Mystic Seaport

Mystic Seaport Presents New Evening Programs

2009-07-01T15:45:09Z

Dinner theater and a Maritime Mystery “whodunit” will debut at Mystic Seaport this summer.

“These new programs were developed based on the success of our other evening performances,” said Jonathan Shay director of interpretation and exhibits. “Mystic Seaport is a terrific stage for theater of all kinds. We believe visitors will be drawn to these new programs in much the same manner they have been attracted to both our Lantern Light Tours and Nautical Nightmares.”

Dinner Theater

Mystic Seaport Dinner Theater will be hosted Friday and Sunday evenings through September 6 (excluding July 31 and August 2). Visitors will enjoy a three-course meal outside at Schaefer’s Spouter Tavern overlooking the scenic Mystic River and then sit back and watch as the Mystic Seaport TaleMakers perform Eugene O’Neill’s Ile aboard the L.A. Dunton.

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O’Neill’s harrowing one-act play tells the tale of an Arctic whaling captain, his wife and the obsession that threatens all that they hold dear. The recommended viewing age for this event is 15 and older.

Show times are: July 3-25 at 7:15 p.m., August 7-22 at 6:45 p.m. and August 28-September 6 at 6:15 p.m.

Tickets are $45 per person ($40 for members) and include dinner, gratuity and the performance. Wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase. To purchase tickets, visit www.mysticseaport.org/dinnertheater or call 860.572.5322. Entree selections will be made at time of purchase.

Maritime Mystery Mystic Seaport presents its first-ever interactive moving mystery tour on Saturday evenings through September 5 (excluding August 1). Visitors will attempt to uncover foul play behind a mysterious plot by gathering evidence, interrogating witnesses and interviewing suspects (played by the Mystic Seaport TaleMakers) throughout the Museum’s 19^th-century village. This 70-minute adventure allows the audience to solve the mystery alone or as a part of a group.

Admission times are: July 4-25 at 6:30 and 7 p.m., August 8-22 at 6 and 6:30 p.m. and August 29 and September 5 at 6 p.m.

Ticket prices are $16 per person for groups of 1-2, $15 for groups of 3-4 and $14 for groups of 5-6.

For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org.

Mystic Seaport Opens Exhibit Detailing the Restoration of the Charles W. Morgan

2009-06-25T19:40:37Z

Restoring an Icon: The Charles W. Morgan, a new exhibition interpreting the preservation of the last surviving wooden whaleship in the world, opens in the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard Gallery at Mystic Seaport June 26.

The Morgan was hauled out in the fall of 2008 and is currently undergoing a three-year restoration in the Museum’s shipyard. As always, visitors are encouraged to board the vessel and go below deck. The exhibit is designed to reveal all aspects of historic vessel restoration and bring visitors into the process.

Divided into four sections – “History,” “Workshop,” “Laboratory” and “Design Office” – Restoring an Icon details the history and significance of the Morgan, examines the vessel’s construction and restoration process, investigates the causes and types of environmental deterioration she suffers and explains how conventional techniques are similar to and different from historic methods of restoration.

Interactive exhibit components include stations where visitors can try their hand at traditional boat building techniques, examine the effects of microorganisms on wood and explore the ships plans of the Morgan. Live interpretation and audio-video stations supplement the exhibit, along with cell phone audio guides which provide access to regularly updated recordings about the restoration project.

Additionally, visitors will be able to meet the shipwrights, riggers and others who are responsible for making the restoration possible, share what the Morgan means to them and find out how they can become part of her legacy.

“As the Morgan’s story continues to evolve and play an active role in our national maritime heritage, Restoring an Icon connects visitors to the restoration work that is currently taking place and answers questions about what she has experienced and what her future holds,” said Steve White, Mystic Seaport president.

Located adjacent to the Morgan in the upper gallery of the shipyard building, the exhibit overlooks the main floor and the rigging loft where visitors can observe lumber preparation and other daily activities of a working shipyard.

