Month: September 2018

Mystic, Conn. (September 24, 2018) — Mystic Seaport Museum today announced it is the recipient of $736,167 in Save America’s Treasures grants to support the restoration of the L.A. Dunton fishing schooner and critical preservation work for the Rosenfeld Collection of Maritime Photography.

The National Park Service, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts, awarded $4.8 million in Save America’s Treasures grants to help fund 16 projects in 12 states. The funds will support the preservation of nationally significant historic properties and collections throughout the country. Mystic Seaport Museum received two separate grants under the program.

“We are very grateful for this support because these generous awards recognize the importance of maritime history to the American story and the value the L.A. Dunton and the Rosenfeld Collection have in that narrative,” said Steve White, president of Mystic Seaport Museum. “These funds will save important pieces of history that are truly American treasures and which have a positive impact on the surrounding community.”

Built in 1921 in Essex, Mass., the 123-foot-long L.A. Dunton is one of the last surviving examples of the Grand Banks fishing schooners, once one of New England’s most common fishing vessels in the beginning of the 20th century. The Dunton was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1994. The grant of $491,750 will support the acquisition of rare shipbuilding timber and other materials for the planned restoration of the vessel.

The second grant of $244,417 will fund the restoration, digitization, and rehousing of selected cellulose diacetate negatives from the Museum’s Rosenfeld Collection of Maritime Photography, which have been affected by a form of acetate film base deterioration. The Rosenfeld Collection, acquired by the Museum in 1984, is built on the inventory of the Morris Rosenfeld & Sons photographic business and is the largest archive of maritime photographs in the United States.

Diacetate negatives are subject to a natural process of degradation as the diacetate plastic mounts give off acetic acid in the presence of humidity and/or other environmental factors. The plastic mount shrinks and partially separates from the base, resulting in the formation of channels in the film. The resulting condition, “vinegar syndrome,” renders the negatives unusable. The grant will enable the Museum to preserve 3,500 affected negatives.

The federal Save America’s Treasures program, established in 1998, is managed by the National Park Service in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, with the objective of preserving nationally significant historic properties and museum collections for future generations of Americans.

The Save America’s Treasures program has provided $315 million to more than 1,300 projects to provide preservation and conservation work on nationally significant collections, artifacts, structures, and sites. Requiring a dollar-for-dollar private match, these grants have leveraged more than $377 million in private investment, and contributed more than 16,000 jobs to local and state economies.

This project is partially funded by the Save America’s Treasures program of the Historic Preservation Fund, National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not constitute endorsement or necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior or U.S. Government.

About Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic Seaport Museum, founded in 1929, is the nation’s leading maritime museum. In addition to providing a multitude of immersive experiences, the Museum also houses a collection of more than two million artifacts that include more than 500 historic vessels and one of the largest collections of maritime photography. The iconic Thompson Exhibition Building is a state-of-the-art gallery that will host Death in the Ice: The Mystery of the Franklin Expedition, a major exhibition of one of seafaring’s most mysterious tragedies December 1, 2018 through April 28, 2019. Mystic Seaport Museum is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. For more information, please visit https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/ and follow Mystic Seaport Museum on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Eight-week Program “Becoming American” to Encourage Informed Discussion of Immigration Issues Against Backdrop of History

Mystic, Conn. (September 20, 2018) — Mystic Seaport Museum will host “Becoming American: A Documentary Film and Discussion Series on Our Immigration Experience,” an eight-week public program featuring documentary film screenings, scholar-led discussions, and related activities designed to encourage an informed discussion of immigration issues against the backdrop of our immigration history. The series begins October 4 and is free and open to the public.

“Becoming American” is designed to engage and enlighten audiences by screening documentary films that represent a selection of diverse immigration experiences drawn from both the past and the present.

Mystic Seaport Museum was selected as one of 32 sites nationwide to host this program series, which is a project of City Lore in collaboration with the Immigration and Ethnic History Society and the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience. “Becoming American” was made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.

