Marine Mammal Artwork

For centuries, marine mammal artwork has been one of the most popular forms of nautical art. Great whales are often seen in nautical works. Whale art includes scrimshaw and other carvings, line drawings, illustrations, photography, and much more. This post contains sponsored links.

Below are a few samples of whale artwork:

Marine Mammal Art
by Fish Fishing Seafood and North America stores

2015 Working Waterfront Festival Nautical Tattoo Contest

2015 Working Waterfront Festival
September 26-27, 2015
Hours: Saturday 11-6, Sunday 11-5
New Bedford Waterfront (Pier 3, State Pier, Steamship Pier)
New Bedford , MA

The 2015 Working Waterfront Festival, an annual celebration of commercial fishing culture, will debut a nautical tattoo contest.  The contest will take place on the Festival’s Contest Stage, Sunday, September 27th at 1:30PM.

"For sailors, tattoos are more than skin-deep; they penetrate their bones and anchor their souls. Belief in the power of tattoos has fortified them against dangers at sea for centuries. Tattoos remind them of the fraternity of seafarers and their connection to both land and water." (Excerpt from the exhibition catalog, Skin & Bones – Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor, 2009, Independence Seaport Museum).

Contestants will be judged on the artistry of their tattoo, their stage presence, and the story they tell. Pre-registration is advised.


For more information, visit www.workingwaterfrontfestival.org

National Lighthouse Day

Cape Lookout Lighthouse | credit: NPS

On August 7, 1789, Congress passed an Act for the establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys and public piers.

In honor of the 200th anniversary of the establishment of the first federal lighthouse, Congress designated August 7, 1989 as National Lighthouse Day.

This recognition has encouraged communities and citizens groups to dedicate themselves to the preservation of these historic structures.

Source: NPS

UPDATE:

Though National Lighthouse Day is celebrated annually by lighthouse organizations nationwide, Congress has yet to designate August 7 as the date the U.S. officially recognizes the nation's lighthouse heritage.

For more information, visit lighthousefoundation.org.

Stellwagen at Twenty Lecture Series

Maritime Gloucester will host a series of lectures on "Stellwagen at Twenty" to showcase the natural, maritime and human history of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

Beginning Thursday, March 22nd, and for the following five Thursdays, experts will present new data, rarely seen underwater footage and stunning photography on topics ranging from the large number of shipwrecks that dot the Sanctuary to the whales, fish and birds that inhabit it.

The "Stellwagen at Twenty" lecture series runs Thursday evenings from 7 – 8:30 pm at Maritime Gloucester at 23 Harbor Loop in Gloucester.

source: NOAA FishNews

Hurricane Themed Artwork

storm damage

Late summer and fall is hurricane season for the Caribbean, Central America, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Coast of North America.

Although hurricanes and other storms are unwelcome visitors, there is no denying their strength, beauty, and mystique. For nautical artists, hurricanes and other ocean storms are often a source of inspiration.

Hurricane-related artwork often includes coastal scenes, storm preparation, boats struggling in rough seas, fishing villages, harbor scenes, coastal architecture, lighthouses, rain squalls, flooding, storm damage, and other scenes.