Artists & Authors

Spring 2010 Tuesday Night Dinner-And-A-Lecture Series

IYRS will host five experts for a series of lectures on some of the most famous maritime artists and authors.

• Stop by Café Zelda for dinner with a special IYRS menu (528 Thames Street), 6–7:15 pm. Call Zelda’s for reservations: 401-849-4002
• Walk to IYRS Restoration Hall for the 7:30 lecture (members–free; nonmembers–$7)

February 23: Lloyd McCaffery, “Art in Miniature”
Lloyd McCaffery is well known for his fascinating creations of ships on a scale so small, their incredible accuracy seems impossible. Having made over 60 models from ½” = 1” down to 100’ = 1” in scale, his technique and discipline are astounding. Lloyd will talk about the methods and challenges of working to such exacting standards and share images of his models, six of which can be seen at IYRS as part of the William H. Combs collection.

March 9: Russell Jinishian, “Collecting Fine Marine Art”
Russell Jinishian, Director and owner of J. Russell Jinishian Gallery in Fairfield CT will share with us his wide knowledge developed from 25 years experience in the art field as a columnist, author, editor and director of galleries. His presentation will include marine art in different mediums from the antique past to the contemporary.

March 23: Andrew German, “J.E. Buttersworth: 19th Century Marine Painter”
Andy worked closely with Janet Schaefer to develop the new volume of her husband Rudolph J. Schaefer’s 1975 book on the prolific Anglo-American painter; a book that is the most comprehensive source on this highly regarded Anglo-American artist. His presentation will include details of Buttersworth's interesting life, and beautiful full-color reproductions of many works. The just released book will also be available.

April 6: Benjamin Mendlowitz, “Photography of Classic Yacht Restoration”
To those of us here at IYRS and to wooden boat lovers everywhere, Benjamin Mendlowitz is a very familiar name. He has traveled the globe for over 30 years just to photograph wooden boats - a very enviable occupation. He is well known throughout the boating world for his books, contributions to nautical publications and for his award-winning Calendar of Wooden Boats, which he has published since 1983.

Benjamin will be joining us to share his rare knowledge and talent for photographing wooden boats. He will describe his methods for photographing boats during restoration, and there’s no doubt he’ll tease us with breathtaking images of gorgeous boats in serene settings, sure to awake us all from a long winter and energize us with anticipation for the warmer months just around the corner.

April 20: Doug Adkins, “Dorade, The History of an Ocean Racing Yacht”
Olin Stephens drew the design for his first ocean racer in 1929 at the age of 21. Built for his father Roderick Stephens, Sr. and launched in the spring of 1930, Dorade became the most famous ocean racing yacht in the world, dominating competitors on both sides of the Atlantic as well as the Pacific. Her success changed the way people perceived design, safety, rating rules and speed in ocean racing. Douglas Adkins’ new book Dorade, The History of an Ocean Racing Yacht will be released this year on the eightieth anniversary of the yawl's launching and will tell the tale of her triumphs, travails and travels through a long and colorful history. The author will describe the background and research for the making of the book and his rationale for its writing while sharing rarely seen photos and new stories about one of America’s most famous and historic yachts.