Restoring a Past, Charting a Future

Mystic Seaport, together with Dalvero Academy, is proud to present “Restoring a Past, Charting a Future: An Artistic Discovery of America’s Whaling Legacy by Dalvero Academy,” a ground-breaking, artistic interpretation of the restoration of the last wooden whaleship in the world, the Charles W. Morgan. Utilizing numerous mediums, including ink, watercolor, pastel, charcoal, sculpture, photography, and embroidery, twenty-four of the Academy’s artists have created a remarkable exhibit that reflects the inspiration found within the Morgan and Mystic Seaport.

Exhibit History

During the winter of 2009, Veronica Lawlor and Margaret Hurst, the founders of the Dalvero Academy, a private, New York-based art school, traveled to Mystic Seaport and instantly were inspired by the Museum. Always on the lookout for new locations for the Academy, they believed the romance and history of Mystic Seaport would create an ideal environment for such artistic pursuits. On that visit, the instructors encountered Museum Shipyard Director Quentin Snediker, which then led to the unique opportunity to chronicle the restoration of the Morgan.

Multiple Views

Double Becket Hitch by Veronica Lawlor

During their many subsequent visits, the Academy’s artists and its two instructors created a wide range of art inspired by the Morgan. Varying aspects of the ship will be displayed in this exhibition, including reflections on the vessel’s whaling past, careful illustrations of her current restoration, and symbolic representations of her future: a 38th Voyage to make peace with those she once hunted.

“What makes this exhibit special is that it is a contemporary look at a historic artifact, the Charles W. Morgan, and the Dalvero artists help us see what she represents from a fresh perspective,” said Mystic Seaport President Stephen C. White. “Hopefully this is the beginning of more such projects with outside groups who wish to take advantage of our Collections and help tell the story of America’s maritime heritage with different voices.”

Peace with the Whales by Sara Dilliplane

Drawings large in scope depicting the 113-foot whaleship and the vast Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard will be exhibited alongside fine, detailed illustrations—one of which depicts the intricate whaling knot used to secure a line to a harpoon. Different perspectives of the vessel’s past, present, and future journey will be shown to Museum visitors. Academy artist Alexander Charner responded to the exhibit’s all-encompassing theme, remarking, “I responded strongly to a theme of redemption I found in the restoration of the Morgan. Multiple views reflect multiple restorations and multiple Morgans.”

Visitors will also notice a reoccurring model throughout the exhibition: the Cinderella stamp. The minute scale of a postage stamp forces the artist to pare his or her ideas down to its essentials. A “Cinderella” stamp is so named because it is a fantasy stamp that serves the artist’s ideas. It is the artists’ hope that, just like Cinderella, one day their stamps may “go to the ball” and become official U.S. Postal Service stamps. Lawlor and Hurst asked the Academy’s artists to design their own Cinderella stamps depicting any aspect of the Charles W. Morgan. The resulting stamps led the artists to a world of illustration and art that we are now proudly sharing with you.

Exciting Collaboration

Mystic Seaport is delighted to host this exhibit that showcases the remarkable work of these visionary artists. Working with the Museum’s Exhibit Department staff, the artists took an active role in the exhibit’s design and planning. All of the graphics for the show have been created entirely by the artists, and the Museum is honored to participate in this unique collaboration.

A selection of art featured in the exhibition: