Piratical Art Show

Art Show
Date: 5-31-07

Time: 6-9

Name of show : Piratical Art Show
Artiste : Pyrate Pete http://www.pyratepete.com/
Medium : fine charcoal drawing
Place : Phoebus Art
Address : 1E. Mellen St, Hampton, VA 23663
Phone : 757-722-7496
E-mail : https://webmail.registeredsite.com/agent/MobNewMsg?to=phoebusarts@aol.com
Manager : Patsy Hollingsworth
Them : nautical (sailing vessel and crew of the 16th and 17th century)
Honoring :Captain David Hiott of the Kalmar Nyckel as well as Captain John Glass, Captain Pernell Taylor along with Blackbeard’s crew and many more
All new, originals and prints

About the art :
In a time without cameras, TV or even a newspaper, artists were present on early voyages to the new world to chronicle what they discovered. Cartographers are map makers, both today and in history. In the 16th and 17th centuries they where much respected, spending many hours creating very detailed drawings of images and likenesses they would work into their maps.
The images of seaman and life in the new world were the only way for Kings and Queens along with anyone else, to see what it may have looked like.

This lost art has been captured by this artist for your enjoyment. Much of my art is done as if I were bringing it back to show those not present what I have seen in my travels, as was done by historical artists long ago.

A Day at the Kalmar Nyckel

Having been aboard the Kalmar Nyckel many times during her visits to Virginia, my bride and I decided to visit her home port in Wilmington, Delaware. The trip was planned for several reasons. One was to take some new pictures of my own of her and her crew to use in my upcoming art show May 31st. I have had many sent to me from friends, and they have been helpful, but I was looking for something I could only get by being there myself. I was also looking for a ‘feel’ for the boat & her crew and there is no better way to find that than to go to her home port. So, we headed up 13N for a scenic trip up the Eastern Shore. Having never been across the Chesapeake B3T2[1], I had in mind seeing new and interesting marinas along the way but instead saw many chicken houses, Perdue trucks, chicken houses, stop lights and chicken houses, (did I mention chicken houses?),[2]we ended up in Wilmington, Delaware.
We checked in to the Courtyard at Marriott, which was a work-in-progress, and were greeted by the resident concierge, Josh[3]. I must give props to Josh for directions for eateries; et al.[4] The service at the hotel was excellent. After a complimentary continental breakfast consisting of black coffee, due to the fact that the restaurant was closed because of the construction, Josh directed us to the Shipyard where the Kalmar Nyckel was undergoing its annual maintenance in preparation for the upcoming sailing season.
Upon arrival we were met by one of the crew who gave us an impromptu tour of the workshop while training sessions were in progress all around us. Like most things we envision without seeing them, the boatyard was very different than what I had imagined. It was rather like a village of rustic workshops, blacksmith shop, and a nice gift shop. Our guide said that on an average workday, the activities in the Yard closely resembled Santa’s workshop with elves lined up along the workbench, all engaged in various projects. He described sail mending sessions where the great sails were laid out and worked on in the main hall. Wood carving went on in the next room. Knots of all kinds were both on display for tours and seen as works in progress everywhere. Wooden pieces awaited the next stage of being sanded, oiled or varnished on their journey back aboard. Every part of the beautiful ship was getting attention in preparation for the upcoming sailing season. It is a monumental task that takes many, many volunteer hours to accomplish. I could imagine doing many projects of my own in such a shop. As we mingled with crew, we heard bits and pieces of instruction given on crew movement and dock handling as the Mexican-themed lunch preparation was underway. The yard was very busy with volunteer training activities all around us.

While waiting, we visited “The Toolbox”, which was Kalmar Nyckel’s gift shop. Inside we found reasonably priced memorabilia about the ship and the local area.[5]

Boson Sharon found time in-between her training duties to meet with us and to preview some of the pieces[6] that I had drawn commemorating my experiences with the late Captain Hiott. She graciously posed for pictures on the ship at my request, and bid us adieu as she returned to her training sessions. Glancing once more at the great ship as she was being prepared for her journeys, we knew that our visit with her today was just one of many to follow; and, we look forward to welcoming her, cannon shots and gunpowder, to the docks of Hampton.

[1] Bridge, Tunnel, Bridge, Tunnel, Bridge
[2] Air fresheners aid in adjusting to the smell of chicken houses (Pomegranate works especially well)
[3] Whose uniform amazingly matched the newly installed carpeting
[4] He provided directions to the parking garage, the restaurant on Orange Street (drove right by it – one way streets and fear for personal safety influenced our decision to bypass his suggestion), and a personally guided tour of the renovations in progress.
[5] The Toolbox shares the name with a gray haired cat that belonged to Captain Hiott. One of Toolbox’s probable offspring greets patrons as they entered the gift shop.
[6] My art will be on display at Phoebus Art and Glass [address] on May 31st, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Last Toast

Ahoy mates,

As many of you may or may not have noticed, history is climbing out of textbooks and right into headline news these days. Our imaginations are being challenged by local events as well as Hollywood renditions of seamen and Pirates. I find it very exciting. With February coming to an end I find myself working daily with some great people planning upcoming events as well as working on my own projects.

Trying to catch up to today’s fast moving technology, at the prodding of my techno-savvy friends & advisors, I now have a Blog. (Pyrate Pete’s Blog) So if you would like a sneak preview of my upcoming shows or events, this is the place to go. There is now on display a new work called “The Last Toast” featuring Captain Hiott of the Kalmar Nykel and Captain Glass of the American Rover, two men I most admire. The finished product is matted & framed, and now on display at the Pheobus Art Gallery. The work itself is 32” by 40”. This will be the center piece of The Pyrate Pete’s Piratical Art Show. Feel free to stop by and see it.

The Pyrate Pete’s Piratical Art Show is now in its 3 year. It will be at the Pheobus Art Gallery from 6-9pm on May 30th 2007. This is a one of a kind show and keeps getting bigger. We spilled out in to the street last year, so we may have to close the street this time around!
I’ll be highlighting new pieces of some good times with the crew of the Kalmar Nyckel, the tall ship of Delaware. I sorry to say the crew can’t make it to the show. Sharon, the bosun on the Nyckel told me: “We'll be sailing, and doing real piratical things Thur.” They’ll be bringing the ship in on Fri. at noon, so come to the show Thursday night, then go see the ship yourself on Saturday as she’ll be open to the public all day.

In addition to the pieces featuring the Kalmar Nyckel, there will be other great nautical pieces and many featuring faces you will recognize as having been seen during the festivals past, along with our own Blackbeard’s Crew who inspire me daily.

It may be hard to think of this old pirate as a wedding planner, but yes its true. My bride didn’t believe it either until we had been married ourselves in a pirate wedding planned by…yes-me. And while we were invited to attend the wedding of her niece out of state, I quickly found my services in demand as the bride to be and I re-planned just about everything within the last few days!
I am at work now on a very piratical wedding that will take place at the festival in June and will be open to the pubic to see.

All I’m going to say for now about the upcoming pirate festival the 1st weekend in June is that you don’t want to miss it.

Contact information for the festival and art show can be found on my website http://www.pyratepete.com/.
E mail Pete@pyratepete.com