Skipjack's Annual American Marine Folk & Sailor Art Show

It’s a folksy collection of whales, mermaids, fish, fowl, carvings, paintings, models, trade signs, weathervanes, folk and sailor art representing some of the finest American folk artists working today combined with with examples made in the past. Some are whimsical, others memorable, but they are all simply delightful!

Swimming mermaid wood carving by Virginia artist Jac & Patricia Johnson.

Welcome to Skipjack's Annual American Marine Folk and Sailor Art Show! This year once again features a select blend of marine marine art from some of the best marine folk artists working today together with a selection of vintage and antique examples.  This year, we have the privilege of introducing New England folk carver John Shaw to our show. His carvings represent a traditional rustic folk art style similar in composition to carvings created during the early days of whaling. Each whale is hand-carved and painted in a style that replicates an antique example. John's carvings are created using native white pine and finished in acrylic paint and sealed both front and back with spar varnish urethane for durability.

Carved and painted wood sperm whale by Mass. artist John Shaw

Tiny carved wood sperm whale by
John Shaw.

John Shaw is a native of Plymouth, Massachusetts and a direct descendant of the pilgrims. He has been carving and painting for over 30 years with a focus on wildlife. Custom carvings may be commissioned. We are pleased to have this fine marine artist as a part of the Skipjack family.

Here is a link to the American Marine Folk and Sailor Art Show now on display at Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery in historic Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia. The show runs through November 8, 2014. The gallery is open Monday- Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm. You can also visit our web-store 24/7 by following the link here: Skipjacknauticalwares.com.

Folk art painting on barrel slat by Jean Colquhoun

Art in a Bottle- How Did They Get That Ship in There!

The Schooner Virginia Races the Pride of Baltimore II past Thimble Shoals Lighthouse.
Created by marine artist Heather Gabrielle Rogers.

The first known ship inside a bottle was created during the early years of the 19th century. Like other sailor-made art forms, these were created aboard old sailing ships in an era when sea voyages lasted months and sometimes years. Whalemen, during their idle hours, produced scrimshaw for family members, sweethearts, and friends. Decorative and utilitarian objects were carved from bone, ivory teeth, and baleen, and designs were engraved on the same materials. But other materials such as wood, rope and yarn were also used, and many interesting and decorative objects were created from these.

Two tall ships pass each other in this early 20th century ship in a bottle diorama.

It is not surprising then that an empty spirit or a medicine bottle lying around aboard ship might have spurred the imagination of a 19th century seaman into devising a way to display a model ship in it. Whatever the origin, the technique for placing ships into bottles was passed along and over time became a favored art form for sailors. Some sailors produced a facsimile of the ship that they sailed aboard; others may have created multiple ships passing by under full sail on rough painted clay seas or a diorama of a ship in harbor with the seaport in a background, a lighthouse at the harbor’s edge, possibly with tugboats in tow. These works can now be found in maritime museums around the world for there are few sailor-made decorations as nautical as a bottled ship.

Tom Applegate prepares the US Coast Guard tall ship "Eagle" for launching in the bottle.

Today, ship-in-bottle artists have taken the old sailor art form and produce exceptional works of art with microscopic detailing that will rival anyone’s imagination of “how did they get that in the bottle.” A selection of new works by Heather Gabrielle Rogers and Tom Applegate will also be a focus of this nautical show.

The US Coast Guard tall ship "Eagle" under sail on blue clay seas.

Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery is hosting “Art in a Bottle,” a collection of exceptional ship-in-bottles and dioramas from the 19th century through the present and featuring recent creations by maritime
artists Heather Gabrielle Rogers and Tom Applegate.

Heather Gabrielle Rogers- As a passionate crafter of ships in bottles, Heather has developed a huge appreciation for the challenge of constructing these tiny ships with my main focus directed towards detail. Her overall goal is to always produce what appears to be a miniature version of a ship or vessel captured in a moment in time.

Thomas Applegate- From as far back as he could remember he has had a love for the sea. In the early 1970's he made his first ship in a bottle, a brigantine. Being self taught, he found it very challenging and rewarding. Over the years, he has researched each vessel he has created in order to make them a work of art while being true to life.

LOCATION

Skipjack nautical Wares & Marine Gallery is located on the riverfront, 1 High Street next to the High Street Landing in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia. Parking is available in the municiple parking lot next to the gallery and the Water Street garage located across the street of the building and along High Street.