The following topics will be discussed in the eight-week series:

• October 4: “The Century of Immigration: 1820-1934” chronicles the period when 40 million immigrants were added to the population of the United States and in the process made immigration a major and defining aspect of American life. Films: New York: A Documentary Film Episode 4, The Power and the People by Ric Burns and The Jewish Americans Episode 2, A World of Their Own by David Grubin.
• October 18: “Promise and Prejudice” explores the tension – historic and current – between Americans’ acceptance of immigrants, including the celebration of their own immigrant heritage, versus the periodic backlash prompted by concern about the economic and cultural effects of newcomers. Film: Welcome to Shelbyville by Kim A. Snyder.
• November 1: “Between Two Worlds: Identity and Acculturation” looks at how immigrants react and adjust to living in a new country and culture, and how they bridge the divide between the traditions and values of their native countries. Film: The New Americans Episode 1: The Nigerians by Steve James.
• November 15: “Help Wanted? Immigration and Work” looks at the economic side of immigration, chronicling the essential part immigrant labor has played in building America, as well as the conflicted relationship American workers have had with immigrants. Film: Destination America by Donna Gabaccia and Janet Nolan.
• November 29: “Family and Community” explores how family ties and community institutions have played an essential role in successful migration and adaptation to American life. Film: My American Girls.
• December 13: “Immigration and Popular Culture” looks at the ways the media and popular culture have historically taught newcomers how to “be American,” and how the rich contributions of different immigrant groups have transformed American culture and art. Film: The Search for General Tso.

The film screenings and discussions will be held in the Museum’s Masin Room in the Thompson Exhibition Building from 7 to 9 p.m.

In addition to the film series, the Museum has added two other programs:

• October 25: guided tours of the Museum’s Collections Research Center, home to more than 1 million artifacts. The tours will focus on those connected to stories of immigration. Tours begin at 1 and 2:30 p.m.
• November 8: “The Stonington Fishing Oral History Project,” a talk by Museum curator Fred Calabretta. The talk begins at 4 p.m. in the Masin Room.

The series is free and open to the public. Advance registration is encouraged by calling 860.572.5331.

Links:

https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/becoming-american/

http://becoming-american.org/

About Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic Seaport Museum, founded in 1929, is the nation’s leading maritime museum. In addition to providing a multitude of immersive experiences, the Museum also houses a collection of more than two million artifacts that include more than 500 historic vessels and one of the largest collections of maritime photography. The iconic Thompson Exhibition Building is a state-of-the-art gallery that is hosting The Vikings Begin: Treasures from Uppsala University, Sweden through September 30, 2018. Mystic Seaport Museum is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. For more information, please visit https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/  and follow Mystic Seaport Museum on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

 

Mystic, Conn. (September 14, 2018) — The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport Museum opens the 39th Annual International Marine Art Exhibition and Sale Saturday, September 29.

The International is the most comprehensive collection of contemporary marine art in the United States. Award-winning artists from around the world will present more than 100 examples of their most recent work. Represented in this show are exceptional paintings, sculptures, and scrimshaw. The juried show is a commemoration of America’s maritime heritage with both intricately researched historical scenes and contemporary images that document the relationship of man to the sea.

“We are excited and honored to present at this year’s International a wonderful array of top quality maritime works created by the best marine artists from around the world. From historical depictions of boats to photorealist renditions to modern interpretations, there is something for every collector and boat enthusiast in this exhibition,” said Monique Foster, director of the Gallery.

All of the works in the show will be on public display for the first time. Participating artists include Don Demers, Patrick O’Brien, Richard Loud, William Duffy, Laura Cooper, Sergio Roffo, Russ Kramer, William Davis, and Peter Arguimbau.

The exhibition will honor participating artists with five awards of excellence and six named awards –including the Rudolph J. Schaefer Maritime Heritage Award, which recognizes the work that best documents America’s maritime heritage for future generations. Judging the entries this year will be Gregg Dietrich, senior consultant and specialist in Marine Arts and Antiques at Eldred’s Auctioneers and Lincoln Paine, maritime history author.

The exhibition will open to the public at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 29. There will be an artists’ walk at 10:30 a.m. at the Gallery, which is an opportunity for the public to meet some of the participating artists and listen as they share how they created their works and what inspires them to produce their art.

