MARINE ART NEWS At the close of business on April 18, Seaport exhibitions "Hemm' d Thick with very well attended. Successful exhibi1990, New York's Seamen's Bank for Sailships: 19th Century Views of New tions were also held at the American Savings was taken over by Federal regu- York Harbor," "Herman Melville's Pic- MerchantMarineMuseumatKingsPoint lators. The next day, the bank's thirteen tureGallery" and"' ... a mariner's fancy': NY, and the Scott Kennedy Gallery in branches reopened under the manage- The Whaleman 's Art of Scrimshaw." Newport Beach CA. ment of Chase Manhattan. A 161-year- (South Street Seaport Museum, 207 Front "It's not just membership, however, old institution, born in service to New Street, New York NY 10038) but the scope of the work itself that has York's bustling 19th century marigrown," reports Beaumont. For some time trade, had foundered in the shaky years now the range of work has mortgage market of the late 1980s. moved away from what he describes After paper assets changed hands, the as "j ust square riggers and clipper most visible expression of the bank 's ships" to an acceptance of more dimaritime legacy remained intact but verse subjects and the mediums of without a home-a remarkable colgraphics and sc ulpture. Thi s will be lection of maritime artwork relating evident in the upcoming 10th ASMA to New York Harbor. National Exhibition of Marine Art. Happily, this one-of-a-kind assortOver 100 pieces, including paintings, ment of art and artifacts will not be drawings, graphics and sculpture wi ll broken up and sold or even hidden be featured in the exhibition opening from public view. Following an un- Marine oils "Pilot Boat# 17" by Conrad Freitag , May 22 and showing through Sepsuccessful legal challenge from a pri- above, and James E. Buttersworth' s "The Brig Sun tember 21 at the R. J. Schaefer Galvate collector disputing the decision offCastle Garden," below.from the Seamen's Bank lery of Mystic Seaport Museum in by the Federal Deposit Insurance Cor- Collection at South Street Seaport Museum . KH Connecticut. poration to sell the failed bank 's collection to South Street Seaport MuExhibitions seum, the collection's future is now • Showing through March 15, Thoassured. Indeed, it comes as a major mas Eakins: Reflections on the birthday present for the museum , Water , featuring marine oils and wawhich celebrates its 25th anniversary tercolors by the great American Realthis year. Peter Aron, Museum Chairist Thomas Eakins (1844-1916). man, describes the Seaport as a home Philadelphia Maritime Museum, 321 for the collection: "For two decades Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA the museum has acquired and restored 19106; 215 925-5439. a magnificent collection of historic •Showing through March 31, "Porships and 19th century buildings. traits of Steel," at the Navy MuNow, it can also display fine works of seum, featuring the work of US Navy art which complete the picture of New artist Arthur Beaumont (1890-1978). York's maritime heritage. A tremendous The Navy Museum , Building 76, Wash* * * * * cultural resource has been saved." Gathering interest in marine art, regional ington Navy Yard, WashingtonDC20374. The Seamen's fine art collection be- organizing, and just good old grassroots •April 25-July 19, "The Great Age of gan as a way of promoting the bank's enthusiasm has lifted membership in the Sail: Treasures from the National maritime identity. Oil paintings of 19th American Society of Marine Artists in Maritime Museum" at the San Diego century sailing vessels covered the walls recent years. Membership in the thirteen- Museum of Art, marks the first time that of the Bank's offices; bone and wooden year-old organization now spans 40 states the National Maritime Museum in Greenship models and scrimshaw designed by and includes 550 artist members and regu- wich has sent forth a travelling collecseafaring artisans were displayed in its lar members, split roughly half and half. tion of its most important works of art. lobbies; pictures of the collection were Denis Beaumont, ASMA President for Some eighty paintings, including works the last two years, has noted that more by Canaletto, Turner, Van de Velde the featured in its advertisements. Atacostof$3.4 million for more than young artists and more female artists are Younger, Hogarth and Copley (see "Marine Art" section, pp 22-29), are accom2,000 items, the museum has not only being attracted to the marine art field. Spirited local organizing has led to panied by ship models and navigational kept an important collection intact, but gained with one stroke a curator's dream increased opportunities for ASMA mem- instruments. San Diego Museum of Art, of potential exhibits. The inventory in- bers. Many artist members are conduct- 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego cludes a good number of vintage oil ing presentations and giving talks on CA 92101. paintings, watercolors and drawings from marine painting with notes on technique, • April 26-September 20, 3rd Annual the early- to mid-19th century, as well as and the Society is also responding to Mystic 100, an invitational exhibition of ship models, prints, advertisements, post- more inquiries from maritime museums 100 of the country's top artists. Mystic ers, rare books, pamphlets, manuscripts, and art asso~iations about setting up Maritime Gallery, Mystic CT 06355. marine fittings and examples of nautical invitational exhibitions, says Beaumont. • May 22-September 21, 10th ASMA design, scrimshaw, clipper cards and Last year's ASMA Northwest Regional National Exhibition of Marine Art, at antique toys. Paintings and prints from Exhibition at the Columbia River Mari- the R. J. Schaefer Gallery, Mystic Seathe collection are already on view in the time Museum at Astoria, Oregon, was port Museum, Mystic CT 06355. D 32
SEA HISTORY 60, WINTER 1991-92