The Muse Newsletter of the Slater Memorial Museum Spring 2007
The Slaters’ Grand Tour: Part II Mysteries of the Orient By Vivian F. Zoë
This article is the second of two which will lead the way to discovering the Eastern lands spurring the spread of educational Slater’s passion for travel and collecting. “exchanges”. Yung Wing (1828-1912) who began his
The Grand Tour that originated in the sixteenth century studies of English as a small child attended Monson focused primarily on Europe and the Western World’s Academy in Massachusetts and graduated from Yale iconic historic sites. By the nineteenth century, English University, the first Chinese student to do so. He and American travelers were including the middle and founded the Chinese Educational Mission in Hartford in far east in their sojourns. Leisure time, trade and access 1871, bringing 120 Chinese boys to study in the routes, such as the Suez Canal greatly expanded the Northeastern United States over the course of a decade. means to reach further west. Perceived exoticism, The boys, ages 10 to 12, were to study for fifteen years, coupled with the relative amenities of Egypt, India, China th and Japan made them particularly attractive returning to China before their 30 birthdays in order to destinations. bring their newfound skills and education back to their homeland. They landed in private schools across The distance of the far east dictated that the vehicles to Connecticut, including the Norwich Free Academy. get there be a combination of ship and train. Christian Graduating from NFA in 1881 were Woo Ching Yen and missionaries became more and more familiar with easte Kwai Phan Lee. One cannot but presume that William and Eleanor Slater were acquainted with the Norwich contingent of this far-thinking program. Norwichians of the time may have been inspired to visit the native country of these young scholars all the more because of the familiarity.
Mark Twain’s 1869 Grand Tour reports became the book The Innocents Abroad and reached from the Azores to Egypt. The book surely inspired both middle class and wealthy Americans to travel abroad and became a sort th of Fodor’s for the 19 century traveler. William and Eleanor Slater, sailing on their newly built, custom yacht “Eleanor” out of New London, followed an almost identical route to Twain’s, then continued on through the far east all the way around the world.
Chinese embroidery from the collection of the Slater Memorial Museum half way through.” Walter Bright transcribed all of Charlie’s handwritten letters home with no corrections to spelling or grammar. Egypt must have appeared to Mr. Bright and the Slaters notably foreign and exotic in culture, climate, geography and economy. After its Grecian era, Egypt’s Arabic and Islamic period began in 642 CE, marking its role as the center of the Islamic empire and power. Mamlukes followed, fearsome warriors who ruled Egypt from 1250-1517 CE, ending with Ottoman conquest under Sultan Selim. The new science of "Egyptology" emerged when a small group of Napoleon Bonaparte’s French soldiers uncovered the Rosetta Stone, a tablet that contained symbols enabling scholars to decipher Charles Taylor Bright (seated) and friend in Nagasaki Hieroglyphics, leading to a greater understanding the Courtesy of Walter Bright ancient Egyptian language. Napolean’s 1798 expedition included scholars who created the encyclopedic Twain’s descriptions of many places mirror those of a "Description de l'Egypte". crewmember of the “Eleanor”, with the eye of an educated perspective, but lack the sailor’s fresh Mohamad (or Mehemet) Ali, an officer in the Ottoman perceptions and quotidian activities of life at sea. Army, gained power with the support of the Egyptian people. Ruling from 1805 to 1849, he is regarded as the Launched in May, 1894, the “Eleanor’s” Grand Tour father of modern Egypt. In 1863, Khedive Ismail lasted seventeen months and cruised through the Suez became Mohamad Ali's successor and completed the Canal to Egypt, Bombay, Hong Kong and Nagasaki, with country’s modernization with the inauguration of the month-long stops for land travel in Egypt, India and Suez Canal. The canal was a magnificent success. In Japan. The remarkable letters home of the young its first thirteen years of operation, freight passing fireman from the Bridgeport area, who documented the through it started at less than a half million tons and rose ports of call and life at sea, have been transcribed and to more than five million tons. British ships carried over posted on a website by his grandson, Walter Bright. eighty percent of that tonnage by Charlie Bright’s letters tell us more than any ordinary 1882. travel diary possibly could, packed with his hands-on perspectives and his delight in thoroughly new In 1882, British troops landed at experiences. Alexandria marking the beginning of 74 years