Page 10. MAINE COASTAL NEWS August 2017 Waterfront News Thou Shalt Knot Exhibition to Celebrate Cliff ord W. Ashley


And the ubiquitous, sculptural, and mathematically elegant world of knots Opening July 7, 2017


NEW BEDFORD, MA – Explore the work of master knot tyer, maritime artist, historian, and author Cliff ord W. Ashley in a monumental exhibition opening at the New Bedford Whaling Museum on July 7, 2017 from 6 pm to 8 pm. Thou Shalt Knot: Cliff ord W. Ashley will premiere a recent gift of Ashley’s private knot collection en- hanced by interpretative material from the Museum’s permanent collection, as well as the artist’s paintings, prints, and works by other knot tyers and artists. This event is free and open to the public, but RSVP is encour- aged by going to www.whalingmuseum.org or calling 508-997-0046. The exhibition is sponsored by the Family of Cliff ord W. Ash- ley and made possible, in part, by support from the International Guild of Knot Tyers, the Boston Marine Society, Margaret Baker Howland, and Mary Howland Smoyer. Knots are ubiquitous, sculptural, and mathematically elegant. They are both ancient and modern, and are the subject of cutting edge research and ongoing practice in the fi elds of mathematics, physics, life sciences, materials engineering, and art, not to mention within a wide range of industries and recreational pastimes. Thou Shalt Knot takes on many of these themes. Ashley’s daughters, Phoebe Chardon


and Jane Ashley, donated their father’s col- lection of knots to the Whaling Museum in 2016. A focal point of the new exhibition, the collection includes many of the knots Ashley used as models for the almost 7,000 illustrations in his encyclopedic magnum opus, The Ashley Book of Knots, which has been in continuous print since 1944. Marc Chardon, grandson of Cliff ord


Ashley said, “We, the family of ‘Grandfather Ashley,’ hope that you’ll come to know him through the upcoming Whaling Museum exhibit. That you’ll be transported back to a time when entertainment was something people created, rather than watched. Back to a world which felt huge and mysterious. And to a place where knots were used each and every day by people in all professions and walks of life. We hope you’ll come and visit and that you’ll walk away happier for having shared in and explored the life and works of Cliff ord Ashley.” Complementing the Ashley Collection


in the exhibition is a broad range of objects and rare books drawn from the Whaling Museum’s permanent collection, partner institutions, and private collections that help to place Ashley’s work within a larger cultural, social, industrial, artistic, and util- itarian context. In addition, videos of knot tying, rope making, and interactives on the mathematics of knots will be on view. Rope making machines and other tools will be on hand for visitors to explore. The exhibition will also include modern works in various media that speak to a contemporary under- standing and meaning of knots, including macro views of rope in large graphite works on paper by Huguette Despault May and ceramic sculptures of rope and sailcloth by Julia Mandle. A full color, 83 page catalog accompanies the exhibition. The exhibition takes a comprehensive


look at Ashley’s varied career. One of New Bedford’s most interesting and infl uential citizens, Ashley was also an accomplished artist who studied under Howard Pyle, one of America’s greatest illustrators, at what came to be known as the Brandywine School. A life-changing post as an illustrator for Harper’s Monthly Magazine aboard the


Port Safety Forum News Continued from Page 5.


private sectors with an interest in the water- front and environmental protection to simu- late a petroleum spill and take away valuable lessons learned. The exercise incorporated a Command Center which was established at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland. The exercise also involved full deployment of oil response equipment. These periodic ex- ercises keep response skills sharp, identify areas of improvement, and serve to update spill response policies and procedures. Land-Based Fire Fighter Training –


The Coast Guard and Port Safety Forum co-sponsored two separate two-day Marine Firefi ghting courses in May. Both training events were off ered by Tri-State Maritime Safety Association and tailored to land- based fi refi ghters to respond to unique and challenging shipboard fi res and emergen- cies.


May 18-19 Harbor Incident Response


Training (Marine Firefi ghting Tactics de- signed for Land based fi refi ghters): May 22-23 Command Strategies and Tactics for Marine Emergencies (designed


for command staff of local, state and federal agencies). The training covered various topics


ranging from jurisdictional responsibilities to shipboard fi refi ghting tactics and vessel stability. The training was successful in rais- ing fi refi ghter awareness to the complexities of marine fi res and emergencies. The train- ing stimulated discussion of potential follow on training aboard ships with an emphasis on larger passenger vessels. Paddle Safety - Kayaking, Stand


Up Paddleboarding and kayak fishing have grown dramatically in recent years. Between 90,000 and 105,000 canoes and 350,000 kayaks are sold annually, accord- ing to industry fi gures. However, with the growth in paddlesports, the number of fatalities has gone up. In the most recent reporting year, 2015, 29% of boating deaths were paddlecraft related; in 2016, fatalities climbed even higher, according to Coast Guard Auxiliary data. Six deaths having occurred in Maine so far this year. Personal Floatation Devices were attributed as being a common factor in these fatali- ties. The Coast Guard Auxiliary Strategic Plan for 2017 focuses Auxiliary eff orts on addressing paddle safety by expanding out- reach to the paddlecraft community. Piscataqua River - A closing of the


Piscataqua Bridge will occur September 7-21 for work on the Sarah M. Long Bridge. USCG Cutter Eagle Visit - The USCG


Cutter EAGLE will be visiting Portland, Maine August 4-7. Next Meeting: September 27, 2017;


10:00 AM, NHDES Portsmouth Regional Offi ce, Pease International Tradeport, 222 International Drive, Suite 175, Portsmouth, NH 03801


whaleship Sunbeam for a piece on whaling informed much of his later work and publi- cations.


While Ashley continued to illustrate


books and journals for many years, his passion for painting moved him almost exclusively to canvas after 1913, when his focus turned to his beloved New Bedford waterfront and local landscapes around South Dartmouth. An accomplished author, Ashley pub-


lished one of his most important books, The Yankee Whaler, on the whaling industry in 1926. Next came the elegantly illustrated Whaleships of New Bedford in 1929 with a foreword by Franklin Delano Roosevelt; and his pivotal Ashley Book of Knots in 1944.


The New Bedford Whaling Museum


is the world’s most comprehensive muse- um devoted to the global story of human interaction with whales through time, and the history and culture of the South Coast region. The cornerstone of New Bedford Whaling Museum National Historical Park, the Museum is located at 18 Johnny Cake Hill in the heart of the city’s historic


downtown. Museum hours April through December: Daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Museum is open until 8 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Closed on Thanks- giving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Admission is: Free for Museum members and children aged three and under; adults $16, seniors (65+) $14, students (19+) $9, child and youth $6. For more information, visit www.whalingmuseum.org.


U. S. N N Continued from Page 9.


newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS John Finn (DDG 113), was brought to life and into the fl eet July 15 at Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor - a fi tting com- missioning venue, as the namesake’s Dec. 7, 1941, heroic actions 30 miles away at Kaneohe Bay are the stuff of Navy legend. Chief Aviation Ordnanceman John


Finn, was World War II’s fi rst Medal of Honor recipient who Adm. Chester Nimitz said displayed, “magnifi cent courage in the face of certain death” during the attack on Pearl Harbor and other Oahu military targets in 1941. Finn manned a .50-caliber machine gun while under heavy enemy machine gun fi re. Although wounded, he continued to fi ght until ordered to vacate his post to seek medical attention. Following fi rst aid treat- ment, he returned to action and led the charge to rearm aircraft returning from missions. John Finn is the 63rd Arleigh Burke-


class destroyer and was delivered to the Navy from shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries on the 75th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 2016. “I can’t think of a more fi tting place


to commission this ship than right here at Pearl Harbor, where we can honor the leg- acy of John Finn and all Americans from the ‘Greatest Generation’ and refl ect on the blessings and costs of liberty,” remarked Adm. Harry Harris, Jr., commander, U.S. Pacifi c Command. “Thankfully, America has always been blessed to have strong women and men who fi nd the will and summon the courage to endure against over- whelming odds; patriots like John Finn, who answered the call to defend our nation in her darkest hour.” Recognizing the ship’s motto to “stand


fast and fi ght,” Harris praised the ship’s fi repower and capabilities as a testament to its namesake’s readiness in battle and determination in the face of danger. The Navy’s newest ship and her crew is ready to deliver - just like Chief Finn did as he manned a machine gun while wounded and under intense enemy fi re. “John Finn brings both the saber and the


shield into the fi ght,” said Harris. “Truly, the advanced combat systems, coupled with the innovative spirit and the killer instinct of her amazing crew, are powerful reminders of our readiness to fi ght tonight. This warship is the embodiment of America’s resolve to protect


our homeland and defend our allies.” Harris pointed out that the aegis-capa-


ble destroyers like John Finn expand Amer- ica’s projection of power and leadership in the Pacifi c. “We believe in peace through strength -


smart power backed by hard power,” Harris said. “And this ship, hard power personifi ed, sends a clear signal to our allies, to our friends and to our adversaries - we will re- main laser focused on the Indo-Asia-Pacifi c because what happens here matters to the United States.” Approximately 2,000 guests, including


more than 50 friends and relatives of John Finn’s family, attended the commissioning ceremony. The ship was offi cially placed in com-


mission by Harris. Its Commanding Offi cer, Cmdr. Micheal Wagner, a native of Min- nesota, leads the crew of 300 offi cers and enlisted personnel and praised his crew as worthy of the standard set forth by the ship’s namesake. “I’m truly honored and humbled to be


standing here today, not only because I’m in command of the Navy’s newest destroyer, but because I’ve been given the opportunity to lead some of the fi nest Sailors I’ve ever met,” said Wagner. “The men and women manning this ship today are some of the fi nest service members society has to off er today. They come from all over the United States. Some even come from diff erent countries. But make no mistake, they are all willing and enthusiastic about completing the mission. These are men and women of action, ready to go into action if required, just like John Finn exhibited.” The ship’s sponsor, Laura Stavridis, the


wife of retired Adm. James Stavridis, gave order to, “man our ship and bring her to life!” The crowd then witnessed this time-hon-


ored tradition, as members of the crew ran aboard the ship and manned the rails, as the ship’s systems came online - radars and weapon systems began to spin, the chaff launcher popped, and alarms sounded - all symbolizing the ship “coming to life.” John Finn is a multi-mission surface


combatant capable of conducting anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and an- ti-surface warfare. As a multi-mission platform, it is capable of sustained combat operations supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control and deter- rence.


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