Small Island Big Picture
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Isles of Shoals Historical & Research Association Volume 23, Issue 1 © 2014 ISHRA P.O. Box 705 Portsmouth NH 03802 Spring 2014 Volume 23 Issue 1 Spring 2014 Our mission is to locate, collect, organize, preserve, expand and make available information and knowledge relating to the natural and human history of the Isles of Shoals Small Island Big Picture Winters of Solitude Teach an Artist to See Was the Subject of our Program Tuesday, April 8, 2014 by Alexandra de Steiguer Geese on Smuttynose Island - Photograph by Richard Stanley Alex was born in Manhattan, but soon escaped to an environment better suited to her self-described nature as a wild-child and loner, Officers and Directors growing up in Green Village, New Jersey, on the edge of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, where she ran barefoot through Nathan Hamilton, President Bob Cook Maryann Stacy, Vice President Caroline French woods and fields in the total rapport with nature that’s possible in the Alice Gordan, Secretary Dorothy Healy mind of a child. John Diamond, Treasurer Cindy Martin There, in and near the little town named for Ashbel Green, Gary Bashline Sue Murphy Kate Bashline Richard Stanley President of Princeton University from 1812 to 1822, she developed her Amy Cook Cassie Durette Stymiest first sense of appreciation for wild places and the need to maintain Alexandra de Steiguer Joel Plagenz, ex-officio them in a continuing shared existence with the other species that live in natural symbiotic relationships from which we have become sadly During the nine years that she crewed on dissociated. educational and research vessels under sail, It was only natural that her further education would continue Alex discovered the art of photography that ISHRA Membership Meeting outside the more common channels experienced by most of us as she was to become a focal point of her life. Sailing trans-ocean from the Mediterranean to the Tuesday, April 8, 2014 moved from woodlands to the sea, crewing first on the barkentine islands of the Caribbean, she started Seacoast Science Center, 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye, NH Regina Maris out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, where she learned the intricacies of living and working well with others to achieve mutual photographing her fellow crewmates, their life goals. Life at sea is not often the misty-eyed romance imagined by many on board and the ever-present surrounding sea. when the words “sailing ship” are uttered. Frequently those goals As a photographer, Alex remains loyal to Inside this Issue: resolved to a shear struggle for survival as when, far out in the North traditional means and techniques, making Atlantic Ocean, one vessel she crewed on fought its way through “The exposures on roll film and developing and Small Island - Big Picture p. 1 printing in the darkroom with standard papers Guest Speaker, Alexandra de Steiguer Perfect Storm” of October of 1991 . Along the way Alex studied marine biology and oceanography, and chemistry. All of the imagery in her work Changes in the Sea p. 2 deepening her understanding of the natural world, as she crewed on is the result of the subtle effects of time- June 2014 Conference honored arcane mysteries involving metal salts, sailing vessels, first as a student and deck hand and then as bosun. In Third Annual Winter Social p. 2 the type of sail training and research vessels in which she served, a bromides, sulfates and halides processed in Maryann Stacy bosun is the deckhand responsible for maintaining the ship’s rigging. acid baths, carefully “fixed,” rinsed and dried to produce the final print. All of this in the Shipwrecks p. 3 service of her mind’s eye, bringing to the paper September Weekend Conf. Laury Bussey her vision of the natural world. For much of the year, Alex lives on a A Community of Women p. 4 mountain, deep in the woods of New by Richard Stanley Hampshire in a small solar-powered timber- Old Rocking Chairs p. 6 frame home, but for the winter months from Call for Volunteers November through March she is the sole ISHRA Membership p. 7 occupant at the Isles of Shoals, where she has been the winter-keeper on Star Island for the Summer Activities on the Shoals p. 7 A Shipwreck on Shore Wikifile image (edit) of a 19th Century Lithograph June Conference - Changes in the Sea (see page 2) past seventeen years. Page 2 ISHRA Newsletter Vol. 23 Issue 1 Vol. 23 Issue 1 ISHRA Newsletter Page 7 ISHRA June Conference Our Third Annual Winter Social Membership Summer Activities on the Shoals Changes in the Sea ISHRA Membership Includes: Marine Science Discoveries The Third Annual ISHRA Winter Social was a Star Island Conference Center Saturday June 21 thru Wednesday June 25 wonderful success. It was a beautiful sparkling January A subscription to our newsletter