of British occupation. In our last issue, William and Eleanor Slater and family It was in had arrived at Messina in Sicily. From the the midst of this era that the Mediterranean, the Yacht Eleanor traveled through the Slaters visited Egypt. Mark Twain Suez Canal. In a letter to his mother at home in opined that “Alexandria was too Bridgeport, Charlie Bright described the canal as “… much like a European city to be novel … We … came up to Cairo, Cairo, c. 1890, built through a desert and there was a sand storm. It is a courtesy of the very big peace of work. We could only run five miles a which is an Oriental city and of the Griffith Institute, hour so not to make a swell as the sides are sand and completest pattern. There is little Oxford. about it to disabuse one’ mind of Marble figure Jain Tirthankara, the 23rd Tirthankara Lord the error if he should take it into Pasuanath the collection of the his head that he was in the heart of Arabia. Stately Slater Memorial Museum camels and dromedaries, swarthy Egyptians, and likewise Turks and black Ethiopians, turbaned, sashed, would fill up very fast with so and blazing in a rich variety of Oriental costumes of all many vessels going through. shades of flashy colors, are what one sees on every We seen a carrivan with two hand crowding the narrow streets and the honeycombed camels and one mule and bazars…” four men traveling through the desert. This place is forty Both Mark Twain and the Slaters were riding a tide of miles from Port Said and American, European and British fascination with all thirty miles from the city of things Egyptian. Fueled by the Orientalist paintings of Suez so we are a little over Jean-Auguste Dominique Ingres, Eugene Delacroix and The Carpet Market by Jean Retro Technology claims that “Incredible as it may seem, Gerome, oil on canvas around the end of the nineteenth century, small boats really were powered by boiling petrol [gasoline] and Jean-Leon Gerome, using the vapour to drive a sort of ‘steam’ engine. The among others English, ‘petrol’ … called ‘naptha’ at the time … was a mixture of French and American low-boiling point hydrocarbons distilled directly from Grand Tourists streamed crude oil rather than the sophisticated brew we know as into Egypt in the late 19th ‘petrol’ nowadays. … Certainly they were recreational and early 20th centuries. craft for the rich rather than working boats.” It is entirely The ready availability of likely that Charlie understood the privileges he was images in magazines and enjoying while serving on The Eleanor as he seemed to books made visiting the take advantage of every opportunity to experience new middle and far east all the
more alluring. According to its website, “The Griffith Institute in Oxford has one of the largest collections of 19th-century "studio photographs" of Egypt. They were taken by professional photographers who, between about 1860 and 1890, established studios in the major tourist centers such as Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said, Luxor and Aswan. Naptha Launch, c. 1890 courtesy of The photographs depict ancient Egyptian, Christian and Museum of Retro Technology Islamic monuments, as well as scenes of contemporary 19th-century life.” The publication in 1890 of The Nile: adventures in travel, eating, visiting major sites and Notes for travelers to Egypt by Thomas Cook includes interacting with natives. One can only guess the translations of hieroglyphics intended to aid English reactions of the Slaters to the wonders around them with speaking tourists to better understand the tombs, no written record of their thoughts. temples and monuments. Charlie’s mother at home surely enjoyed reading of his The completely different approach to life and commerce escapades and the remarkable things he was seeing. of the middle and far east made them seem all the more “This a the place where they get a great many sponges. exotic to western travelers. Charlie Bright exhibits an adventurous spirit, learning through trial and error how to Ushabti, a little statue in stone or glazed navigate land travel and tourism in Egypt. “I was ashore composition found in yesterday and had a great time. When the natives saw tombs surrogate for the us comming in the naptha launch, about twenty five dead- green glaze on came down to the shore with mules and wanted 20 cts to wood block - from Cairo Museum - Egyptian - 1500 ride to the city + back 8 miles each way. …. When we BC arrived in the City it was a very old place mostly stone houses and it is a happy family that lives in them for All they boys are in fine there is the family with there donkeys camels, chickens, condition to go through the pigeons and goats. All under one roof, they are very dirty hotest body of water on the as you can see. They have very fine oranges and fruits Earth, we are now in the north …. Oranges 3 cts a doz. I