IF YOU GO

 "Art in a Bottle" will be an ongoing show through September 28, 2014. The gallery hours are Monday through Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm.  Special showings can be arranged for groups by calling the gallery.



INFORMATION

You can visit the gallery or peruse the collection online on their website at: www.skipjacknauticalwares.com. You can call the gallery at (757) 399-5012 or email at  skipjacknauticalwares@gmail.com. The gallery showing is free to the public. The artwork is available for purchase but cannot be removed until the show is concluded.

Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery Celebrates 10 years in Hampton Roads and Beyond

Skupjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery riverfront showroom
is located in Olde towne Portsmouth, VA.

By Toi wilson
Portsmouth Virginia Department of Economic Development


Portsmouth is a seaport town where maritime history and traditions created a way of life.  Today, homeowners and boaters look to recreate the days of nautical living through home décor, art, and apparel. Customers throughout Hampton Roads, and as far away as New Zealand, have discovered authentic nautical antiques and furnishings, original marine art, and handcrafted nautical accessories at Skipjack Nautical Wares and Marine Gallery here in Olde Towne Portsmouth.

Skipjack's Chelsea Room features authentic nautical antiques and marine art.

Custom made grate table.

Skipjack Nautical Wares, celebrating 10 years in business this month, is located at One High Street in historic Downtown Portsmouth.  A decade ago, owners Alison and Joe Elder set sail on a journey to merge their passions for boating and uncovering history with their business management experience to create a specialty store that offers a range of nautical-themed merchandise.  The furniture and home décor is constructed using recycled or re-purposed materials, also known as Eco Furniture.

Nautical Chart Lampshade.

The Skipjack design studio utilizes many shipboard items that are removed from retired ships in foreign and domestic shipyards as well as natural materials, such as locally found driftwood, in addition to boards and vintage fishermen's materials to produce one-of-a-kind coastal living pieces. Artwork and handmade gifts are mostly the work of local craftsmen, such as the Salt Water Bath Co. soaps made in Hampton, Virginia and the Monkey’s Fist Rope Knot furniture knobs (an interior decorator’s favorite) produced here in Olde Towne.  The nautical lampshades are constructed in the Skipjack Design Center using only the highest quality materials, including authentic NOAA nautical charts featuring locations from the Chesapeake Bay region.


Over the past ten years, the Elders have grown their store from a local, specialty boutique into an international business.  They attribute their success to being resilient, flexible, and persistent.  Initially, Skipjack was located in an area that did not meet the needs of the business.  In 2005, the Elder’s changed course and moved to Portsmouth.  In 2008, a fire destroyed their store and their residence.  The business realigned and made headway to its current location on the Portsmouth waterfront.

Skipjack Nautical Wares High Street location,
 Olde Towne Portsmouth, VA.

A dedicated web presence (online store, blogs, social media, information sources) has supported the brick-and-mortar operation.  Joe advises that a constant web presence and marketing are essential components for running a retail business.  Allison’s advice for new entrepreneurs is to remember to have patience and be flexible to market trends.  It takes time to establish a customer base, and as markets change, businesses should be prepared to make adjustments to stay the course.

The next time you are in Portsmouth or surfing the web, be sure to visit Skipjack Nautical Wares and Marine Gallery where you can find a tribute to our seaport City’s origins and a collection of the best in coastal living.

Toi Wilson is a respresentative for the City of Portsmouth,Virginia Department of Economic Development. She writes monthly articles featuring Portsmouth's people, places and things as part of the departments Enewsletter.

Schooners of all types and sizes will be docked along Portsmouth's riverside Saturday,
October 13, 2012 as part of the 23rd Annual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. Photo by Joe Elder

They're schooners here, there and just about everywhere along our riverside and you won’t want to miss it. That’s right, this Saturday, October 13, 2012, the City of Portsmouth, Virginia hosts the 23rd Annual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race post race celebration. The world’s largest gathering of schooners will race again from Annapolis, Maryland to Portsmouth, Virginia, with nearly 40 entries in this year's race. They'll be schooners of all types and sizes docked along Portsmouth’s waterfront for you to view, with some open to the public.