The Morgan is one of four National Historic Landmark vessels at Mystic Seaport. Built in 1841 in New Bedford, MA, she served as a whaling vessel until 1921, making 37 voyages and sailing to all the earth’s oceans. The Morgan was acquired by Mystic Seaport in 1941, and as the “crown jewel” of the Museum’s collection, has since welcomed more than 20 million visitors.

Restoring an Icon was generously underwritten by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Tourism Cares.

The exhibit will remain open throughout the duration of the restoration. For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org/restoringanicon.

Those interested in supporting this preservation can do so by visiting www.mysticseaport.org/morgan or by calling 860.572.5365.

All-American Picnic Week Offers Family Fun at Mystic Seaport

2009-06-25T17:52:12Z

Enjoy grilled food, music and games during All-American Picnic Week at Mystic Seaport Tuesday through Sunday, June 30 to July 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Museum’s annual 1876 Independence Day celebration will be held Saturday, July 4, and will offer activities commemorating the anniversary of our nation’s birth.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the week, the Museum’s Grill-on-the-Green will serve such classic American and New England fare as hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, chowder and lobster rolls. Desserts and beverages will also be available, including beer and wine. On Saturday, July 4, a special steamed lobster platter with corn on the cob and coleslaw will also be available.

Visitors can take part in traditional American pastimes throughout the week, including friendly games of tug of war and 19^th-century baseball games on the Village Green. The Mystic Seaport Chanteymen will provide live musical entertainment, performing sea songs and chanteys all week long.

On the Fourth of July, patriotic ceremonies begin at 11 a.m. with the 27^th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry re-enacting Civil War military exercises, a noontime picnic on the Village Green and a children’s parade at 1 p.m. An 1876 Independence Day ceremony and a concert by the Silver Cornet Band will follow on the Village Green.

Additionally, visitors can play croquet with “Americans from the past,” watch a whaleboat race, take part in 19^th-century games on the Green and churn (and eat) ice cream. Children are also invited to test their skills in an old-fashioned spelling bee.

All activities are included in Mystic Seaport admission. Food costs are not included. For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org.

Mystic Seaport Hosts the 18th Annual WoodenBoat Show; Event Hosted in Partnership with WoodenBoat Publications

2009-06-15T18:18:42Z

More than 100 traditional classics and contemporary wooden boats of every type will be at the eighteenth annual WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport Friday through Sunday, June 26-28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Described by Yankee Magazine's Travel Guide as "one of Connecticut's Top 20 Events for the Summer," the three-day WoodenBoat Show offers something for all wooden boat enthusiasts and marine history buffs. Wooden boats of every type – large and small, old and new, power, sail, oar and paddle – will be on display including cruising yachts, launches, runabouts, fishing boats, performance powerboats, daysailers, dinghies, rowboats, canoes, performance shells, multihulls and racing boats.

One of this year’s WoodenBoat features is Elf, a 30-foot class wooden sailing yacht built by Lawley & Sons in Boston, MA, in 1888. Considered the oldest active American racing yacht, Elf’s current owner spearheaded her ambitious restoration and re-launching in 2008. On the contemporary side, visitors can see Chesapeake Light Craft’s Pocketship, a beach cruiser that fits more easily into the casual boater’s lifestyle.

“Mystic Seaport is truly the perfect venue for the WoodenBoat Show and we are excited to be returning here in 2009,” said Carl Cramer, publisher of WoodenBoat Magazine. “Mystic Seaport’s commitment to preserving this country’s maritime heritage combines beautifully with the extensive variety of wooden boats provided by our wonderful exhibitors.

“Each year we offer a unique selection of boats, books, demonstrations and expertise to bring the wooden boat experience to life for all who attend. It’s a must-see event for every family’s summer schedule.”

In addition to more than 60 beautiful boats in the water, visitors can enjoy browsing through two tents and extensive land exhibits hosting nearly 130 exhibitors which include boatbuilders, sail makers, marine adhesive and coatings companies, boat schools and associations, tools, wooden boat hardware, books, nautical antiques and artists.