went into a Church and was of the Red Sea About fifty put out because we wore our shoes in. … Next we miles South of here is where visited the Postoffice and its look very much like the the Sea open and the Army went through, … And there B(ridge)-port office only it had small stones cemented is another place that they call Macha where mohamid together and ground floor and rafters over head, about was born. Then on to Aden the hottest City in the World three lights out of every window. … Then when we went there to load coal. The Mackias sailed for the China to go to the landing place the donkey boy wanted 50 cts station this morning. And the Detroit arrived from Naples and we would not pay it. So we had to draw our this afternoon bound for China. …” revolvers and they made quick work getting away. … “ Aden, Arabia, now a port city in Yemen is described on The “Naptha Launch” to which Mr. Bright refers was a the British Broadcasting website as “The reputed home vessel unique to the era. The website of the Museum of of the Queen of Sheba, has been at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East and Asia for thousands of years further away all the time and expect to reach the seat of thanks to its position on the ancient spice routes.” war (Sino-Japanese War) in July. The Wadena left the States last June and went direct to China and met the Finally arriving at Bombay, India on January 28, 1895, Owner there He went across the Pacific and is going Charlie marvels that “It is just like a Summer night at around the World that way…” home. we are at sea at the full of the moon. And talk about moon light excursions at home the night here The Yacht Wadena, to which Mr. Bright refers, was built beats them all out. The only thing lacking is a nice young for Jeptha Homer Wade, an Ohio industrialist, Lady to chat with. But the boys gett to gether and sing philanthropist and founder of Western Union Telegraph. and play till about eleven o'clock. We will not travel Much like John Fox and William A. Slater, Wade used sofast after this as Mr Slater brother in law lives here his immense wealth to benefit his community of and he has been with us ever sence we arrived in Cleveland. In 1882, Wade donated 72 acres of land to Leghorn [Livorno, Tuscany]. and he was very anxous to create a park, named Wade Park in his honor. Like John get home. … We are due in New London Oct 15.1896. Fox Slater, Wade was a founder of the Hathaway Brown So have a long time before us. Mrs Slater wants to go School, a private academy for young girls and women; back to England and Norway she likes to put on a lot of he also helped to found the Case School of Applied style with the English navel officers every English and Technology, now part of Case Western Reserve American man of war ship in the harbors. They give University. Wade was typical of 19th industrialists whose Suppers to So you see they are putting lots of style … wealth made it possible for them to spend months The Party come on board Tuesday morning so thing are cruising at sea on private yachts. The Jeptha Homer very strick every evening that we go on deck it is dress Wade family papers include “The journals of family in white.” members, especially those of Ellen Howe Garretson and Jeptha Homer Wade II, [which] describe travels aboard The First Indian War of Independence, in 1857, marks a the family-owned yacht, S.S. Wadena, as well as other dividing line between two eras of Bombay’s land and sea trips undertaken in the late nineteenth and development. Since the beginning of the 17th century, early twentieth century.” India had been governed by the East India Company. After the war it reverted to British rule. The American In the same letter, Charlie reports that “The Captain sold Civil War caused Southern manufacture of cotton textiles the Cat boat Willie this morning as every body was a to be interrupted, but India was able to satisfy the world’s fraid to sail against her he has tried to get her in eight appetite for cotton. During the Civil War, Bombay’s races and after they saw her sail she was barred out. As importance to the cotton textile industry bolstered wealth Catboat among Americans, British and Indians. Considerable Photograph (c) resources were invested in rebuilding its core into an Mystic Seaport th elegant 19 century city. It was “assembled” from an Collection, archipelago of islands, reflected in the pervasive feature Mystic, CT, #78- of water throughout the city. Though the standard of 11-14. living in Bombay was high, labor for the cotton factories it is a clumsy thing to came from poor rural regions of the country. Workers handle on board here. So were segregated into crowded and poor living quarters. they dicided to sell her.” When families of workers began moving to areas near According to the website the mills, huge squalid slums developed. of the