The 23rd Annual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race from Annapolis, MD
to Portsmouth, VA. Photo by Joe Elder

 We also invite you to stop by (we'll, we're only a few steps away) and see all of the great new inventory here at Skipjack including ships wheels, new, vintage and antique lamps, lanterns and maritime lighting, WWII era U.S. Navy instruments, and all types maritime antiques. We've also received a large assortment of great nautical decor items including fish nets, netted colored glass jugs and float balls, brass cleats, bell ropes and sailor marlinspike knives from Myerchin. And, our classic Skipjack long sleeve shirts, crewneck and pullover hooded sweatshirts are available in all sizes and new colors too! You can check out some an assortment of our new arrivals by following the link here to Skipjack's NEW! JUST IN! section on our webstore.



Stefan Edick Skippers the "Schooner Virginia"
in appropriate yachting attire!  Photo by Joe Elder.



For more information, follow the link here to the 23rdAnnual GCBSR Official Race Program and here’s the link to the Great ChesapeakeBay Schooner Race website. Hope to see you here!

The 2011 Marine Folk Art Show

Folk-carved Humpback Whale by Southhampton artist Randy Kolhoff

It’s a folksy collection of whales, mermaids, fish, fowl, carvings, paintings, models, trade signs, weathervanes, folk and sailor art. Some are whimsical, others memorable, but they are all simply delightful. The 2011 Marine Folk Art Show opens this Friday at 5 PM at Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery located at One High Street (on the riverfront) as part of Olde Towne Portsmouth’s First Friday Events.

Virginia decoy carver Gentry Childress

Featuring original folk carvings by Randy Kolhoff, Steve Hazlett and Jac & Patricia Johnson, decoy carvings by Gentry Childress, “folky fish” wall art and furnishings by Joe Marinelli, contemporary scrimshaw by Tony Perry as well as other marine artists works. A variety of vintage and antique folk carvings and marine folk items will also be on hand.

Mermaid weathervane by Jac & Patricia Johnson

Scrimshaw artist Tony Perry will also be at Skipjack during opening weekend and decoy carver Gentry Childress will be at Skipjack, Saturday, June 11 throughout the day to demonstrate his fine artwork. Go to Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery’s news/events page at http://www.skipjackmarinegallery.com/ for their complete schedule of artist demonstrations. The 2011 Marine Folk Art Show runs through Wednesday, June 29, 2011. It’s the greatest folk show in town!

Folk art carvings from a previous Skipjack Marine Folk Art Show

*The 2011 Marine Folk Art Show is featured in the summer edition of Sea History Magazine!

Nautical News From Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery

Skipjack is now open EVERY day!

Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm

Sunday, 1-4pm

Us Navy Wardroom dinner plates, cups and saucers.

New! Just In!

US Navy wardroom china -- bread and dinner plates, bowls, cups and saucers in great condition. Get 'em while they last!

Nautical  sailboat jewelry from the Barbara Vincent Collection.

Don't forget . . .


Mother's Day is Sunday!

And Skipjack has plenty of items for the nautical Mom, start shopping in our nautical jewelry department!

Authentic porthole re-purposed into a mirror.

Go green . . .

Incorporate authentic re-purposed ship items into your home. This vintage aluminum porthole makes a fantastic mirror and at a fraction of the weight of brass.

Skipjack's Bloaters Guide

Spring is here (finally!) . . .

And boaters are once again plying the Intracoastal Waterway. We are happy to welcome those that stop at here at "Mile Marker 0" ... many thanks to ActiveCaptain, an interactive online cruising guidebook that has featured Olde Towne Portsmouth in recent newsletters. And Skipjack's own publication, the unofficial Boater's Guide, has become a "must have" for new visitors. Check out the Boater's Guide yourself by stopping at Skipjack or Starboards Coffee Kiosk (it's free!) or check out the latest edition online anytime.

And coming soon . . .

Skipjack is opening its own small chandlery department focusing on sailing vessels and will offer both new and gently used as well as hard to find parts for the vintage sailboat. Skipjack will also have available custom services including sail repair, rigging service including stainless steel standing rigging, lifelines, rope splicing, rope to wire splicing, upholstering and custom woodwork including carving, custom teak grate decking and yacht furniture.

Our calendar is full!

What a great time to be in Olde Towne Portsmouth:

FIRST FRIDAY, May 6, 5-8pm -- Skipjack and other galleries and shops in Olde Towne will be open late with special events and refreshments. At Skipjack author Debbiann Holmes will be signing her new book, "Compromises" and master scrimshander Tony Perry will be demonstrating his art.