Other activities include exhibitor demonstrations, workshops by industry experts, the 3^rd Annual Concours d'Elegance with People's Choice, "I Built it Myself" - a collection of 37 owner-built wooden boats on land, a Footy R/C Class Regatta and a maritime book sale Saturday, June 27, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., all in addition to the Museum’s regular exhibits and activities.

Additionally, visitors can board the freedom schooner Amistad which will be docked at Mystic Seaport throughout the weekend. Built at the Museum and launched in 2000, Amistad sails seasonally, promoting improved relationships between races and cultures by educating the public on freedom, justice, perseverance, cooperation and leadership that arose from the historic Amistad Incident of 1839.

A tribute dinner honoring William, John and Pat Atkin and their designs will be hosted by WoodenBoat magazine at the Boat Shed Saturday evening, June 27. Tickets for the dinner must be purchased in advance from the WoodenBoat Store by calling 800.273.7447 or by visiting www.woodenboatstore.com.

Museum admission gains access to both the WoodenBoat Show and Mystic Seaport.

To learn more about the annual WoodenBoat Show, and to sign up to receive the Show newsletter, visit www.thewoodenboatshow.com. Exhibitor information can be found at the web site, by calling Ray Clark at 401.247.4922, or by emailing rgclark@cox.net.

For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org/woodenboat.

Maritime Artists to Paint en Plein Air at Mystic Seaport

2009-06-04T17:16:46Z

The opening reception of the thirteenth annual Plein Air Painters of the Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport will be held Saturday, June 20, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The exhibition will remain open through September 20.

Open to the public, attendees will have the opportunity to meet the participating artists, as well as purchase paintings. Complimentary refreshments will be served. Those planning to attend must reserve their space by June 17 by calling 860.572.5388.

From June 16-20, visitors will be able to observe nearly 30 of today’s leading marine artists at their French easels throughout Museum grounds capturing the sights of Mystic Seaport and the Mystic River in the tradition of the plein air painters of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Among this featured group of painters will be James Magner, Steve Kennedy, Yves Parent, Leonard Mizerek, David Bareford and Jeff Weaver.

“This annual exhibition and sale showcases the work of some of today’s top maritime artists, while also illustrating the natural beauty of Mystic Seaport,” said Jeanne Potter, director of the Maritime Gallery.

The Maritime Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org/gallery or call 860.572.5388.

The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport is the nation’s foremost gallery specializing in contemporary marine art and ship models. Through its parent organization, Mystic Seaport, the gallery is proud to offer access to the world’s leading experts in the marine field, and the highest standards of scholarship, integrity and connoisseurship that the nation’s finest maritime museum represents.

Summer Solstice Celebrated with Riverside Jazz at Mystic Seaport

2009-06-03T17:18:20Z

Acclaimed jazz tenor saxophonist Don Braden will perform live alongside the tall ship L.A. Dunton during the third annual Summer Solstice Sunset Concert at Mystic Seaport Saturday, June 20. The event is from 7 - 10 p.m.; doors will open at 6:30 p.m. (Rain date: Sunday, June 21.)

Braden and his quartet will celebrate all ages of jazz starting with the great Jazz Age, as they perform the genre made popular in the 1920s next to the Museum’s 1921 fishing schooner. The saxophonist will be joined by Vincent Gardner on trombone, Joris Teepe on bass, Xavier Davis on keyboard and Cecil Brooks III on drums.

A highly praised musician, composer and educator, Braden has toured the world with jazz greats such as Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Tony Williams, Freddie Hubbard and Roy Haynes. He has recorded on nearly 50 CDs as a sideman and has produced 13 CDs as a leader. Braden has also composed countless concerts and for a number of independent films and television including the CBS sitcom Cosby. He has worked as an adjunct professor at William Paterson University and was one of the recipients of the Doris Duke Foundation New Works composer's grant in 2000.

Ticket prices for the concert are $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-17. Museum members will be admitted for free. Tickets can be purchased now at www.mysticseaport.org/summersolstice or by calling 860.572.5339. VIP seating at Chubb’s Wharf is available for Museum members only for the ticket price of $20. VIP seating is limited and reservations must be made by Wednesday, June 17.

Learn more about Braden at www.donbraden.com.

