Snail Mail Meets Whale Mail At The Sag Harbor Whaling Museum - 27 East

Arts & Living

Arts & Living / 1327984

Snail Mail Meets Whale Mail At The Sag Harbor Whaling Museum

icon 11 Photos
Postcard from 1910 depicts whaling on the Azore Islands. COURTESY OF SAG HARBOR WHALING AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Postcard from 1910 depicts whaling on the Azore Islands. COURTESY OF SAG HARBOR WHALING AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Postcard from 1910 depicts a harpoon gun and a gunner. COURTESY OF SAG HARBOR WHALING AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Postcard from 1910 depicts a harpoon gun and a gunner. COURTESY OF SAG HARBOR WHALING AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

A U.S. stamp honoring the Charles W. Morgan, a whaling ship now docked in Mystic, Connecticut. COURTESY OF SAG HARBOR WHALING AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

A U.S. stamp honoring the Charles W. Morgan, a whaling ship now docked in Mystic, Connecticut. COURTESY OF SAG HARBOR WHALING AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Falkland Islands stamp that features a steam powered whale ship. COURTESY OF SAG HARBOR WHALING AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Falkland Islands stamp that features a steam powered whale ship. COURTESY OF SAG HARBOR WHALING AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

The Sag Harbor Whaling and Historial Musuem on a warm, June afternoon. JENNIFER CORR

The Sag Harbor Whaling and Historial Musuem on a warm, June afternoon. JENNIFER CORR

A Herman Melville stamp. COURTESY OF SAG HARBOR WHALING AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

A Herman Melville stamp. COURTESY OF SAG HARBOR WHALING AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

A whaling ship stamp. COURTESY OF SAG HARBOR WHALING AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

A whaling ship stamp. COURTESY OF SAG HARBOR WHALING AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Costa Brava ceramic, showcased with the garden's drying hydrangea, a purposeful color and texture juxtaposition. MARSHALL WATSON

Costa Brava ceramic, showcased with the garden's drying hydrangea, a purposeful color and texture juxtaposition. MARSHALL WATSON

A Whaling stamp from Greenland. COURTESY OF SAG HARBOR WHALING AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

A Whaling stamp from Greenland. COURTESY OF SAG HARBOR WHALING AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Collection of Celadon ware from Chiang Mai, Thailand, the hub of Celadon-making. MARSHALL WATSON

Collection of Celadon ware from Chiang Mai, Thailand, the hub of Celadon-making. MARSHALL WATSON

author on Jun 18, 2019

Sometimes, history can be found in the mail, and that’s the case for the Sag Harbor Whaling and Historical Museum, which will open its “Whaling Mailing” exhibition on Friday, June 21, featuring 20th century whaling stamps and postcards, along with contemporary artwork that matches the theme. The exhibition is organized by Richard Doctorow, the museum’s curator and collections manager.

“I was researching some local history, [when I found that] there was a whale caught off Amagansett in 1907,” Mr. Doctorow said. “And I remembered that I’ve seen postcards of this event.”

Out of curiosity, Mr. Doctorow began researching other whaling postcards and postage stamps of the times, which he notes are dated during the era of decline for the whaling industry and the boom of the postcard industry. The stamps and postcards are from the 20th century and are all whaling-themed, with whaling men, whaling ships, whaling tools and whaling scenes. The research wasn’t too difficult for Mr. Doctorow, since he has been studying Sag Harbor’s whaling history for more than 15 years. The history of postcards and stamps was what he needed to brush up on, however.

“As I explored and the deeper I got into the research, I realized that this would be a wonderful exhibit using postcards and stamps to explore whaling,” said Mr. Doctorow who hopes that viewers of the exhibition will be able to explore the history of whaling through a different avenue, which he calls a “unique” way of looking at the topic.

“Whaling is such a broad subject, you can study almost anything through whaling,” Mr. Doctorow said. “It’s not just what ships had what captains and how much oil they came home with. It’s really the technology they used for navigation. It can be the study of the different islands in the South Pacific that they found. It could be economic studies; it could be gender studies. So, whaling is pretty broad, and I thought this was an interesting way of looking at the subject in general.”