FIRST WEEKEND, May 7-8 -- Author Debbiann Holmes will be on deck to sign books this Saturday from 11am to 3pm and scrimshander Tony Perry will be at Skipjack throughout the day Saturday and Sunday demonstrating the art of scrimshaw.

Gosport Arts Festival, Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8 -- Over 150 juried artists and artisans will be spread from High Street Landing for five blocks up High Street.

Farmer's Market, Saturday, May 7 -- Now every Saturday through November! Court and High Streets

Antiques to Flea Market, Saturday, May 7 -- Visit this monthly opportunity for treasure hunting in the Middle Street Garage, corner of Middle and London Streets.

Children's Museum of Virginia, Thursday, May 26 -- Grand re-opening!

Mark your calendars!

Skipjack's "Marine Folk Art Show" is back by popular demand! Opening Friday, June 3 and running til July. It’s a folksy collection of whales, mermaids, fish, fowl, carvings, paintings, models, textile, seashells, scrimshaw, sailor art and signs. Some are whimsical, others memorable, but they are all simply delightful. "It’s the greatest folk show in town!"
More information on these events and others is available through the #1 blog in Hampton Roads: http://www.anewdayinoldetowne.com/

See you soon!

And remember, you can shop at Skipjack anytime online at www.SkipjackNauticalWares.com !

Alison & Joe Elder

Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery

One High Street  Portsmouth, Virginia 23704

(757) 399-5012

Summer Hours:

Monday-Saturday, 10am - 5pm

Sunday, 1-4pm

Additional times by appointment

www.SkipjackNauticalWares.com

Skipjack Nautical Wares & marine Gallery is located in the quaint historic seaport of Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia on the Elizabeth Riverfront, next to the Hog Island Light Fresnel Lens Exhibit Pavilion and adjacent to the High Street basin.

Start Your holiday Season With Some Old-fashioned Fun at the 15th Annual Arts & Antiques Open House in Olde Towne Portsmouth!

Friday, November 19, 2010
5 p.m. til 10 p.m.

Kick the holiday season off in style and support your local small businesses. Skipjack will be serving refreshments and hosting three or our favorites...back by popular demand!

"From Rockland to Hampton Roads" 

featuring original coastal watercolor paintings by Virginia artist Shirley Cook. 

"Eddies" watercolor by Virginia artist Shirley Cook.

Schrimshander Anthony Perry will be demonstrating

his delicate art form during 

First Friday at Skipjack

Schrimshawed antique whales tooth by Anthony Perry

"Unforeseen Circumstances": A Novel by Debbiann Holmes

MEET THE ARTIST
Book signing with Portsmouth Novelist Debbiann Holmes

during First Friday at Skipjack

Finalist in the USA book awards for 2010 best book of the year in romance fiction!

ALSO

 Riverview Gallery will be featuring the Norman Goodwin Art Show and ceramic sculpture show by students of B. Kobylinska. 

 

Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery & Riverview Gallery will be open together for this event. Come and meander through both galleries during Olde Towne's Arts and Antiques Open House!

Light refreshments served. 

And elsewhere on High Street: 

 
Visit Winter Wonderland: The Coleman Collection at Courthouse Galleries

 
Enjoy the 41st Annual Art Faculty Exhibition at the Visual Arts Center

 
History comes alive when you bump into our own Colonel Crawford

 
View antique cars and motorcycles parked along High Street

 
Start at the welcome table (free high chocolate!) at High Street Landing!

Located at One High Street on the riverfront in historic Seaboard Railroad Terminal, Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia.  For additional information, call Skipjack at 757-399-5012 and Riverview Gallery at 757-397-3207.

Be a Patriot this Fourth of July Weekend

First Friday events: FREE. The Olde Towne Antiques to Flea Market: Admission FREE.  The Olde Towne Farmers Market: Admission FREE. Portsmouth, VA. Museums: Admission FREE. Patriot Days Celebration at the Portsmouth Shipyard Museum: Admission FREE. Watching the Fourth of July fireworks aboard the schooner SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE: SPECTACULAR. Celebrating the Fouth of July weekend at Virginia's quaint historic seaport: PRICELESS! Be a patriot! Visit Olde Towne Portsmouth, VA.