All works in the exhibition are available to view and purchase daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. The show can also be viewed on the Gallery website beginning September 24.

The exhibition runs through December 31, 2018.

About the Maritime Gallery
The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport Museum 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 on the grounds of the historic Museum, the Gallery overlooks the beautiful Mystic River attracting art lovers and collectors from around the world. For more information, please visit mysticseaport.org/gallery.

Museum Announces Extended Run for Science, Myth, and Mystery: The Vinland Map Saga Exhibition through October 31

Mystic, Conn. (September 6, 2018) — Mystic Seaport Museum will host a symposium on the latest research and scholarship concerning the controversial Vinland Map. “The Vinland Map Rediscovered: New Research on the Forgery and its Historical Context” will take place on September 21 in the Masin Room of the Thompson Exhibition Building on the Museum’s grounds in Mystic, Conn.

Held in conjunction with the ongoing exhibition, Science, Myth, and Mystery: The Vinland Map Saga, this symposium will present an international roster of scholars on various aspects of the Vinland Map story, including results of new scientific testing, the map’s role in history and scholarship, medieval Norse sagas, and the archaeology of the only confirmed Viking settlement in North America.

The exhibition explores the stories around and behind the publication in 1965 of a scholarly examination of a piece of parchment known as the Vinland Map. Publication of the map threw into question the long-held belief that Christopher Columbus was the first European to reach American shores, in 1492. At the time, the map was dated by Yale researchers to about 1440, igniting a firestorm of debate about the moment of first contact. The exhibition is the first public view of the map in the United States outside of New Haven, Conn., in more than 50 years. The Museum also announced the exhibition will extend its run an additional month through October 31.

The symposium will begin at 9:45 a.m. with opening remarks by Nicholas Bell, senior vice president for Curatorial Affairs, Mystic Seaport Museum, and Raymond Clemens, curator of Early Books and Manuscripts, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University.

Following the introduction, the day will be broken into morning and afternoon sessions. This program will be live-streamed on YouTube Live.

Morning Session, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• Karen Kupperman, Silver Professor of History (retired), New York University
  “From Speculation to Acceptance: Viking Settlements in North America”
• Birgitta Wallace, senior archaeologist (retired), Parks Canada
  “L’Anse aux Meadows: The Gateway to Vinland and its People”
• David Bradbury, independent historian
  “The Vinland Map and the Realities of Expertise”
• Raymond Clemens, curator of Early Books and Manuscripts, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University
  “The Impact of the Vinland Map on Medieval Cartography”

Afternoon Session, 1:30-4 p.m.

• Jesse Meyer, co-owner, Pergamena Leather & Parchment
  “Beneath the Ink: What Can We Learn from the Parchment of the Vinland Map?”
• Paula Zyats, assistant chief conservator, Center for Preservation and Conservation, Yale University Libraries
  “Materials and Techniques of Medieval Manuscripts”
• Richard Hark, assistant conservation scientist, Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, Yale University, and H. George Foster Professor of Chemistry, Juniata College
  “Navigating the Materiality of the Vinland Map and Associated Manuscripts: New Insights from New Scientific Tools”

The symposium is free for Museum members and free with Museum admission for non-members. Pre-registration is recommended, as space is limited. Registration can be made by calling 860.572.5331.

This program is made possible through support from the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University.

Science, Myth, and Mystery: The Vinland Map Saga is made possible through support from:

A grant from the Vietor Family in memory of their father, Alexander O. Vietor, Connecticut Humanities, Anonymous, William H. Donner Foundation, Robert & Cynthia Martin, ABCNEWS VideoSource.

About Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic Seaport Museum, founded in 1929, is the nation’s leading maritime museum. In addition to providing a multitude of immersive experiences, the Museum also houses a collection of more than two million artifacts that include more than 500 historic vessels and one of the largest collections of maritime photography. The iconic Thompson Exhibition Building is a state-of-the-art gallery that is hosting The Vikings Begin: Treasures from Uppsala University, Sweden through September 30, 2018. Mystic Seaport Museum is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. For more information, please visit https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/  and follow Mystic Seaport Museum on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.