A truck from Brownell Systems gets ready to pull the steamboat SABINO out of the main shop, where she has been undergoing restoration since December 2014. Click on the image for a slide show. (Photos by Kane Borden and Joe Michael/Mystic Seaport)
Steamboat Sabino took one step closer to her launch this summer when she was moved out of the main shop today and onto the shiplift, where work will continue until she is ready to go back into the water. Sabino has been undergoing a thorough restoration and inside since December 2014. Brownell Systems of Mattapoisett, MA, erected a trailer under the vessel and then carefully maneuvered her out to the lift.
Sabino still needs to have her engine, stack, canopy top, and pilothouse reinstalled. They were removed to provide greater access for restoration work and clearance through the shop doors. In addition, a new boiler needs to be designed and fabricated to replace the current one that dates back to 1941. While that is taking place, Sabino will be launched and returned to operate as a dockside exhibit. The plan is to have her return to steam operation for the 2017 season.
Summer Performance Series Celebrates New Outdoor Venue
Mystic, Conn. (June 7, 2016) — Mystic Seaport announced today it will host “Arts on the Quad,” a new series of outdoor concerts and theater this summer. Each performance will be staged on the new McGraw Gallery Quadrangle, the center of the redesigned north end of the Museum grounds where the audience will take in the show from the lawn.
The series offers guests the opportunity to experience the diverse talent of local artists in a variety of musical genres as well as some drama and comedy. “Arts on the Quad” is part of a strategic initiative by Mystic Seaport to increase the use of its grounds and location on the Mystic River as a gathering place for the community.
The series kicks off Saturday, July 2, with Flock Theatre’s rendition of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” and continues throughout the summer. All performances begin at 7 p.m.
July 6 – Zydecats One of the first Zydeco bands to form in the Northeast, Zydecats will entertain the crowd with their lively blend of Cajun, blues, R&B, and Mardi Gras rhythms.
July 20 – Mystic Horns A swing, R&B, jazz, and dance band from Southeastern Connecticut, the group will perform New Orleans-style rhythm and blues and classic R&B from the songbooks of Buddy and Ella Johnson, Wynonnie Harris, and many others.
August 3 – Salt Marsh Opera Singers and an accompanist straight from the main stage productions of the Stonington, CT-based opera company will perform a 60-minute program of well-known arias, duets, and trios by operatic composers such as Mozart, Puccini, and Verdi.
August 10 – The Trombones of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra Called the “boiler room of the ECSO” by The Day newspaper of New London for their consistent excellence in major works for orchestra, the Trombones now come to the recital stage on their own.
August 17 – West End Blend This 10-piece band pays classic homage to throwback sounds of pop, soul, funk, and rhythm and blues.
Tickets for each performance are $18 for members, $20 for non-members, children ages 5 and younger are admitted for free. Tickets for the August 3 performance by Salt March Opera are $20 for members, $25 for non-members. Children ages 5 and younger are admitted for free. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling 860.572.0711.
The gate opens at 6 p.m. Guests are expected to provide their own seating on lawn chairs or blankets and picnicking is encouraged. A cash bar will be available for adult beverages and soft drinks. All performances will be held rain or shine. In the event of rain, the performance will be moved under cover and seating will be provided.
Guests are asked to park in the north lot opposite Latitude 41° Restaurant & Tavern and to use the Center Entrance next to the yellow Administration Building at 75 Greenmanville Ave. (Rte. 27).
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 $26 for adults and $17 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.
Mystic, Conn. (June 3, 2016) — Mystic Seaport announces today the election of Kenneth S. Siegel, J. Robert Mann, Jr., to its Board of Trustees.
Mr. Siegel is the Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. in Stamford, CT. He has been with Starwood since 2000. He is a graduate of Cornell University, and has a J.D. from New York University, and is a member of the New York Bar.