Catboat Association, “A catboat is … traditionally fitted with a Like the British expatriates in India, American gaff-rigged sail on a single mast set well up in the "eyes" businessmen took full advantage of inexpensive labor for of the boat. Cruising catboats have cabins and normally the manufacture of all goods, but particularly textiles. range in overall length from 16 - 26 feet.” Considering The Slaters and their brother-in-law, Francis Bartlett that the Willie was 20 feet in length, coupled with the 27- benefited from the high standard of living at low cost. foot “Naptha Launch” and five other boats including The “style” to which Charlie refers reflects the relative lifeboats and a dinghy, it’s no wonder it was considered affordability of household staff and services, dry goods a “clumsy thing to handle on board”. and groceries for westerners in India. In Bombay on February 13, 1895, Charlie writes “ … The Charlie reports from Colombo, Ceylon that “The Party is Yacht Wadena is here homeward bound and will reach in Candy. and when they return it will be full up and start New York in June They think. They are loaded down for Madras from ther to Ragoon We was going to with silk and cigars from Japan and China. The crew has Calcutta but there is to much Small pox. We are being had a fine time. but very hot. ... So we are traveling doctored up to keep us from getting the fever. As we are The Johnson Brothers to which Charlie refers most surely were Charles and Frank, principals of the Norwich Pineapple seller on the National Bank. Founded by their father, Charles C. road to Kandy, Ceylon, A 19th century postcard Johnson, the Bank built a studio for Alexander Hamilton depicting activities for Emmons at the back of their building, overlooking the tourists Thames River and commissioned him to paint portraits about on the line it is very hot in of “worthies” in the city to both decorate and the sun doing the day and close commemorate the opening of the Otis Library. Those nights. There is a great many portraits were later moved to the Slater Museum, where English people here. very few they are held and displayed to this day. American There is Missionary all throught the port and they Charles Bright makes mention of the Party bringing back gennerly come on board they a tiger from their trip to the interior of India. This tradition need them in the interior as it is was begun by the British, who viewed the conquest of unsivilized back in the country. …It is a big “Big Game” as analogous to their conquest of Africa and South Asia. It proved their sovereignty, prowess and harbor and lots of shipping and coaling up steamers call virility. Native and foreign photographers of the day here on there run from all Europe to Australia, China, made a living providing pictures of the Great White Japan, and most all the ports East of here and lots of Hunter, English and American, standing atop his dead fine ships run on those lines. There was two Brothers prey, gun in hand. from Norwich dinned on board last night. They are on there way around the World. It seemed strange to meet From India, The Eleanor turned further east and north thn here. The name is Johnson.” toward Singapore, Malay(sia), China and Japan. Charlie writes upon arriving in Hong Kong, “from Manila after a The British captured Colombo in 1796, but not until 1815 rough voyage…. This is a English Port and lots of war was the Kandyan Kingdom was ceded to them. vessels of all nations. There is a Russian man of war Colombo became the capital of the crown colony of here … The Chine woman here do all the work sailing Ceylon and was made a Catholic see by the Franciscans boats and all labour some with babies tied on there back in 1518. The religion took strong hold, leading to rowing hard and they live on the small boats a hole family the woman and children rowing or sailing it the old man as the boys call him sitting around and enjoys himself so that is the way they mak a live of it. There is a great many lomboats. and sampans any number of them. They are what we go ashore in with five cents to go ashore.”
The British took Hong Kong from a small fishing community to a burgeoning Naval Base. British traders in Hong Kong made fortunes in the opium trade, exchanging the drug for China's silver, silk, tea and spices. Alarmed by opium's effects on its population, the Chinese Imperial Government attempted to ban the Temple Elephants after their Bath, Kandy, Ceylon import of opium leading Britain to initiate the “Opium Plate's "Art " Postcards, A. W. Plate & Co., ~ 1920 Wars” (1840-42). In 1842 the Treaty of Nanking ceded Hong Kong to Britain in perpetuity but the Chinese Charlie’s observation about the missionaries. The continued trading actively in Hong Kong resulting in British began building homes and infrastructure around intermittent hostilities between the two nations. an old Portuguese and Dutch fort, seeding the current
City of Colombo. Ceylon was cultivated with coffee in th Arriving in Shanghai, Charlie reports that “It is the mid 19 century, but this was supplanted by tea by1880. opinion of the Americans here that this war will end in Kandy is in the center of the island. The Indian city of Europe as they are out here in full force England and Madras, now known as Chennai, capital of the state of Russia especially They are here to grab all the ports Tamil Nadu, is one of India’s largest cities. It is located possible.” Charlie is referring to the war fought between on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. the Qing Dynasty China and the Meiji of Japan over Rangoon is an Anglicized version of Yangon, the capital control of Korea. Japan’s success was later seen as a of Burma, now Myanmar. reflection of its westernization. Charlie continues “I do not know what kind of a place China must have been leave port and gave France three days to leave port. It before she opened her ports to foreign nations as all the seems that the Russian have went up the coast to have officers and authority are English and Americans. …. a meeting and see wether they stand a show with Japan. And the styles the people have and the custom is Cairo c. 1890, courtesy of the Griffith I think they would something strange …The women in all the countries that Institute have a hard tussel we have visited have been more or less slaves …” Japanese are very smart. We … came throught the inland Sea which is This report stands in sharp contrast to his description of famous all over the world for it's fine scenery. We Nagasake, Japan. “Nagasaki … is a fine town all anchored nights and sailed day times so to see the surrounded with fields. The people are very much scenery mountains on both sides and cultivated to the different than they tops.” are in China. Tea gardens with their dancing girls is the princible amusement in Japan. There is a book written After its war with China, Japan was in conflict with on Nagasaki. Called. ‘Madame Chrysamtheme’ Pierre Russia over Japan’s interest in controlling Korea and Loti, author’. ... I believe it describes Japan and Russia’s interest in a warm water port. After nearly a Nagasaki fine.” According to the website of Columbia decade of negotiations with Tsar Nicholas, war ensued University Press, “This book is the first Western romance from 1904 to 1905. In An Illustrated Short History of the to be set in Japan and ushered in the vogue for all things World in 1922, H. G. Wells, states “... With astonishing Japanese. It also inspired Puccini's opera Madame energy and intelligence (the Japanese) set themselves Butterfly. The novel is autobiographical and tells the to bring their culture and organization to the level of the story of a French lieutenant and his geisha in the 1880s European powers. Never in all the history of mankind in Japan, when it was becoming westernised. It is a did a nation make such a stride as Japan then did. compelling portrait of a vanished age and the bittersweet meeting of East and West.” In 1866 she was a medieval people, a fantastic caricature of the romantic extremist feudalism; in 1899 In his The Japan Idea, Art and Life in Victorian America, hers was a completely Westernized people, on a level William Hosley states "In the extreme the promotion of with the most advanced European powers. She Japan's art culture spawned a mania for travel to Japan. completely dispelled the persuasion that Asia was in an Although American-Japanese tourism was irrevocable way hopelessly behind Europe. She made inconsequential until the late 1880's, the published all European progress seem sluggish by comparison.” travelogues of artists and writers and the creation of What is remarkable is that a relatively unschooled sailor Western tourist amenities led to a boom in Asian travel named Charlie from Connecticut was every bit as during the 1890's. The fact that the middle class perceptive about the ports, climates, economies, embraced the Japan idea did agriculture, food and people of the strange new lands he not prevent elites from witnessed on the Eleanor’s Grand Tour. Would that we creating their own status had the memoirs of “The Party” to reflect the “upstairs” system. Collecting rare and perspectives of the cruise. unusual art objects was the ultimate status marker of the From Charlie Bright, day. Traveling to Asia, in the we do know some of 1890's!? Very chic and very the details of the expensive." he goes on Slaters’ lives and "Clearly, the ultimate act at the experiences while in height of the Japan craze was Japanese waters. to go there and shop like “We have on board mad." No wonder then, that eleven Japanese Porcelain vase - made and the Slater Memorial Museum, Spanel dogs and two decorated by Hozan - from its origins the beneficiary