Sponsorship for the evening is provided by Yachting Magazine, The Connecticut Light & Power Company, Shaboo Productions, 94.3 WYBC and Racine Printers.

New this Summer at Mystic Seaport: Music on the River Series Aboard Sabino

2009-05-29T21:07:00Z

Music on the River, a new summer cruise series aboard the steamboat Sabino at Mystic Seaport, debuts Wednesday, June 10, from 5:30 - 7 p.m. The series continues each Wednesday through August 26.

The cruises feature the acoustic sounds of some of the area’s finest performers aboard the Museum’s 101-year-old steamboat. A cash bar and light snacks will also be available.
Featured performers include:

June 10 - Geoff Kaufman; folk and sea music
June 17, July 15 and August 5 – Dan Stevens; acoustic blues
June 24, July 22 and August 26 – Ron Drago; folk, rock and jazz
July1, July 29 and August 19 – James Harris; classic and modern rock
July 8 – Darin Keech; folk, blues, rock and bluegrass
August 12 - Dan Watson; acoustic rock

Tickets are $25 per person ($22 for members) and can be purchased online at www.mysticseaport.org/musicontheriver, by calling 860.572.5351 or at the Sabino ticket booth.

Music on the River is sponsored by Shipyard Brewing Company.

Mystic Seaport Names New Vice President of Advancement

2009-05-26T21:07:44Z

Mystic Seaport has appointed J. Nathaniel Arata as vice president of advancement. He started Monday, May 18.

Arata will lead the Museum’s Advancement Department in its efforts to secure financial support from corporations, foundations, government agencies and individuals to aid in the funding of the Museum’s year-round visitor exhibitions, on-going restoration of the Charles W. Morgan, educational initiatives and day-to-day operations.

“We are fortunate to have Nat join our team,” said Mystic Seaport President Steve White. “He brings with him more than 12 years of non-profit experience, 10 of which have specifically been focused on fundraising and development. As Mystic Seaport continues to provide a wide variety of daily operations, as well as new programs and initiatives for the future, Nat’s broad range of skills and experience will help to implement the Museum’s mission in the years ahead.”

Arata most recently served as director of institutional advancement for the Chicago History Museum (formerly known as the Chicago Historical Society) where he oversaw all aspects of fundraising and contributed income. During his tenure, he created and implemented a fundraising strategic plan to raise more than $6 million in support of an ambitious initiative to complete three years of exhibition funding in one calendar year. Arata worked directly with museum leadership to develop major gift goals and objectives; cultivated and solicited new or increased major gifts; managed relationships with the museum’s volunteer and auxiliary groups and developed and executed all phases of the Annual Fund, which ended 113% above goal for FY07 and 106% above goal for FY08.

“My passion for history and my respect for museums are what brought me to Mystic Seaport,” said Arata. “I am looking forward to working with Steve White, the staff and the many friends of the Museum to reinvigorate the fundraising efforts here at Mystic Seaport. I am eager to face this new challenge and to build upon the renewed sense of commitment and optimism at Mystic Seaport. This is a very exciting time for the Museum.”

Prior to his career at the Chicago History Museum, Arata worked as an officer for the Radcliffe Annual Fund at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University and in the Capital Campaign and Corporate Relations Department at Old Sturbridge Village. He began his career as the assistant manager for the Salem Mission, a homeless shelter ran by the Crombie Street United Church of Christ in Salem, MA.

Arata earned his MA in Humanities from the University of Chicago and a BA in English Literature from Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. He and his wife will reside in Stonington, CT.

Mystic Seaport Celebrates its 30th Annual Sea Music Festival

2009-05-22T18:40:37Z

Traditional and contemporary maritime music from more than 30 performers will highlight the thirtieth anniversary of the Sea Music Festival at Mystic Seaport Thursday through Sunday, June 11-14.

Musicians will perform onstage Saturday and Sunday (June 13 - 14) from 12 - 5p.m. Themed workshops and demonstrations will take place aboard the tall ships Joseph Conrad and L.A. Dunton, as well as on Museum grounds.