Kenneth S. Siegel
Mr. Siegel has received multiple awards, including a Philanthropic Leadership award, an Employer of Choice award, and earlier this month, the Burton Foundation Legend in Law Award. His board and non-profit service includes Sacred Heart University, Minority Corporate Counsel Association, International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution, International Tourism Partnership, and the Cancer Hope Network.
Mr. Siegel resides in Weston, CT with his wife, Dina, and their children, and they also have a home in Mystic. Mr. Siegel has a strong interest in Mystic Seaport and a keen interest in education and maritime history. He was elected to a three-year term.
J. Robert Mann, Jr.
Mr. Mann is the current chairman and former CEO of E-J Electric Installation Co., in Long Island City, NY, a successful multi-generational family company, and the oldest independent electrical contractor in the country. He is a Yale University honors graduate and received their meritorious service award, The Yale Medal. He also has professional engineering licenses in multiple states.
Mr. Mann has had affiliations and leadership roles with the Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, the International Yacht Restoration School, and the New York Yacht Club. He has also made significant contributions to other organizations, including the Executive Board of Yale Science & Engineering Association, and as Past Chairman of the British-American Fulbright Foundation.
Mr. Mann resides in Mamaroneck, NY, with his wife, Barbara, and summers in Maine. He is an active boater and has a strong interest in Mystic Seaport, particularly education programs and watercraft, and has been a member since 1990. He was elected to a three-year term.
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 $26 for adults and $17 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.
Polynesian Voyaging Canoe Hōkūle‘a to Make Stop on Worldwide Journey
Mystic, Conn. (June 1, 2016) — The largest gathering of wooden boats and enthusiasts in New England will converge at Mystic Seaport for the 25th annual WoodenBoat Show Friday through Sunday, June 24-26.
The WoodenBoat Show, hosted in a partnership with WoodenBoat Publications, offers something for all wooden boat enthusiasts and maritime history buffs. More than 100 traditional and classic wooden boats of every type will be on display, from hand-crafted kayaks to mahogany runabouts, to classic daysailers and schooners.
In addition to taking in the historic vessels and beautiful boats, visitors can find everything they need to outfit their own watercraft and learn new skills at demonstrations and workshops throughout the weekend. A variety of exhibitors will offer items for sale including maritime art, antiques, tools, books, nautical gear, and much more.
Throughout the weekend, Mystic Seaport staff and guest experts will be conducting demonstrations of a variety of boat-building skills, including rigging, caulking, steam-bending and laminating wood, lofting, plywood-epoxy boat building, and Japanese boat planking.
Other popular features are the “I Built It Myself” display of home-built boats and “Family Boatbuilding,” where families and teams work to build their own pre-purchased kits during the weekend. The kits are opened at 9 a.m. Friday morning and tools are put down around 3 p.m. Sunday, leaving, in most cases, a boat awaiting only final finish work.
Visitors can also try their hand at rowing or sailing a small boat at the Museum’s boat livery, or in one of the boats participating in the John Gardner Small Craft Workshop, which is run concurrently with the show by the Traditional Small Craft Association.
Hōkūle‘a under sail. Credit: Polynesian Voyaging Society
A highlight of the 2016 show will be Hōkūle‘a, a Polynesian voyaging canoe from Hawaii which will make a port stop at the Museum June 23-28. The 62-foot catamaran is in the midst of a multi-year circumnavigation of the globe to raise awareness of Polynesian maritime culture and ocean conservation.
Hōkūle‘a is scheduled to arrive at Mystic Seaport mid-morning Thursday, June 23. Upon tying up, there will be a traditional welcoming ceremony involving the vessel’s crew and representatives of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.
During her stay, she will be open for visitors to board during designated periods and crew members will be available to answer questions and discuss the voyage. In addition, crew members will be offering two technical talks on Saturday, June 25. Kaleo Wong will lecture on the science and art of traditional Pacific canoe navigation at 10 a.m. and Bruce Blankenfeld will present a demonstration on canoe lashing at 2:30 p.m. The crew will also team up with the Museum’s Planetarium staff to offer special shows on Polynesian navigation and the skies of the Pacific during their stay.