dogs we brought from design: dragon and cloud of Norwich's elite, holds a hone. Two cats. One in green and yellow remarkably broad and deep rabbit. Fourteen birds against a coral red ground - seal characters on collection of Japanese art and so have quite a bottom in underglaze blue artifacts. managerie on board. - Japan - about 1840, Mt Fuji where the Charlie opines on the political Japs go every year to collection of the Slater Cairo c. 1890, courtesy of the Museum scene in Asia, saying “Japan show there dovotion Griffith Institute has order the Russians to there is a number of temples at the top. It is a Volcaino but extinct now it is Friends of Slater Museum Activities Notes snow clad. And makes a very pretty sight from our from the President By Sandra Bosko anchorage whic is very near a Grand Hotel where the bands plays every night. They play the American peaces Last Chance, Brooklyn Bus mostly they are playing now. It is fine to sit around on Trip, May 19 to Focus on deck and listen every evening to a fine band of music … American Identity The Native City is call Kanagawa It the American place Registration call 860-425-5563 called Yokohama … All the Party has gone ashore for two week. Only the Slaters cross with us the rest go by The Friends of Slater Museum the mail Steamers. … All the crew is in fine health as it sponsored bus trip to the is fine weather here Just like home in Spring time. There Brooklyn Museum of Art has a is a great many Americans here they have a large few spaces available, but you boating Club and some very fine sail boats. and racers must call now to reserve a of all kinds. Our crew races with a English gig and a space.. The galleries of shore crew. all to use the one gig and race against American Identities: A New Look are organized They would not let our gig race as she is to fine a built according to eight innovative themes, through which boat to fast all to gether they are all afraid of her when visitors can explore historical moments and crucial ideas they see her move. … June 1, 1895 Five of the Party in American visual culture over the course of nearly 300 sailed this morning on one of the Canadian Pacific ships years. Featured are American masterworks for which the for the States. And am very glad. Museum's collections have long been known, by such artists and makers as John Singleton Copley, Thomas Charlie Bright became disillusioned with The Eleanor for Cole, Albert Bierstadt, Herter Brothers, Union Porcelain reasons that are not made clear and may have more to Works, Thomas Eakins, John Singer Sargent, Augustus do with youthful restlessness, leaving the yacht at San Saint-Gaudens, Frank Lloyd Wright, Marsden Hartley Fransisco. But the Slaters traveled beyond Japan to and Georgia O'Keeffe. Honolulu, Alaska and back south to the Caribbean. Wine Tasting a Triple Hit
The third annual Wine & Art Wine Tasting, presented Sources cited: with the Sunrise Rotary was a hit for the third year in a The archives of the Slater Memorial Museum th row. About 100 people, nibbled hors d’oeuvres and Budge, E.A. Wallis. Budge’s Egypt A Classic 19 sipped the finest century Travel Guide, Mineola, Dover Publications, Inc., wines from around 2001. the world while Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. History of Norwich, awaiting a drawing for Connecticut, From Its Possession by the Indians, to the a magnificent work of Year 1866, Hartford: Case, Lockwood and Company, art painted and 1866. donated by Norwich Griffith Institute. Egyptian Mirage, A database of 19th- free Academy art century "studio photographs" of Egypt, Oxford. teacher Frank Hosley, William, The Japan Idea, Art and Life in Novack.Slater. The Victorian America, Hartford: Wadsworth Atheneum, acrylic on canvas is a 1990. colorful arrangement Lathrop, Arthur L. Victorian Norwich. Salem, Mass: of flowers, taking the Higginson Book Company, 1999. chill off a cold spring. Snow, Ralph L. Bath Iron Works, The First Hundred Last year, the Sunrise Years. Bath, Me: Maine Maritime Museum, 1987. Rotary made a Wells, H. G. An Illustrated Short History of the World. generous donation to Topsfield, MA Salem House Publishers, 1922. the Slater Museum THE MICROFILM EDITION OF THE JEPTHA HOMER from the proceeds of WADE FAMILY PAPERS 1771-1957 From the holdings of the Western Reserve Historical Society Cleveland, the event. Lucky winner Mark Kulos (left) Ohio A Microfilm Publication by Scholarly Resources shakes the hand of artist Frank Inc. An Imprint of Thomson Gale Novack at the Third Annual Wine Numerous additional history texts and websites were & Art event where Mark won the painting by Frank seen in the consulted for this piece. For a complete list of sources, New Friends please call 860-425-5560 Board Members and Officers Elected Recent Acquisitions