All workshops are included in regular Mystic Seaport admission and do not require separate tickets. New this year, college students will be admitted into the festival for the youth rate of $15 upon presentation of a current student ID.

The festival also features evening concerts Thursday through Saturday (June 11 - 13) from 7-10 p.m. at the Boat Shed on Lighthouse Point. Tickets are required for evening concerts and can be purchased online at www.mysticseaport.org/seamusicfestival. Weekend passes are also available.

A special children’s stage will offer daytime workshops and on-site activities designed especially for a younger audience. Children will be able to create paper hats, banners and musical instruments in the Museum’s Discovery Barn and later wear these special creations in the children’s parade which marches through Museum grounds Sunday at 2:45 p.m.

Additionally, the thirtieth annual Music of the Sea Symposium will be held Friday and Saturday June 12 - 13. The newly expanded two-day Symposium explores the interaction between sea, music and song. In partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the University of Connecticut at Avery Point, the symposium’s presenters may talk about history, folklore, literature, ethnomusicology or another related field, but each will address an aspect of maritime music from the great age of sail through present day.

The Friday, June 12, symposium session will be from 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London and is free and open to the public. The symposium continues Saturday, June 13, from 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Mystic Seaport and is free for Museum members.

The featured performers in the 30th annual Sea Music Festival hail from various regions of the United States, as well as from Australia, Canada, England, Scotland and The Netherlands. The lineup includes: Louis Killen, The Clancy Legacy, Danny Spooner, Martin and Phillip Hugill, Barnacle, Bob Walser, Bob Webb, Talitha MacKenzie and Les Bouthilliers, Stuart Frank and Mary Malloy, Carl Thornton, Cliff Haslam, Daisy Nell and Stan Collinson, Dave Peloquin, David Kleiman, Heather Wood, Ellen Cohn, Dick Holdstock and Allan MacLeod, Jeff Warner, Jerry Bryant, John Roberts, Judy Cook, Marc Bernier, Nanne Kalma and The Hudson Crew, New Bedford Harbor Sea Chantey Chorus, Rick Nestler, Rum Soaked Crooks, The Ancient Mariners and Walter Askew.

For more information, including a detailed schedule of performances, as well as the musicians’ bios, visit www.mysticseaport.org/seamusicfestival.

Boating Enthusiasts Invited to Small Craft Workshop at Mystic Seaport

2009-05-07T16:12:52Z

Nearly 100 small boats will gather along the Mystic River June 6 -7 for the John Gardner Small Craft Workshop at Mystic Seaport.

Participants share their boats – including peapods, whitehalls, sharpie skiffs, wood and canvas canoes, kayaks, performance rowing craft, dories, dinghies and tenders – with other boaters during this two-day celebration.

A wide variety of sailboats and rowing and paddling boats will be available for participants to use on the water. Those bringing a boat should be prepared to have it used, as trial and demonstration are the hallmarks of this weekend.

A limited number of spots are available for those interested in spending the night aboard the Joseph Conrad—the Museum’s Danish training vessel built in 1882. The cost is $30 for Friday or Saturday night.

The weekend concludes with a group row down the Mystic River early Sunday morning.

Individuals interested in participating in all scheduled activities can register online at www.mysticseaport.org/smallcraftworkshop. Registration includes Museum admission for both Saturday and Sunday.

Mystic Seaport Kicks off Summer Season with 24th Annual Lobster Days; All Proceeds Support the Rotary Club of Mystic’s Community Organizations and Projects

2009-05-07T16:07:22Z

Mystic Seaport will host its annual Lobster Days Memorial Day weekend, May 23-25. Lobster-in-the-rough will be served by members of the Rotary Club of Mystic Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Monday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Meals will be served picnic-style under the open-air Boat Shed along the Mystic River where visitors can enjoy musical entertainment by Finest Kind.

The weekend offers special activities for visitors of all ages including a lobster touch tank, presentations detailing the Long Island lobstering industry, lobster story time in the Children’s Museum and games on the Village Green. For an additional fee, visitors can enjoy a cruise aboard the steamboat Sabino, a horse and carriage ride or a program in the Museum’s newly upgraded Treworgy Planetarium.

