciting the first chapter of the novel. Visitors can then sign up to read a chapter aloud as the Marathon continues until its conclusion. Once the reading is complete at noon the following day, the group will celebrate the 196th anniversary of Melville’s birthday.

The event will take place on the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan, the last example of the type of vessel Melville sailed on when he was inspired to write the novel. Visitors who wish to participate in the overnight parts of the reading will be able to stay on board with prior registration.

In addition to the Marathon, there are several other activities related to the novel during the weekend:

 “Moby-Dick” in Minutes: The Museum’s theatre troupe, the TaleMakers, will present a condensed, 30-minute theatrical version of the novel. There are two performances, one on each day at 3:15 p.m. on the Museum’s Performance Stage.

Song for the Whales: This evening concert will feature visiting artist Jen Long with her unique whale guitar, as well as performances by the Museum’s chanteymen. Utilizing both traditional and modern songs, the concert will highlight whale preservation efforts and social change. The concert is on Friday at 5 p.m. on the Performance Stage.

The Art of the Word: This collaborative art project will combine the beauty of Melville’s text with pieces of visitors’ handwriting to create a visual representation of the whale in mosaic. The project will be open next to the Morgan Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

A Scholar Panel, “Ahab’s Tear and Pip’s Tambourine: Sufism, Shamanism, and Symbolism in ‘Moby-Dick’”, will discuss religious themes and symbolism in the novel. The panel precedes the Marathon reading Friday, July 31, at 10:30 a.m. in the Museum’s Greenmanville Church.

The “Moby-Dick” Marathon will be live tweeted on Twitter at @MbyDickMarathon (hashtag: #MDM2015). Interesting facts and commentary will be shared by Mystic Seaport staff throughout the event.

The Marathon is included in Mystic Seaport admission. Marathon participants who would like to stay overnight on the Morgan need to pre-register by calling 860.572.5331. There is no additional fee to stay overnight.

For more information, please visit the Museum’s website https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/.

About Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship and the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum’s collection of more than two million artifacts includes more than 500 historic vessels and one of the largest collections of maritime photography in the country. The state-of-the-art Collections Research Center at Mystic Seaport provides scholars and researchers from around the world access to the Museum’s renowned archives. Mystic Seaport is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $25 for adults and $16 for children ages 6-17. Museum members and children 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, please visit  https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/  and follow Mystic Seaport on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Public Invited to Watch Artists at Work July 21-25

Mystic, Conn. (July 14, 2015) —  An exhibition and sale of unique works created by the nation’s leading maritime artists, “The Plein Air Painters of the Maritime Gallery Exhibition and Sale,” will open at the Mystic Seaport Maritime Gallery Saturday, July 25.

The exhibition is a collection of the work of 31 of today’s leading maritime artists who will take to their French easels on the Museum grounds and nearby locations beginning on Tuesday, July 21 to capture the timeless beauty of the Museum’s historic ships, shoreline vistas, and scenes along the Mystic River in the tradition of the plein air painters of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Featured artists include David Bareford, Susan Stephenson, James Magner, and Maris Platais. The event is a rare opportunity to observe and interact with artists at work along the Mystic River as they capture the beauty of Mystic Seaport and its environs.

“This annual exhibition and sale now in its 19th year showcases work by many of the top maritime artists working today and illustrates why Mystic Seaport is so beloved by artists as a place of inspiration,” said Monique Foster, director of the Maritime Gallery. “And these paintings are remarkably affordable considering the quality of the work and the renown these artists have among collectors of maritime art.”

The artists’ works will then be available for viewing and purchase in the “Plein Air Painters of the Maritime Gallery Exhibition and Sale” from July 25 through September 20.

An opening reception at the Gallery will be held Saturday, July 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free and open to the public, attendees will have the opportunity to meet the participating artists, as well as purchase paintings fresh off the easels.

The gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 860.572.5388 or visit the gallery’s website.

About the Maritime Gallery
The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport is the nation’s foremost gallery specializing in contemporary marine art and ship models. For more than 35 years, the Gallery has been privileged to exhibit the works of leading international maritime artists. Located at historic Mystic Seaport, the Gallery overlooks the beautiful Mystic River attracting art lovers and collectors from around the world. For more information, please visit mysticseaport.org/gallery.

Event to Feature Centennial Society of 100-year-old Vessels, Antique Boat Parade

Mystic, Conn. (July 10, 2015) —Mystic Seaport will hold its 40th annual Antique & Classic Boat Rendezvous at Mystic Seaport Saturday and Sunday, July 25-26.

The event showcases high-quality antique vessels, including cruisers, sailboats, and runabouts. Approximately 50 classic vessels will create a colorful gathering along the Museum’s waterfront all day Saturday and Sunday morning. Visitors are invited to see the displayed vessels Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. An award competition will recognize excellence in restoration, authenticity, and workmanship.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Rendezvous, the Mystic Seaport Centennial Society will be introduced. Gramp, an inductee into the first class of these 100-year-old vessels, will be featured this year. Designed by noted naval architect William Hand and built in 1915 by L. West and George Bonnell of Port Chester, NY, Gramp is an excellent example of the fast and seaworthy “Hand v-bottom” launches and runabouts that were plentiful in the decade before World War I.

The Museum will celebrate the anniversary on Saturday night, July 25, with “Docktails & Dancing” from 7 to 10 p.m. Guests will enjoy drinks, desserts, and dancing to live music by Rock and Soul Revue next to the water at Lighthouse Point. Tickets are $24 per person for members and $30 for non-members. A cash bar will be available. Tickets may be purchased by calling 860.572.5365.

The Rendezvous concludes Sunday at 12:30 p.m. with the traditional parade of the classic vessels down the Mystic River. Each boat will be announced on the shore at Mystic River Park as it passes through the iconic Mystic River Bascule Bridge. The boats then make their way down river to Fishers Island Sound in what has become a highlight of the Mystic summer season.

Mystic Seaport would like to give special thanks to Grundy Insurance and Dodson Boatyard of Stonington, CT, for their generous sponsorship of this event and their donation of time and expertise.

For more information, please visit https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/event/antique-and-classic-boat-rendezvous-2/.

About Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship and the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum’s collection of more than two million artifacts includes more than 500 historic vessels and one of the largest collections of maritime photography in the country. The state-of-the-art Collections Research Center at Mystic Seaport provides scholars and researchers from around the world access to the Museum’s renowned archives. Mystic Seaport is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $25 for adults and $16 for children ages 6-17. Museum members and children 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, please visit  https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/  and follow Mystic Seaport on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.