The Friends of Slater Museum held their annual meeting April 22, electing the following officers and new Donations to Collection Received, and members: Officers - Pat Flahive, President; Eric Treasured LaFlamme, Vice President; - members Jim Clark, Anne Sharpe and Tom Zenowitz . James is the father of two Three recent donations to the Slater’s collections enrich NFA graduates, completed his undergraduate studies in its ability to serve the public and to continue to interpret Industrial Arts Education and received his M.S.A. in the art and history of the region. Willimantic artist Tom Furniture Design and Woodworking from the Rochester Hébert donated a piece from his Art Dealer Series. An Institute of Technology. Mr. Clark has taught Industrial acrylic on canvas, painted in 2003, “Bill depicts a Arts, a.k.a. tech ed, to students from middle school Chelsea, New York City dealer and is one of about 30 by through high school, currently teaching at East Lyme the artist. Mr. Hébert is a graduate of the University of High School. Prior to teaching, Mr. Clark applied his Connecticut, receiving a bachelor of Fine Arts. He expertise to corporate enterprise with Helikon as their received a Master of Science degree in Art Education Project Manager for New Product Development. Tom from Central and currently teaches painting and drawing Zenowitz is the Head track and field Coach at RHAM at Eastern Connecticut State University. Tom is the High School. He is currently a interning at Mitchell recipient of several honors and awards, including a grant college in school social work and will be graduating in for painting from the May with an MSW from Uconn. Mrs. Sharpe is a retired Connecticut Commission senior administrator for United Community Services and on the Arts (2004) ans is works a consultant in counseling on seniors issues. She represented in numerous recently executed the donation of architect Richard collections including those Sharpe’s life’s work to the Slater Museum. After brief of Mobil Oil Corporation, reports from the board and the museum director, the Aetna Insurance, Lewis Honorable Arthur L. Lathrop, former Mayor of Norwich, and Clark College in spoke on “Norwich and the Death of Victorianism”. Oregon and the Vero Guests ate a hearty breakfast of Fruit Compote, Beach Museum in Florida. Pastries, Scrambled Eggs, homefries, French Tom was the juror for the toast,Turkey Sausage and Smoked Salmon. Slater’s 64th Annual Connecticut Artists Juried Connecticut Artists Juried Exhibition Award Winners Exhibition. Announced
Award winners of the 64th Annual Connecticut Artists Juried Exhibition selected by Juror Tom Hébert are, for Bill by Tom Hébert; Acrylic on canvas, 22” X 33”, 2003 gift of the artist First Prize, S. Tao LaBossiere of Hartford for A Self Portrait of Artist Hung Over, an acrylic painting; for Second Prize, Elizabeth Larson of New London for Dr. and Mrs. Felix Trommer, for many years of Norwich, Wood Web, an acrylic painting; for Third Prize, Amy recently donated a fabulous pair of landscapes by John Mielke of Farmington for Legs (seen at Left) , a mixed Denison Crocker. Aside from the Slater’s desire to build media sculpture. In addition, Tom awarded Honorable its Crocker collection and its contribution to the growing Mentions to Jennifer Holmes of knowledge base about this native artist, the paintings are Westbrook for A Road Less remarkable because of their provenance. Along with the Traveled, an oil painting; Susan small vertically oriented paintings, came a letter from an Paris of Quaker Hill for Coming earlier owner stating “These paintings came to me from Soon, a photograph; Lynnita Mrs. Charles A. Gager, late of 116 Broadway in Norwich. Shimizu of Pomfet Center for Mrs. Gager told me they were painted by her grandfather Night Village, a woodcut; and J D Crocker. Mrs. Gager told me he was a self taught Paul Zelanski of Willington for artist. … he almost always had a timy figure in his Repercossionis, a collage. The paintings. They were done by the Thames and/or Yantic opening reception, February 25 River. … According to Mrs. Gager, these … were never attracted a capacity crowd of out of the family. … Mrs. Gager was the former Myra 350 art lovers from all over the Rallion, (Rallion’s Grocery Store on Broadway) … Her state. portrait and that of her sister now hang in the Slater Museum.”
Dr. Trommer, immigrated with his parents to this Country and drawings by Mrs. Eastman, but before this gift had as a toddler from Germany. He was for many years. A no pastels. For many years the director of the Norwich dentist practicing in Norwich for many years, he is fondly Art School, Mrs. Eastman spent most summers in Paris and well thought of by his former patients. The paintings drawing and painting. These two pieces reflect that. will contribute to the Slater’s plan for the Norwich Galleries, telling the story of Norwich and its people and will be installed and unveiled soon.