A special combination ticket of Museum admission and a single lobster dinner is available for $39, offering a $6 savings. The youth combination ticket (ages 6-17) is $35. There is no senior discount with the combo ticket.

A lobster dinner can be purchased separately from Museum admission for $21 (single lobster) and $37 (twin lobster). Lobster platters include coleslaw, corn on the cob, drawn butter and choice of iced tea or lemonade. Hot dog platters are available for $7. A cash bar and raw bar will also be available.

Mystic Seaport members save by presenting their membership card at the Visitor Center to receive a $2 coupon valid for any single or twin lobster dinner purchase. Family memberships receive six coupons maximum. Discount does not apply to hot dog platters.

Lobster Days is the Rotary Club of Mystic’s major annual fundraising event. Proceeds are distributed to local charities supported by the club. Lobster Days has been the main fund-raising activity of the Club for many years with all profits going toward the support of local non-profit organizations, including the Mystic & Noank Library, Hospice of Southeastern Connecticut and Mystic Little League. The Club was a major contributor in the establishment of the Mystic River Park and Mystic Depot Welcome Center.

For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org/lobsterdays.

Mystic Seaport to Explore Early Maritime Navigation in Historic Map Exhibit

2009-04-14T19:15:15Z

Mapping the Pacific Coast: Coronado to Lewis and Clark, The Quivira Collection, an exhibition of rare and historic maps dating from 1544 to 1802, will open May 2 at Mystic Seaport.

On loan from the private collection of Henry and Holly Wendt of Washington, the traveling exhibit features more than 30 historic maps, illustrations and books. The exhibit takes viewers along a chronological journey, beginning with the collection’s oldest map – a rare 1544 woodcut by Sebastian Munster – and ending with Thomas Jefferson’s decision to commission the Corps of Discovery.

“Mystic Seaport is extremely grateful to Mr. Wendt for allowing the Museum to act as a host venue of this historic collection,” said Jonathan Shay, director of exhibitions at Mystic Seaport. “The maps perfectly complement the Museum’s existing efforts to educate visitors on early maritime navigation.”

Once highly prized and jealously guarded by European rulers, the maps illustrate the 16^th- and 17^th-century quest to find lucrative trade routes and claim new territories. Individually, they are works of art, featuring ornate cartouches and borders, imaginative drawings of sea serpents and ships and detailed observations about coastlines and rivers – some accurate and some not. Together, they trace the evolution of European understanding about the geography and orientation of North America’s Pacific Coast. Varying mistakes and fantasies – such as the initial belief that California was an island – are also depicted in the collection.

A free audio guide will be available, allowing visitors to hear collector Henry Wendt discuss the story behind each map and illustration. An exhibit catalog featuring full-color plates of the Wendt maps will also be available for purchase.

A selection of navigational instruments and other artifacts from the Museum’s collection will also be on display. These will include an American-made backstaff from 1762, a chronometer used aboard the Charles W. Morgan, and a scale model of Endeavour, one of the ships sailed by Captain Cook. Visitors can then continue their navigational quest in the Museum’s Nautical Instruments Shop and in the Treworgy Planetarium’s nineteenth-century celestial navigation exhibit.

Mystic Seaport will additionally open Map Spot: Exploring the World of Maps adjacent to Mapping the Pacific Coast, providing a hands-on experience for visitors of all ages that boosts map literacy and appreciation for maps as tools for exploring, recording and imagining the world. Designed to help visitors understand maps and how to use them, this family-friendly, interactive exhibit provides opportunities for collaborative learning and play.

Adults and children will be encouraged to use and make maps and maritime charts at different activity stations, while large-scale wall graphics challenge aspiring cartographers’ visions of the world.

The Map Spot complies with Connecticut state education frameworks for social studies and provides elements for Boy Scout/Girl Scout badge requirements.

Mapping the Pacific Coast: Coronado to Lewis and Clark will remain open in the Mallory Exhibit Hall during regular Museum hours through January 2010. The Map Spot will remain open through October 2010. Entrance to both is included in Museum admission. For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org/mappingthepacific.