Museum admission provides access to both the WoodenBoat Show and Mystic Seaport. Admission is good for two days upon ticket validation and a three-day ticket is available.
The WoodenBoat Show is produced by WoodenBoat Publications, Inc., which includes WoodenBoat magazine, Professional BoatBuilder magazine, the WoodenBoat Store, the WoodenBoat School, and the WoodenBoat Show. The WoodenBoat Show is an annual festival celebrating the design and craftsmanship of wooden craft.
Information, images, and a live tracking map of Hōkūle‘a can be found at http://www.hokulea.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 $26 for adults and $17 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.
The McGraw family at the dedication of the Donald C. McGraw Gallery Quadrangle at Mystic Seaport May 20, 2016.
Mystic Seaport formally dedicated the new Gallery Quadrangle for the late Donald C. McGraw, Jr., in a ceremony on May 20. McGraw was a longtime supporter of the Museum and a charter member and first chairman of its National Council of Advisors.
The dedication was attended by members of the McGraw family, the Board of Trustees, and other friends and supporters of the Museum.
“Don McGraw… believed that our maritime heritage should be saved and shared, not stuck away in curiosity cabinets available only to scholars, but exhibited and used to tell stories that inform and inspire,” Board Chairman Barclay Collins told the assembled crowd. “We are present at the dawn of a new age of exhibitions at Mystic Seaport in which the Donald C. McGraw Gallery Quadrangle will play a central connecting role.”
Donald C. McGraw, Jr.
An avid collector, McGraw brought his passion for the artifacts of America’s maritime heritage to his leadership and support of the Museum, and his philanthropy significantly increased the endowment and the enhancement of the Museum’s priceless collection of J.E. Buttersworth paintings. The McGraw family’s commitment to Mystic Seaport continues with his son Robin’s service on the Board of Trustees.
The McGraw Quadrangle replaced what was Anchor Circle on the north end of the Museum’s grounds. It is comprised of the Stillman, Wendell, C.D. Mallory, P.R. Mallory, and R.J. Schaefer Buildings as well as the Greenmanville Church. The Thompson Exhibition Building, presently under construction, will complete the Quadrangle’s north border. In the center, is a grassy open common.
Visitors Can Board, Sail on Replica of Famous Racing Schooner
Mystic, Conn. (May 18, 2016) — Mystic Seaport announces the yacht America will be visiting the Museum June 11-15.
America is a reproduction of the schooner that won the Royal Yacht Squadron’s “100 Guinea Cup” race around the Isle of Wight in 1851. Renamed the America’s Cup, the trophy was successfully defended by the United States against all challengers until 1983 and remains the longest winning streak in sporting history. America owner and captain Troy Sears is taking the vessel on an extensive tour of the East and Gulf coasts and the Caribbean to raise awareness of the 2017 America’s Cup defense in Bermuda.
The yacht is scheduled to arrive at Mystic Seaport sometime during the day on Saturday, June 11. She will be available for Museum visitors to board during the mornings of June 12-15. In addition, she will offer day sails down the Mystic River to Fishers Island Sound during the afternoons of June 11-14.
Also visiting the Museum during the same period will be the Bermuda sloop Spirit of Bermuda, a 112-foot replica of a three-masted Royal Navy sloop-of-war from the 18th century. She also will be open for visitors to board the mornings of June 12-14.
As part of the vessels’ visit and the run up to the 2017 America’s Cup, Mystic Seaport will offer three presentations to discuss the history and significance of the Cup and the Spirit of Bermuda:
“The History and Evolution of the America’s Cup.” Captain Troy Sears and Mystic Seaport photography curator Mary Anne Stets will discuss the America’s Cup, its past, present, and future. Included in this talk will be still and moving images from the Museum’s vast collection of America’s Cup artifacts. Monday, June 13, at 7 p.m.
