BOWDOINBOWDOINSpring 2005 Volume 76, Number 3 A Maine Avocation Bowdoin’s Boatbuilders spring2005 contents Avocation in Wood 12 By Craig Giammona ’02 Photographs by Michele Stapleton Maine is home to some of the finest makers of wooden boats in the world, and several of the most well known are Bowdoin graduates. Dick Pulsifer ’62, Bobby Ives ’69, and Bob Stephens ’84 are experts not only in the art of boat building, but in the art of building a life from what they love. Why the Arts Matter 20 By Lisa Wesel What is it that makes art worth studying, worth funding, worth doing? Why does art matter? Lisa Wesel illustrates, through her conversations with Bowdoin professors and students, the ways in which art is alive on the Bowdoin campus. Nailing the Art of Being an Artist 26 By Selby Frame Photographs by James Marshall and Joanna Morrissey John Bisbee, adjunct lecturer in art at Bowdoin, is an acclaimed artist, a dynamic and inspirational teacher, and something of an eccentric guy. Selby Frame takes us inside his classroom and studio for a closer look. Dinner with Six Strangers 32 By David Treadwell ’64 Photographs by Dennis Griggs Supported by a grant from the Mellon Foundation, Bowdoin offered three “Dinner with Six Strangers” evenings this year. At each, diners were assigned to tables at random so that they could meet and interact with people they did not already know. As David Treadwell learned, the dinners can be not only cauldrons for forming new friendships, but also great sources of warmth on snowy evenings. Departments Mailbox 2 Bowdoin in the News 4 College & Maine 6 Weddings 36 Bookshelf 43 Class News 44 Obituaries 74 BOWDOINeditor’s note staff When I ask current students about the best classes they have taken, they tend to Volume 76, Number 3 tell me about an experience that crystallized their thoughts about their major, or Spring, 2005 one that inspired an honors project – the excitement of the realization that they MAGAZINE STAFF have found their field, the idea of themselves as scholars, is very fresh and real and momentous. But I have noticed that when I ask that question of graduates, espe- Editor cially those in mid-career or further, they most often mention an arts class, some- Alison M. Bennie times Classics, at least almost always a subject area removed from the one in Associate Editor which they do their work. Some of that may be simple nostalgia. Let’s face it – Matthew J. O’Donnell after 20 or 30 or more years of slogging away at anything, the moment of inspira- tion to do so could perhaps lose some of its luster. Most of us don’t have a chance Design Pennisi & Lamare to engage deeply in work other than that for which we are paid, and so the rosy Falmouth, Maine view of those classes taken purely for edification tends to intensify over time. Obituary Editor But it is also something else. The cumulative effect of witnessing dance perform- John R. Cross ’76 ances, listening to music, reading poetry and literature, or looking at art in gal- Contributors leries and exhibitions reveals itself over the years to be something that is necessary Pavlina Borisova ’07 in our lives. It does more than make them fun and interesting; it somehow makes James Caton our lives real and us human. Art connects us to each other, even though our Susan Danforth Selby Frame responses to it are intensely personal (“I don’t know much about art, but I know Scott W. Hood what I like.”) and so it is both a collective and an individual experience. Alexander Reed ’07 Communities of every type form around artistic expression – the camaraderie of Alix Roy ’07 performers, the sense of unity in an audience’s applause and laughter, the identity of a town with its summer theater, outdoor concert venues, film festivals, or artists Photographs by Brian Beard, Dennis colonies. Attending these events together is not unlike, to me, a form of communi- Griggs, James Marshall, Joanna ty worship. Knowing that no two people are likely to have the same experience, Morrisey, Michele Stapleton, and we are yet often moved together. Bowdoin College Archives. BOWDOIN (ISSN, 0895-2604) is pub- Bowdoin, as Lisa Wesel writes, is alive with art of all kinds. Our facilities are fresh, lished four times a year by Bowdoin and renovation and construction plans promise even more brightness ahead. College, 4104 College Station, Talented faculty and students enliven the campus, even in the coldest of winters Brunswick, Maine 04011. Printed by Dartmouth Printing, Hanover, New and wettest of springs. Better still, Bowdoin is such a participatory and inclusive Hampshire. Third-class postage paid at community that all are welcome to explore new talents and new ways of