Mystic Seaport Presents 30th Annual Modern Marine Masters Exhibition and Sale

2009-04-13T19:21:58Z

The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport will host its annual spring exhibition, Modern Marine Masters, April 25 through June 14.

The exhibition showcases paintings, sculpture, scrimshaw and ship models from more than 70 of the top marine artists working today. Featured artists include Loretta Krupinski, Joseph McGurl, Donald Mosher, Yves Parent and H.G. Park IV.

“This annual exhibition and sale is one of our most popular exhibitions. Each distinguished artist selected for the exhibition is a leading master of contemporary marine art,” said Jeanne Potter, director of the Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport. “For collectors and lovers of maritime art – the show captures the timeless beauty of the sea.”

Visitors are invited to view or purchase these contemporary pieces of art Monday through Saturday between 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Maritime Gallery will be open Sunday, April 26. For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org/gallery, or call 860.572.5388.

Mystic Seaport Supports National Library Week with Book Donations; Museum to Distribute Books to Public Libraries in CT, RI and MA the week of April 12-18

2009-04-10T15:24:34Z

Mystic Seaport will donate four books to 79 regional libraries as part of its new outreach initiative to bring maritime history to local communities.

Museum volunteers will deliver the books, which were chosen specifically for their local, national and international maritime connections, to many of the local libraries. An anonymous donor has provided funds to ship books to the remaining libraries in the tri-state region.

Called “Books to Libraries,” this program is a new addition to the Museum’s Library Membership Program. Each library receives a pass for every day of the week that allows one family – up to two adults and three children – to visit Mystic Seaport for free that day. The program, launched in 2002 through the Museum’s Endowed Library Fund, was established by an anonymous Museum member who is passionate about not only maritime history, but also about the ability of libraries to spark creativity in children.

The books, all published by Mystic Seaport, are:

Voyages: Stories of America and the Sea, by Andrew W. German, is the companion book to Mystic Seaport’s signature exhibit Voyages which reveals how the sea touches all our lives. Through essays, timelines, and illustrations, the book is designed for family enjoyment and student reference, and includes a select reading list and a directory of American

maritime museums.

Around World in 500 Days, chronicles the circumnavigation made more than 100 years ago by the merchant bark Charles Stewart (1883-1884). The book, which includes 42 illustrations, is written in detail by the captain's daughter, Hattie Atwood Freeman, who made this voyage with her father at the age of 17.

Pacific Passage: A South Pacific Adventure with Sailor, Explorer, Aviator and Former IBM Chief Executive Tom Watson, by Thomas J. Watson, shares the author’s real-life adventures dreamt about during his successful decades in business and embarked upon once he retired. This first-hand account details the exploration of all the major South Seas islands and includes 72 color illustrations.

An Island's Trade, by Richard F. Welch, tells the story of the men employed and the vessels they launched at the North Shore Long Island shipyards through an account of the economic, political and social world that surrounded them, bringing to life a Long Island far different from the fast-paced suburbia we know today.

For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org.

Mystic Seaport Announces Auditions for its Summer Theater Ensemble

2009-04-09T19:48:43Z

Mystic Seaport is seeking men and women to perform in a variety of the Museum’s summer productions. Auditions will be held by appointment only April 24 in Mystic, CT, and April 26 in New York City.

A collaborative ensemble of six men and women are needed to perform from June 26 - September 7 with rehearsals beginning June 8. Productions include daily performances of the interactive children’s play, A Tale of a Whaler, weekly evening performances of Eugene O’Neill’s Ile and a weekly evening performance of the audience-guided whodunit, Maritime Mysteries.

Actors should prepare two contrasting two-minute monologues and may be asked to do cold readings. Improvisational skills, ensemble acting experience and classical training are a plus.

To schedule an audition, actors may email a resume to Artistic Director of Dramatic Productions Megan Weaver at megan.weaver@mysticseaport.org or send a resume to Mystic Seaport, 75 Greenmanville Ave, PO Box 6000, Mystic, CT 06355, Attn: Megan Weaver.