From 1760 to 1850, Sag Harbor was a thriving whaling port. After the golden age of Sag Harbor whaling from 1820 to 1850, the discovery of gold in California and petroleum in Pennsylvania along with a scarcity of whales led to the decline of the industry.

“It was a vital industry in the 1800s,” Mr. Doctorow said. “Of course, now we see it as very brutal. But back then it was their livelihood. I hope this exhibit is another way of connecting to village history.”

It's a history that has long fascinated Mr. Doctorow. As a child, he visited Sag Harbor from his home in Westchester often, as his parents owned a summer house in the area. Now, Sag Harbor is his permanent home.

“I just love this village and I love the history of it,” Mr. Doctorow said. “If I’m not hard at work getting the exhibits ready, or something else, I’m hard at work researching it.”

Mailing Whaling" opens with a reception on Friday, June 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sag Harbor Whaling and Historical Museum, 200 Main Street, Sag Harbor. On view are 20th century stamps and postcards plus contemporary artwork inspired by the theme from artists Robert Carioscia, Grover Gatewood, Susan Lazarus-Reimen, Barbara Maslem, Dave O, Sabina Streeter and Bob Weinstein.

"

You May Also Like:

Lichtenstein Sculptures Get a Facelift at the Parrish Art Museum

The Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill is home to thousands of works by acclaimed ... 8 Jan 2025 by Jon Winkler

Climate Anxiety Rx: Go Local

Pre-traumatic stress disorder: A condition that can develop when someone anticipates a potentially devastating event. ... 7 Jan 2025 by Jenny Noble

Works & Process Brings a Trio of Dance Groups To Welcome the New Year

Experiencing the fruits of an artist’s labor in its final form — be it a ... by Annette Hinkle

'The Oarsman's Library' on View in Springs

Springs Historical Society presents “The Oarsman’s Library: Books by Barry McCallion,” an exhibition of literary ... 6 Jan 2025 by Staff Writer

'Re-Living The King of Pop' at The Suffolk

The Suffolk presents “MJ The Illusion: Re-Living The King of Pop” with two performances on ... by Staff Writer

A Screening of ‘California Typewriter’ at The Church

On Saturday, January 18, at 6 p.m., grab some popcorn and join The Church for a screening of “California Typewriter,” the 2016 documentary film directed by Doug Nichol. Considered a “nostalgic love letter to the typed word from enthusiasts and experts alike,” the film explores, celebrates, and honors the mechanical object believed to summon the creative spirit while also documenting the struggles of the typewriter-repair shop of the film’s title, California Typewriter. Sadly, the shop closed in 2020 after 70 years of service. A meditation on creativity and technology, the film features typewriter enthusiasts Tom Hanks, John Mayer, Sam Shepard ... by Staff Writer

Winter Fine Art Workshops with Howard Rose

Artist and teacher Howard Rose will host three winter workshops at the historic Nathaniel Rogers House designed to help artists fine tune their skills or beginners get more comfortable creating art. The workshops are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, January 11, February 8 and March 8. The cost of each workshop is $20 per person. The Bridgehampton Museum’s Nathaniel Rogers House is at 2539 Montauk Highway in Bridgehampton. For details, visit bhmuseum.org or call 631-537-1088. “Logical Perspective” on January 11 Learn the basics of how to see perspective in a logical and easy way with a few ... 4 Jan 2025 by Staff Writer

Hamptons Pride Opens a New Film Series

Bay Street Theater will screen “Pride” on Sunday, January 26, at 4 p.m. The feature ... 3 Jan 2025 by Staff Writer

January Happenings at The Suffolk

A new year brings new shows to The Suffolk. January’s lineup includes everything from pop ... by Staff Writer

The Church Receives a Gardiner Foundation Grant

On Monday, December 16, The Church co-founder Eric Fischl and executive director Sheri Pasquarella announced ... by Staff Writer