Milestones at Mystic Seaport

Scaffolding around the Charles W. Morgan whaleship during restoration.

This upcoming Labor Day weekend of 2013 marks the end of a year-and-a-half-long gallery exhibit at the Museum of America and the Sea, Mystic Seaport, CT, for our Dalvero art group. "Restoring A Past, Charting A Future" opened in the spring of 2012, and it is a major milestone for us as an artist collective. We curated and produced our first museum exhibit, led by our beloved visionaries, artists, teachers and founders of Dalvero Academy, Margaret Hurst and Veronica Lawlor. They brought us to Mystic one freezing winter of 2009 to reportage an on-going restoration of the world's last surviving wooden whaleship, the Charles W. Morgan. And we have been returning to Mystic a few times a year ever since. The weekend of July 21st 2013, Henry B. DuPont Preservation Shipyard at Mystic Seaport, under the leadership of a great man and our big supporter, director Quentin Snediker, witnessed a milestone in the life of the ship. The Charles W. Morgan was lowered into the water, after spending 4+ years in restoration. It's the 172nd anniversary of the vessel’s initial launch!

Scaffolding around the Charles W. Morgan whaleship during restoration.

The Morgan has been covered by so many various arrangements of scaffolding over the course of the last 4 years, that I began to see much poetry in it. The scaffolding, I mean. And I drew it on various visits, attracted to its transient nature and beauty. It's a support system and a symbol of commitment to change and completion of what's set in motion. Its role is that of a bridge: to connect past with the future. And then it's gone... Fascinating to draw its complications and spaces.

The ship spent years being cocooned, looking like a whale in scaffolding.

Charles W. Morgan whaleship, cocooned in scaffolding during restoration.

Until she finally emerged, a new kind of symbol. And people rushed to greet and embrace the new beginning.

Emerging new symbol of restored whaleship, the last of it's kind in the world.

Right before the launch ceremony, cleaning and applying last touches to the ship. July 21 of 2013.

The lowering of the ship into the water attracted many spectators, there were notable speakers, and our art group received a special invitation to draw during this ceremony. A few of us had passes to be on board of Sabino, a boat parked right next to the Morgan. I had a breath-taking view of the Mystic river at it's busiest. I've never seen so many boats in it. People sailed in to watch, and had celebratory parties afloat. 

Here in the middle is Quentin Snediker, the director of restoration. This was a big day for him.

A very expensive and complicated dolly was created just for the Charles W. Morgan.

The Sheriff of the Mystic police department at the ceremony.

Sabino, the boat on which I was stationed during the ceremony.

View from the Sabino onto the Mystic river and thousands of floating spectators.

The ship is slowly being lowered into the water, as the men hold ropes.

The Charles W. Morgan, Ship Of Hope.
Getting ready for its 38th voyage in 2014. ‪‪
A historic event for America.
Another milestone. 

The High Line Park

An amazing classical cellist performing on the High Line

The High Line Park is one of my favorite places in New York. When it opened in 2009, I still worked on the west side in Manhattan, and our office literally overlooked the first opened section of the High Line above the Chelsea Market. It was amazing to have lunches there, or check out on-going public art installations while having meetings with colleagues. Now that I don't work in Chelsea anymore, The High Line is a "destination", not an every day reality. The trees have grown so much over these past 4 years! And the crowds are getting insane lately, which is not surprising...this once-elevated freight rail road that operated from 1934 to 1980 was turned into an urban oasis of surreal quality. The exquisite harmony of location (have you seen those sunsets over the Hudson?), New York city aerial views, awesome gardening design (plants of this park are local and once grew on the abandoned High Line), constant public art installations and fantastic performers make the High Line as important of a destination as the Times Square for tourists.

The Empire State Building

Frank Gehry's IAC Building

USK Barcelona 2013

Prior to the Italian vacation, captured in two previous posts, there were 4 intense and exciting days in Barcelona. I attended the 4th International Urban Sketchers Symposium USK Barcelona 2013. Once I found out that my beloved art teacher Ronnie (aka Veronica Lawlor) is teaching one of the workshops for the USK this summer, I began packing the bags in my mind months in advance. So glad I went...What a great event-bringing artists from all over the world and letting them share influences, techniques, tastes and practices, while roaming one of the most gorgeous cities in Europe and drawing together. I met some fantastic people while there, and made new friends.

Here are a few drawings done in various workshops, as well as thumbnails of Her Majesty, La Sagrada Familia. I've got to return to Barcelona just to spend a few more days with La Sagrada alone...