A Message from the Director
As an early Spring storm swirls around Southeastern Connecticut, I cannot help but wonder at the intrepidity of William and Eleanor Slater and their crew, including sailor Charlie Bright on their ‘round the world cruise, once again the focus of our lead article. What must it have been Two Southeastern Connecticut Landscapes by John Denison Crocker, oil on panel, 11.5” X 13.5“ like on the Yacht Eleanor when storms John Denison Crocker (1822 – 1907) was born in Salem, but came up in early 1895 moved with his family to Norwich at the age of 2. With the in the Mediterranean exception of a short time in New York in his mid-twenties and China Seas and Indian Ocean? And Charlie and brief forays to New York State and New Hampshire, mentions these often, referring to the need to take he spent his entire life and career in Norwich, painting shelter “under” an island in safe harbors around the the landscape, farms, rivers, mills and people of his globe. Researching their Grand Tour and the era in beloved nine-miles-square. The museum has been which they traveled has enriched my understanding of asked on occasion why Crocker was not as well known the Slaters and their place in American history. My hope as, other painters of the style and era, and while one can is that this understanding can be translated into only opine, it may have been his very love of Norwich. improved experiences for our members and visitors, He never ventured much beyond the city and found particularly those who know little about Norwich’s plenty of work in it. He did not seem to seek th glorious 19 century golden era..The interpretation of the Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Felix Trommer the influence of th Slaters’ cruise in the context of this 19 American wealthy collectors or academy exhibitions; he had the phenomenon as well as the places they visited will hold respect and affection of his neighbors. a prominent place in the museum’s new Norwich
Galleries. Little by little, step by step we are making Two pastels by Charlotte Fuller Eastman were recently progress toward this goal I hope you’ll all enjoy donated by Martin Anders of Brookline, MA. Mr. Anders, watching this unfold and will appreciate the final product. a professional photographer and multi-media artist, is
the son of Dr. Fred
and Dr. Ruth
Anderson formerly
of Butternut Drive,
Norwich. The
museum has an
extensive collection
of watercolors, oils
Paris Street Scene,
Charlotte Fuller Eastman, pastel on paper, 9”X12”
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Upcoming Exhibitions, Programs and Events
Saturday, May 19, 2007; 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. The Brooklyn Museum of Art Last Chnce!a Bus Trip Details at 860-425-5563
Sunday, June 10, 2007; 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Sleight of Hands, Contemporary Hooked Rugs An exhibition of Hooked rugs from The “Art” of Playing Cards, an international traveling exhibition and by regional artisans invited from across the Northeast.
Please note: the Slater Museum will be closed Friday, June 15, 2007 to accommodate NFA graduation ______
Coming soon!
Sleight of Hands, Contemporary Hooked Rugs
Exciting summer show will open June 10 at 1:00 p.m.
An exhibition in Converse Art Gallery will feature contemporary hooked rugs by artisans from England, Canada, Japan and the U.S. in an exhibition entitled Sleight of Hands: Contemporary Hooked Rugs. The City of Norwich is the principal sponsor and Mayor Ben Lathrop’s work will be included. The exhibition, comprising The Art of Playing Cards and a regional invitational, will present 80 rugs of varying sizes and designs. The Art of Playing Cards, curated by Linda Rae Coughlin, is a touring exhibition which originated about three years ago and will be new to Connecticut. In her catalog accompanying the show, Ms. Coughlin writes that “the craft and art of rug hooking can be traced back to the early 1800’s; since that time the craft has been passed from one generation to the next….”
Above, Ben Lathrop’s Lincoln Banner and Linda Rae Coughlin’s Ace of Diamonds, both wool hooked rugs ______
Slater Memorial Museum Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Closed to the public on Mondays and holidays
Visitors may park in designated visitor parking spaces or any empty parking place on campus. Parking is difficult between 1:30 and 2:15 p.m. during school days due to the school buses. The museum’s main telephone number is (860) 887-2506. A recording will provide information on current exhibitions, days of operation, directions, admission fees and access to staff voice mailboxes. Our Webpage is linked to the NFA Website. www.norwichfreeacademy.com.
The Muse is published up to four times yearly for the members of The Friends of the Slater Memorial Museum. The museum is located at 108 Crescent Street, Norwich, CT 06360. It is part of The Norwich Free Academy, 305 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360. Museum main telephone number: (860) 887- 2506. The museum’s Website is linked to that of NFA: www.norwichfreeacademy.com Museum Director – Vivian F. Zoë Newsletter editor – Geoff Serra Contributing authors: Vivian Zoë, Susan Frankenbach and Sandra Bosko Photographer: Susan Frankenbach, Collections Manager
The president of the Friends of the Slater Memorial Museum: Sandra Bosko
The Norwich Free Academy Board of Trustees: Robert A. Staley ’68, Chair * Steven Bokoff ’72, Vice Chair Jerald I. Navick ’55, Treasurer Richard DesRoches * Aby Dolliver Lee-Ann Gomes Thomas Griffin Joseph A. Perry ’60 Dr. Mark E. Tramontozzi ’76 Theodore N. Phillips ’74 (ex officio) David Whitehead ’78, Secretary *Museum sub-committee
The Norwich Free Academy does not discriminate in its educational programs, services or employment on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin, color, handicapping condition, age, marital status or sexual orientation. This is in accordance with Title VI, Title VII, Title IX and other civil rights or discrimination issues; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991.