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John Noble: Photo courtesy of the Noble Maritime Collection via MarineLink
The Noble Maritime Collection is set to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Staten Island seaman artist.
John A. Noble
From 1928 until 1945, Noble worked as a seaman on schooners and in marine salvage. In 1928, while on a schooner that was towing out down the Kill van Kull, the waterway that separates Staten Island from New Jersey, he saw the old Port Johnston coal docks for the first time. Filled with new but obsolete wooden ships, the great coalport had become a great boneyard. In 1941, Noble began to build his floating studio there, out of parts of vessels he salvaged. From 1946 on, he worked as a full-time artist. Often accompanied by his wife, he set off from his studio in a rowboat to explore the Harbor. These explorations resulted in a unique and exacting record of Harbor history in which its rarely documented characters, industries, and vessels are faithfully recorded.
Anniversary celebrations
To mark the 100th anniversary of Noble’s birth the Noble Maritime Collection will present ‘Tides of 100 Years’, a celebration of the milestone, and on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 8 PM, the museum will host a birthday party and premiere a documentary about Noble by Staten Island filmmaker Michael McWeeney.
The evening will also mark the opening of a biographical exhibition, with family memorabilia, photographs, and art that describes Noble’s career. Eccentric features of his former home at 270 Richmond Terrace will shed light on his personality.
The party will feature cocktails and hors douevres and dancing to music by Queen Tipsy and her band. Tickets are $100 per person.
On Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 2 PM, the museum will host a free public reception that will include two showings of the new film and refreshments.
For tickets and information, call the Noble Maritime Collection at (718) 447-6490 or click here.
reblogged by Mai Armstrong for Working Harbor Committee
Staten Island ferry. photo: Mai Armstrong
Last Saturday was a brisk 38 degrees at daybreak with bright sun and clear skies for Working Harbor’s Walking Tour of the Kill Van Kull in Staten Island. Narrated by Mitch Waxman, we set out from St. George’s Ferry terminal for our walk along ‘tugboat alley’.
Guests gather at the meet-up point. photo: Mai Armstrong
From wikipedia: The Kill Van Kull is a tidal strait between Staten Island, New York and Bayonne, New Jersey. Approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) long and 1,000 feet (305 m) wide, it connects Newark Bay with Upper New York Bay. The Robbins Reef Light marks the eastern end of the Kill, Bergen Point its western end. Spanned by the Bayonne Bridge, it is one of the most heavily traveled waterways in the Port of New York and New Jersey.
Busy indeed! The kill did not disappoint as the tugs and barges danced by as if orchestrated by some grand maritime ballet. I wanted tugs – and tugs I got.
Bouchard’s Evening Tide. photo: Mai Armstrong
Kirby’s Greenland Sea. photo: Mai Armstrong
Oil tanker Adriatic Wave with Miriam Moran tug. photo: Mai Armstrong
Miriam Moran and Catherine Turecamo with a McAllister tug in the distance. photo: Mai Armstrong
The tour took us to Staten Island’s September 11th Memorial, where 270 Staten Islanders who were lost in the terror attacks are memorialized. The names and profile silhouettes of each person grace the monument which frames lower Manhattan in the distance.
September 11th Postcard Memorial. photo: Mai Armstrong
Remnants of flowers, likely from the anniversary of the attacks wilted in the crevices, made for a poignant and somber moment as we paused and remembered.
“Postcard” Memorial profiles. photo: Mai Armstrong
The narrow strait of the Kill Van Kull makes for great views from land of all the marine traffic traversing the waterway. Barges, tugs and tankers ply the kill 24/7 – our busy working harbor never stops working.
Kirby’s Bering Sea with a fuel barge. photo: Mai Armstrong
Bruce A. McAllister towing a Bouchard fuel barge. photo: Mai Armstrong
Department of Environmental Protection’s Red Hook Sludge Vessel transports our sewer sludge waste. photo: Mai Armstrong
Container ship Hanjin Valencia carries over 4,000 TEUs. photo: Mai Armstrong
Vane Brothers Susquehanna. photo: Mai Armstrong
Margaret Moran. photo: Mai Armstrong
The route follows the long abandoned North Shore branch of the Staten Island Railroad, which closed in 1953. This line once transported goods from the north shore docks to Arthur Kill and across to Elizabethtown, NJ.
Abandoned Float Bridge. photo: Mai Armstrong
Building along the abandoned North Shore rail road. photo: Mai Armstrong
The heavily industrialized New Jersey shoreline contrasts the fenced-off, unused Staten Island waterfront. Rail beds of the abandoned track still visible in the road, are now a driveway to nowhere.
Don John Marine’s Mary Alice. photo: Mai Armstrong
Christian Reinauer passing John Turecamo. photo: Mai Armstrong
Cargo ship Santa Paola over 5,000 TEUs. photo: Mai Armstrong
Having warmed up in the sun, we stopped for a drink of the frosty mug variety at the historic Leidy’s Shore Inn, a family owned, 107 year old sailor’s bar. After a rest and a few juicy sailor tales from 3rd generation proprietor, Larry Leidy, we went on to finish our walking tour at Sailor’s Snug Harbor and the Noble Maritime Collection. Once a home for aged sailors, the expansive site is now a cultural center and museum complex, botanical gardens and park.