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"Designing Barcelona" Workshop by Veronica Lawlor on Mansana de la Discòrdia, Passeig de Gràcia, or "Block of Discord" in English

Thumbnail excercise, left to right: Black Line, Color Line, Marks, Color Shapes.

Bigger drawing using the four graphic approaches from the thumbnails above.

Bigger drawing using the four graphic approaches from the thumbnails above.

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 "Channeling Picasso" Workshop by Melanie Reim on Pla de la Boqueria, Rambla

Marks, marks, marks!

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 "Hither, Thither and Yon" Workshop by Barry Jackson on Plaça Universitat

Thinking about and drawing personal space + action space + vista space in one drawing.

Thinking about and drawing personal space + action space + vista space in one drawing.

Florentine Memories

Panorama of Florence from the terrace of Boboli Gardens

Ah, 3 days in Florence is just not enough! This romantic city left me dreaming about it...  Here are a few drawings I brought back.

Boboli Gardens At the southern end of Boboli gardens, I found Limonaia, or The Lemon House. A collection of potted citrus plants was originally started by the Medici, who held citrus in high regard for it's medicinal and therapeutic qualities, as well as beauty and uniqueness of plants. Limonaia is not open to visitors, but anyone can admire it from the other side of iron gates.

View of Duomo (The Dome) from Boboli Gardens

Piazza del Duomo with the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

View of Arno river from Ponte Vecchio.

Via de' Tornabuoni, right outside the hotel

Rooftops, through one of the Uffizi gallery windows.

Street on the bank of Arno river

Watching the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square) A magnificent panorama of Florence.

Watching the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square). The Duomo.

Watching the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square).

Ponte Vecchio bridge at night.

Cinque Terre, Part 2: The Shoreline And The Beach

One full day by the sea…the luxury! Nowhere to rush, just bask in the sun with an occasional gelato…and draw.

Large rock formations frame the shoreline of Riomaggiore

Waiter, taking a smoking break at a seaside cafe.

People-watching. The locals come out for gelato and linger to gawk at the tourists. Everybody is watching everybody.

Right below the cafe terrace, a man is putting lacquer on a boat. He exchanges jokes with the waiters on the terrace and laughs a hearty laugh.

Riomaggiore's shoreline is framed by massive rock formations. People crawl narrow pathways along the rocky walls to reach a good diving and sunbathing spot. It's dangerous, but there are no warning signs in sight…climb and dive at your own risk!

It's hot. Boats rock gently in calm Mediterranean waters. I go for a cooling dip every 20 minutes or so, because the mid-day heat is intense. The sunlight is blinding. My oil pastels are melting, and so is awareness. It's too hot to concentrate.

Man after a swim by the boats.

Pebble beach is hard to walk upon. People crawl on all fours. The stones are hot and unstable.

View of Riomaggiore village up the hill from the shoreline.

I return at sundown to toss a coin into the sea, because I want to be back here again. One day, one day...

Cinque Terre, Part 1: Streets of Riomaggiore

Views from the train window, en route to Cinque Terre

I guess I'll start somewhere in the middle...During my 2-week summer vacation in Europe, I took a 3-hour train-hopping ride from Florence to Cinque Terre.

Views from the train window, en route to Cinque Terre

The hotel was in the village of Riomaggiore. Every which way I turned, I saw expanses of green mountainous ranges cradling tiny colorful houses. And somewhere down there - the sea.

View of Riomaggiore from the balcony of the hotel

The main street on a steep slope connects the train station and the beach at its heel to the tip of a mountain, overlooking the entire village and the sea. These views are breathtaking.

Looking down the main street of Riomaggiore that leads to the train station and the beach, all the way down there.

Kids playing soccer in front of the church.

View of Riomaggiore from the highest point in the village

Sheets swirling off the never-ending clothes lines in the salty breeze. Swallows chirping, church bells counting the hours, one bell tower after another, asynchronously, as if time is approximate in these lands. Only sunsets and sunrises are definite. Hours in between are not, and that's the way of life.

Old ladies, gossiping on the stoop in the cool of the evening, fanning themselves and greeting neighbors returning from work. As I draw, I get nostalgic for my own childhood, when my grandmother would sit with her friends outside our building in Moscow, just like this, waiting for my parents to come home from work.

Via Del Santuario, Riomaggiore

View of Riomaggiore form the highest point in the village

Tomorrow is Part 2: the sea shore and the beach. Please come back to see it...