The Art of Model Boat Building at the Dorchester Center for the Arts

“The Art of Model Boat Building” will premiere in the galleries at the Dorchester Center for the Arts during the month of March. This exhibition will feature area modelers who will display and discuss their work with a focus on the art of these models, both the maritime art and decorative art aspects of boat modeling.

Chesapeake Bay workboat bottoms by Ed Thieler

Individual artists will offer talks and demonstrations about modeling and models at various times throughout the exhibit. Discussed will be the ideas a modeler starts with, the materials used, the process they go through, to the final presentation. Talks may include personal stories about how their model building journey began. Why they do it. How they do it. What they hope people see in it. Explanations on what makes a “museum quality” ship model, or how to start a collection. Or even “how did you make that tiny thing?”

Trailered boat by Ed Harrison

Participating modelers include Howard Freeman, who had a contracting business for over 30 years, retiring in 2008 and starting model work boat building to keep his mind and hands busy; Ed Harrison, who is relatively new to model boats and also enjoys carving miniature ducks and geese and modeling railroad gardens; Web Lippert, who has been building model boats as a hobby for about 15 years, and filling them with hand-crafted “deck clutter” – baskets, nets, anchors and more that helps tell the story of how the boat is used; Jim Moses, who started modeling in second or third grade, inspired by his accomplished model builder dad. Jim’s naval career put modeling on hold for twenty years until shore duty brought him to Washington, allowing day and weekend trips to the Shore that fired his course towards building working craft. Ed Thieler, retired orthopedic surgeon born and raised in Philadelphia, who became intrigued with the waterman culture after moving to the Eastern Shore twenty years ago. Ed helped rebuild the oyster dredge boat skipjack Thomas Clyde and shared dock space with oyster shaft-tongers, and trotline crabbers. As a result of his interest and research, Ed’s model boat dioramas accurately depict the historical and cultural context of the Chesapeake Bay environment.

Frigate by Jim Moses

Additional participants include Scott Todd, model yacht builder and fifth-generation Dorchester County waterman who works out of his 46′ fiberglass crab boat called Endless Summer. Scott also owns and has restored the Skipjack Lady Katie, which was first launched in 1956; and Don Willey, who grew up in Dorchester County and began building in 1980. His first was the three masted schooner P. T. White, and since then Don has built over seven hundred boat models that are on display all around the world.

Over twenty models will on exhibit, running the gamut from a diorama with tiny pieces, to small models, to robust coast guard vessels, to five-foot sailboats!

The exhibit runs from March 4-26. Second Saturday Artists’ Reception takes place on March 12 from 5:00-7:30 p.m. and will include artist talks, light refreshments, and live music with Rick Hester. This event is free, and all are welcome.

For additional program and exhibit information visit DCA online at www.dorchesterarts.org or stop by 321 High Street in Cambridge. The Center is open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Thursday noon-8:00 p.m. Programs at DCA are supported by the Maryland State Arts Council. For the latest, find us on Facebook!