Sailors Snug Harbor and the Noble Maritime Collection. photo: Mai Armstrong
It was a great day and a great tour. Many thanks to our guests for joining us and to Mitch Waxman for his fascinating narration of our hidden, Working Harbor.
by Mai Armstrong for Working Harbor Committee
Walk the Kill Van Kull with WHC’s Mitch Waxman – Today 11AM!
“Tugboat Alley” –the Kill Van Kull. photo: Mitch Waxman
Join Mitch Waxman for an intense exploration of the Staten Island coastline of the Kill Van Kull, the busy waterway connecting Port Elizabeth-Newark with the lower harbor. Expect tugboats, special guests and a few surprises as we walk the two miles from the Staten Island Ferry terminal at St. George to Sailors Snug Harbor, home of the Noble Maritime Collection, featuring works of maritime artist John A. Noble.
Snug Harbor. photo: Mitch Waxman
Mitch Waxman is a photographer and historian known for his work documenting Newtown Creek and the Hidden Harbor. A Working Harbor Steering Committee Member and official photographer, Mitch enjoys sharing the obscure, unique and often overlooked facets of the harbor of New York and New Jersey.
MEET UP the St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island, walk to the outside plaza at the north end exit (toward the baseball stadium, plaza above/over the cab stand), at 11:00am. Ends at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, Nobel Maritime collection at 1:00pm.
Saturday June 30th (TODAY!)
11:00am – 1:00pm
Additional Dates: 28 July, 13 October Tickets here.
And don’t miss the Fourth Annual North River Historic Ship Festival this weekend at Hudson River Park Pier 25. (N. Moore Street and the Hudson River in Tribeca). See the whole weekend event schedule here.
Tug Pegasus underway on the Hudson. photo: Mai Armstrong.
Free dockside ship tours on Lehigh Valley Railroad Barge No. 79 and Lilac, river trips, art exhibits, a showboat circus and more!
Showboat captain David Sharps will once again manipulate a giant Chinese vase on his head during Showboat Circus on Sunday, July 1. photo: Etienne Frossard.
Old time family entertainment aboard a century-old covered wooden barge:
Performers include
Hilary Chaplain – award-winning physical comedienne
Will Shaw – Juggler Extraordinaire
Sophie Sharps – Captain’s Daughter on Trapeze
Showboat Captain David Sharps – Chinese Vase Manipulation
by Mai Armstrong for Working Harbor Committee
At work on the KVK. photo: Mitch Waxman
Join WHC’s Mitch Waxman on June 30th, for an intense exploration of the Staten Island coastline of the Kill Van Kull, the busy waterway connecting Port Elizabeth-Newark with the lower harbor. Expect tugboats, special guests and a few surprises as we walk the two miles from the Staten Island Ferry terminal at St. George to Sailors Snug Harbor, home of the Noble Maritime Collection, featuring works of maritime artist John A. Noble.
Snug Harbor. photo: Mitch Waxman
Planned highlights include a visit to a historic maritime saloon (drinks are not included in ticket price) as well as seeing the Kill Van Kull’s busy “Tugboat Alley” at work. The tour ends at Sailors Snug Harbor where we will visit the many historic buildings and the fabulous Noble Collection. Along the way, Mitch will describe and provide contextual meaning for the various sights. MTA bus service is available from Snug Harbor back to the St. George ferry terminal.
St. George ferry terminal. photo: Mitch Waxman
Meetup at the St. George Terminal at 11am. Be prepared for a low intensity walk of around two miles. We will be outdoors for most of the day, so dress appropriately for weather. If sunny, a hat or parasol is recommended as we will have little or no shade for much of the walk.
Mitch Waxman. photo: Noah Devereaux for The New York Times
Tour Leader Bio
Mitch Waxman, who was recently featured in the New York Times, is a photographer and historian known for his work documenting Newtown Creek and the Hidden Harbor. A Working Harbor Steering Committee Member and official photographer, Mitch enjoys sharing the obscure, unique and often overlooked facets of the harbor of New York and New Jersey.
Mitch Waxman, who was recently featured in the New York Times, is a photographer and historian known for his work documenting Newtown Creek and the Hidden Harbor. A Working Harbor Steering Committee Member and official photographer, Mitch enjoys sharing the obscure, unique and often overlooked facets of the harbor of New York and New Jersey.
Headed to Tugboat Alley. photo: Mitch Waxman
MEET UP – 11am
Meet at the St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island, walk to the outside plaza at the north end exit (toward the baseball stadium, plaza above/over the cab stand), at 11:00am. Ends at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, Nobel Maritime collection at 1:00pm.
11:00am – 1:00pm
Saturdays, 30 June, 28 July, 13 October
Click for Tickets
by Mai Armstrong for Working Harbor Committee