seeing Hanover, New Hampshire. Sent free of and thinking. As some students have described it, even if you have never thought charge to all Bowdoin alumni/ae, par- of yourself as artistic, the art can kind of find you here. ents of current and recent undergradu- ates, faculty and staff, seniors, and selected members of the Association of The College is small enough to make this likely – even latent talents can’t hide Bowdoin Friends. here, and people can be easily sought out as they cross the quad – but it is hardly a meek and quiet place. Bowdoin receives a great deal of national media attention Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors. (see our new feature on p. 4 for a sampling just from this academic year) in large part because of the energy and vitality of the community. Faculty and staff and Send class news to [email protected] students do compelling work here, and it is well recognized. I encourage you to or mail to the address above. take a look and see how big this small college is. Advertising inquiries? Please e-mail [email protected] or fax 207-725-3003. Please send address AMB changes to the mailing address above. Send ideas or letters to the editor to that address or by e-mail to [email protected]. Cover: A Carpenter’s Boat Shop skiff. Photograph by Michele Stapleton. BOWDOIN SPRING 2005 1 mailbox Modest Proposal? soccer season for missing practice to go areas of knowledge were of the to the game (sorry, Coach Cullen!). I utmost importance. Dear Editor: was so pleased to read that Charlie’s Education in the schools of Athens I hope that the marriage group pictures story had a much happier ending. was of the basic elements—athletics proudly and rightfully shown in World Champion Red Sox… for the body; philosophy to find the Bowdoin will be childless unions to ahhhhhh… sounds so sweet! meaning of things and to unify the reflect Bowdoin’s interest in stopping disparate; reasoning and logic to develop global climate change, which is the Naomi Schatz ’89 the mind; rhetoric to persuade others; basis for polar bear demise—more music, mathematics, and the arts to give people, more CO —although Douglas 2 Percentage Points harmony, balance, and proportion; the McInnis left that out in his article Dear Editor: four sciences to learn of the natural; and (“Climate Change in the Arctic,” I enjoyed reading the article on the poetry (the Classics) to learn history, Bowdoin Winter 2005). polar bear and global warming. emotion, language, and expression. Robert H. Clark ’60 Bowdoin is doing a wonderful job on a A liberal arts education is, perhaps, grand scale with a hybrid car, corn the only aspect of the Greek world that Still at It derivative biofuel, its change from #6 survives today. Its uniqueness has heating oil, and many more incentives always been its attempt to develop the I read with much interest the article to reduce global warming. entire person. Its success, over the past entitled, “The View from the Crease,” But before Bowdoin spends monies twenty-five centuries, has been not in the last issue of Bowdoin. As a goalie on the proposed Maine Wind Power in specialization nor in issues nor myself in three sports (soccer, hockey, Project, there is a simple remedy to themes that change as the wind, but and lacrosse) while at Bowdoin, I share consider. The publications department rather by immersing each student in the passion for playing the position should print your magazine on all areas of knowledge. with those featured in the article. recycled paper… We would honor our heritage by While my performance level never Steve Mead, paper purchaser for continuing to educate liberally. It is as achieved the high distinction of the Dartmouth Printing, said that his with the palette and the brush—each current crop, I still remember well my company offers both recycled and new student must know all hues and all playing days as a Polar Bear. I was paper. The choice selection is made by colors, and not merely a few. Bowdoin’s first lacrosse goalie, and I the client, in this case, Bowdoin. may be Bowdoin’s oldest (age 66), still Nicholas G. Spicer ’60 As to the cost difference, Mr. Mead active, hockey netminder. That is believed it was approximately 5%. The enough distinction for this geezer. alumni may be willing to absorb this (Almost) Forgotten Movie Bob Spencer ’60 added expense knowing the positive Congratulations on the fine Winter results. Mature trees are an important 2005 edition. The feature on Bowdoin Re-alignment factor in the reduction of carbon in the movies was interesting, but dioxide and aids in the recycling of wasn’t the 1960 film The Bramble Bush I read the article in Bowdoin’s tons of paper waste.