Sculpture

Title:

The Captain Edward H. Adams

Object Name:

Sculpture

Object ID:

2003.006

Creator:

Kaufmann, JaneArtist

Place of Origin:

Durham, NH

Date:

1995-2000

Description:

Ceramic sculptural piece, "The Captain Edward H. Adams," by Jane Kaufmann, Durham, NH. Depicts a gundalow (sailing barge) used on the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth, NH. Tall, square base of glazed raku (smoked) clay. Open bottom. Text on all four sides, with dark brown letters formed by removal of surrounding clay. Side 1: "WHEN I LOOKED / OUT THE WINDOW / OF THE GEORGE / MARSHALL GALLERY / AND SAW THE / GUNDALOW / COVERED FOR THE / WINTER I HAD TO / CALL MY FRIEND / MICHAEL GOWELL. / HE HAS BEEN / CAPTAIN OF THE / EDWARD H ADAMS / SINCE 1989 AND / ALL I KNOW / ABOUT THE / GUNDALOW / I HAVE LEARNED / FROM HIM. / IT'S A REPLICA / OF THE FANNY M". Side 2: "THE SEACOAST'S / LAST WORKING / GUNDALOW / LAUNCHED IN 1886 / AND BUILT AND / OPERATED BY / ED ADAMS OF / DURHAM POINT. / THE BOAT WAS / DESIGNED WITH / A FLAT BOTTOM / TO SAIL OVER / SHALLOW WATER / AND LAND ON / MUD FLATS. / MATERIALS COULD / BE LOADED AND / UNLOADED FROM / THE FLAT / SURFACE OF / THE BOAT'S / DECK. THE FLAT / BOAT COULD". Side 3: "ALSO SAIL / UP SHALLOW / RIVERS. IT / COULD MOVE 60 / TONS OF BRICK / FROM NEWMARKET / TO PORTSMOUTH / IN 3 1/2 HOURS. / THE SAIL HUNG / FROM THE YARD / AND YOU COULD / DIP THE YARD / WHEN YOU WENT / UNDER A BRIDGE / AND KEEP ON / GOING INSTEAD / OF BAILING OUT / WATER. THERE / WERE 4 PLUGS. / AT LOW TIDE / THEY UNPLUGGED / THE BOAT AND / DRAINED IT!" Side 4: "PRETTY SMART / IF YOU ASK ME. / EVERY YEAR / MICHAEL TAKES THE / GUNDALOW FROM / YORK TO PORTS / MOUTH IN / EARLY MAY / FOR 4 MONTHS. / THEN IN SEPT- / EMBER IT / GOES TO THE / GREAT BAY. / LEARN MORE / ABOUT THIS / VESSEL WHEN / IT COMES TO / YOUR / NEIGHBORHOOD / THIS SUMMER." Gundalow hull is red, 7.5" long, 4" wide, 1.75" high. Deck is gray with bits of black debris adhered to it. Light gray hatch with cover. Two-piece gray mast, unglazed, with long piece in down (horizontal) position, supported by 3 blocks. The two mast pieces are connected with twine. Captain in blue coat with left hand raised, standing at black wheel, wearing brown hat and black glasses.

Material:

Ceramic

Dimensions:

H-22.4 W-7.5 D-6 inches

Credit Line:

Gift of Jane Kaufmann

People:

Adams, Edward H., Gowell, Michael, Kaufmann, Jane

Subjects:

Boats, Gundalow, Sculpture