“Up Close with Spirit of Bermuda.” Bermuda Sloop Foundation directors Malcolm Kirkland, Jay Kempe, and Alan Burland will talk about the background of the Foundation and how and why Spirit of Bermudawas built. Also joining the conversation will be Bermuda’s captain Stuart Birnie, who will speak about youth development using traditional vessels such as Spirit of Bermuda, with reference to vessels he has experience with in the Pacific, including Polynesian voyaging canoes like Hokule’a, scheduled to visit Mystic Seaport during the WoodenBoat Show, June 24-26. Tuesday, June 14, at 7 p.m.
“The America’s Cup with Tucker Thompson.” The official TV and public host of the 35th America’s Cup, Tucker Thompson, will deliver an engaging multi-media presentation about the event. Highlights include the Cup’s storied history, the secrets behind Oracle Team USA’s dramatic comeback in AC34 in 2013, and a behind-the-scenes view of the upcoming 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda. Monday, July 11, at 7 p.m.
Tickets for each event are $15 for Museum members and $20 for non-members. A series ticket for all three events is available for $40 for members and $55 for non-members. All three talks will be held in the River Room at Latitude 41° Restaurant & Tavern.
The day sails on America will depart from and return to Mystic Seaport. Boarding will begin at 1 p.m. and the sails are expected to last 2 ½ hours. Tickets are $85 per adult and $45 for children under the age of 12. Museum admission is not required. Tickets for the day sails and all of the events can be purchased by calling 860.572.5339.
After their stay at Mystic Seaport, America and Spirit of Bermuda will depart for Newport, RI, to participate in the 2016 Newport-Bermuda Race.
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 $26 for adults and $17 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.
Performers from Around the World Gather to Celebrate Music of the Sea
Mystic, Conn. (May 12, 2016) —Musicians from around the world will come to Mystic Seaport to celebrate the musical traditions of the Golden Age of Sail at the 37th annual Sea Music Festival, Thursday through Sunday, June 9-12, 2016. The Festival is the premier sea music event in North America.
This year’s roster includes music from Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Canada, along with singers from across the United States. The weekend’s festivities include daytime and evening concerts, special performances for children, instructional workshops, a scholars’ symposium, and a unique opportunity to witness sea music at work aboard the Museum’s historic vessels.
More than 20 individuals and groups will be featured at the Festival representing the gamut of traditional and contemporary sea music. Newfoundland’s Matthew Byrne will perform songs from solo offering, “Hearts & Heroes,” which won Traditional Album of the Year at the 2015 Canadian Folk Music Awards. The Isle of Man’s Barrule trio will bring their fresh approach to traditional Manx music, while Kim & Reggie Harris have a repertoire that combines traditional African-American spirituals and freedom songs with original folk. Returning this year is the popular Canadian acapella group Pressgang Mutiny, whose 2015 performance was a big hit with the audience.
Visitors may also take in performances from Bob Walser, Margaret McCandless, Heather Wood, Cliff Haslam, Boston’s Irish dance company Kieran Jordan Dance, and the Mystic Seaport Chantey Staff, including Geoff Kaufman, Craig Edwards, Denise Kegler, and Don Sineti.
All workshops and daytime concerts in the Festival are included in regular Mystic Seaport admission. Special tickets are required for evening concerts and can be purchased by calling 860.572.0711, or at the Museum’s main entrance. Weekend passes are also available. College students will be admitted into the Festival for the youth rate upon presentation of a current student ID.
For more information, including ticket packages, musicians’ bios, and a schedule of performances, visit mysticseaport.org/seamusicfestival
The annual Music of the Sea Symposium, hosted in partnership with the University of Connecticut at Avery Point, will be held Friday and Saturday, June 10-11. The Symposium, which features presentations of themed papers by some of the country’s leading maritime music scholars, explores the interaction between sea, music, and song. The first day of the Symposium will be held at the auditorium at the University of Connecticut at Avery Point. Admission is free. The Symposium continues Saturday at Mystic Seaport in the Greenmanville Church. Museum admission is required. For further details and a list of Symposium presenters and topics, visit mysticseaport.org/smfsymposium
This event is made possible by the Friends of the Sea Music Festival, who raise funds each year to generously support sea music at Mystic Seaport.