published Fifth Annual Gosport Regatta & Conference: Saturday twice a year. afternoon when approximately fifty ISHRA members, - Sunday September 20th & 21st. Restoring a sailing Join us once again for ISHRA’s 2014 June Conference family and friends joined together for a community pot Access to the Members Corner of our website tradition in 19th century style. Be on Star Island for this as we journey through eons of time at the Shoals. We will luck lunch and the warm companionship of fellow ISHRA.org. This includes past newsletters, speaker sailboat race which finishes in Gosport Harbor right explore the ever-changing conditions in the Gulf of Maine Shoalers. The winter sun brightened the hall as ISHRA details, and other Shoals resources. in front of the hotel. from prehistory into the future. We will investigate sea members and friends gathered in the Parish House of the An opportunity to attend our meeting programs on Star Arts Conference: Wake your inner artist in an level rise and climate change and the impact on the local First Congregational Church of Kittery Point where talk the 2nd Tuesday of April and November, conferences inspiring week-long, adults-only retreat among a tribe coastline, the rise and fall of animal and plant was of summers past and excitement for the 2014 season of fellow explorers. A perennial favorite that draws on Star Island, and day trips. returning conferees year after year. populations, and changes in the environment in the Gulf yet to come. Plans were made, friendships rekindled, and Fellowship with people who share your interest and of Maine. How do all these ecosystems interact and photo albums and other assorted Shoals memorabilia Yearly Adults Conference: YAC is the Yearly Adults enthusiasm for the history of the Isles of Shoals. where is our place within them? Join us for educational were perused over bowls of steaming seafood chowder, Conference on Star Island. We welcome people in the An invitation to work on Isles of Shoals historical first decades of adult independence to come together and guest speakers, lively discussion groups, hands on favorite appetizers, side dishes, and blueberry cobbler. exploration of the traces of changes left upon the island research projects as well as our newsletter, website share the experience of being part of this very special Some folks took the opportunity to visit the Old Burying community. landscape, creative art projects, as well as much loved Ground across the road and pay their respects to Levi, content, and list of archived Shoals materials. Star Island traditions of Candle Light Chapel Service, John, Roland, and Karl Thaxter. More information about the many programs offered time in the rockers, and a few exciting surprises. New Membership - To become a member please during the 2014 conference season can be found at: starisland.org/conferences/2014-listings We will depart Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on the complete and mail this form with your dues to: afternoon of Saturday June 21, 2014 for four fun-filled days ISHRA| PO Box 705 | Portsmouth, NH 03802 of relaxation, education, exploration, and renewal of old friendships. We will regretfully shove off from Star Renewal- Current membership status can be found Island and head back to Portsmouth at 3:05 p.m. on on the mailing label. To renew your membership Wednesday, June 25. This year we have delayed our send in your label, with any applicable changes, departure time to the late afternoon boat so that ISHRA and dues to the address above. Conferees may participate in all of the Captain John Yearly dues (April 1-March 31) Smith Commemorative Events that day. Please note: the membership year begins on April 1. Planned events include: speakers from the Shoals [ ] $10– Individual Marine Lab, rowboat races, horseshow and croquet [ ] $5– Junior (18 and younger) tournaments, and a whale/bird watch boat trip. Arts and crafts projects include Amy’s Sea Weed Pressing and [ ] $25– Family, Group, or Institution a special art project led by Gretchen Gudefin, and a sneak It was a cold day, but the food and camaraderie were warm! [ ] $100– Lifetime Shoals Marine Laboratory - Appledore Island peek into the Fall Shipwreck Conference. We will also Thanks go out to all the dedicated ISHRA Name: . Celia Thaxter’s Garden Tours hold a Social Hour Book Swap so bring a book to leave members who pitched in with food preparation, table Six excursions June 28 - August 16 and plan to take one home with you. and chairs set up and break down and those who Address: . Adult Education & Workshops Programming Fee remains at $100, plus room/board/ contributed the delicious appetizers, side dishes, and City, State, Zip: . ferry transportation. desserts. The 2014 luncheon went off without a hitch Telephone: . SML offers a wide variety of programs, courses and and if you were unable to attend have no worries, plans Email: .