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 $26 for adults and $17 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.
The Coastal Art Collection of Charles and Irene Hamm
Mystic, Conn. (May 5, 2016) – For the past several decades, Charles and Irene Hamm have dedicated their time and resources to developing a renowned art collection focused on American coastal art. This spring the Hamm’s labor of love will be displayed at Mystic Seaport in “Over Life’s Waters: The Coastal Art Collection of Charles and Irene Hamm,” an exhibition on loan from The New Britain Museum of American Art opening May 21, 2016.
The exhibition consists of 63 works of art in a variety of media, spanning two centuries of American coastal art and featuring such noted artists as William Partridge Burpee (1846-1940), Sears Gallagher (1869-1955), Rockwell Kent (1882-1971), and Paul Pollaro (b. 1921). Visitors may recognize some familiar scenes, as the exhibition highlights several of the most inspirational destinations for artists, notably Monhegan and Mount Desert Islands in Maine and Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Each work in the collection and exhibition has been handpicked by Charles and Irene Hamm. When forming their coastal art collection, the couple decided they would collect works by American painters, alive or dead, in any medium, of any time, which attracted their eyes and emotions. Unlike most collectors who decide to focus on specific periods or styles, the Hamms have embraced painters working from the early 19th century right through to the present day in an exceptionally wide variety of media and manners.
To state that the Hamms have been passionate about the sea would be both accurate and revelatory. Charles was born in Brooklyn Heights, a stone’s throw from New York’s East River. Irene’s life as a native Floridian was shaped by her proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. In his youth, Charles studied art, and one of his own paintings, Sunset at Home, 2006, appears in the exhibition. Together, the Hamms have sailed along several continents and enjoyed owning a series of both sail and power boats. Longtime supporters of Mystic Seaport, where Charles presently serves as a trustee, their Connecticut residence on Long Island Sound near Mystic was designed to display their coastal art collection and maximize their views and feeling of connection to the water.
“We are honored to feature this exhibit of the Charles and Irene Hamm collection, because not only is it a moving examination of coastal subjects, but the individual examples by some of the most accomplished artists of the 19th and 20th centuries are of exceptional quality,” said Mystic Seaport President Steve White. “We believe this exhibit captures the essence of the ocean and enables visitors to grasp the fundamental significance of coastal waters and how the Atlantic has shaped America.”
“Over Life’s Waters” will be on display through January 16, 2017, in the R.J. Schaefer Building.
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 $26 for adults and $17 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.
Nella Lush, “The Calm Before the Storm,” Oil and Cold Wax, 30″ x 60.” Click on the image to begin a slide show of some of the works of art in the show.
The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport is proud to open its 2016 season Saturday, April 30 with “New Horizons in Modern Maritime Art,” an exhibition and sale of original works of art by leading maritime artists.
This show will inject a new twist to the Gallery’s familiar theme by focusing on color and form in depictions of maritime objects. More than 50 invited contemporary masters, including John Tayson, Stephen Lush, and Robert Blazek, will capture the timeless beauty of the sea in paintings, drawings, and sculpture.
This is the first original show organized by the Gallery’s new director, Monique Foster.
“We asked our artists to approach this show with a new perspective, one that looks at the color and form in a maritime subject and let that guide their work. The result is a wonderful series of representations that reflect a different sentiment from what we usually feature,” said Foster.
The Gallery also welcomes three new artists in this show: Leith Macdonald, who creates small diorama-like works inspired by the coastline of Maine; Irma Cerese, a Boston-area artist who works in acrylics; and Annie Wildey of Stonington, CT, who paints photorealistic images of waves and water.
“New Horizons in Modern Maritime Art” will be open through July 17.
The yacht is scheduled to arrive at Mystic Seaport sometime during the day on Saturday, June 11. She will be available for Museum visitors to board during the mornings of June 12-15. In addition, she will offer day sails down the Mystic River to Fishers Island Sound during the afternoons of June 11-14.
