Lobster Buoys

Item Description

" I’m Not Singing in the Rain" - The piece that I created for the Trekkers auction was a very interesting challenge. The beautifully made wooden lobster buoy was much higher quality than what I expected when I was first approached with the idea of decorating a buoy. I thought it would be one of the Styrofoam buoys and I had all sorts of ideas about making a mosaic out of the shards I create in my studio from the pieces that do not work out. But, it was much harder to execute this idea with the hard wooden buoy and I had it in my studio staring at me for a few weeks when it dawned on me how many different things it could look like.

I played a game with my family where we each took turns using it for a different purpose…a telephone, a fish dinner, a rocket, an umbrella…it was the umbrella idea that got me the most interested. The title of this piece is called: “I’m Not Singing in the Rain”. The face on the figure is based on an angry baby picture of me and the body is sort of baby proportions with a toy umbrella perhaps. Now I live in Maine and nobody uses wooden lobster buoys anymore. So, the history of the buoy which was used when I was born and did not live here has come to an end and I have been asked to resurrect this icon from the past and what better form to do it in than who I was during the time we both thrived simultaneously. There I was, an angry baby in the sunshine and the buoy spent its numbered days getting pickled in salt water and maybe on a good day it could take out a propeller from an absent minded boater.

I made all of the parts of this sculpture on my potter’s wheel so it does relate to my pottery. I’m Not Singing in the Rain was a really fun project and an outlier for me. I am happy to help out such a wonderful organization, the Trekkers. I am also thankful to stretch my creative efforts from time to time to continue to stretch my ideas about art and beauty.

ABOUT GEORGE PEARLMAN

George Pearlman lives and works at his home studio and gallery, The George Pearlman Pottery on Route 131 in Saint George, Maine. He has been making one of a kind pottery for over thirty years and established his studio here in Maine in 1998. George Pearlman’s work has been shown nationally and internationally. In 2013 his work was shown at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC and has also been featured at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and has been recognized as an individual artist fellow by the Maine Arts Commission. He has been an educator in fine art at many universities, colleges, art centers and for several years he has run an apprenticeship program at his studio.

You can find out more about George Pearlman and see his current work by visiting his website www.georgepearlman.com  or visiting his gallery which is open every day from 11am-5pm until October.

Item Special Note

THIS IS AN ONLINE TO LIVE AUCTION BIDDING ITEM. AFTER THE ONLINE BIDDING CLOSES ON JULY 15 AT 8AM, THIS ITEM WILL BE GOING TO THE LIVE EVENT FOR FURTHER BIDDING.

ABSENTEE BIDDING IS AVAILABLE. THE  LIVE AUCTION WILL TAKE PLACE ON JULY 16TH AT THE STRAND THEATRE.

All finished buoy artwork and item gift certificates may be picked up at the Trekkers office on 41 Buttermilk Drive in Thomaston, Maine. Any gift certificates will be mailed to the winners at no charge.

If the winner is unable to pick up the buoy artwork, it will be shipped to them and they will be responsible for all shipping and handling fees, which will be in addition to the winning bid amount. Items will be shipped and billed at standard industry rates through The UPS Store in Rockland, Maine.

All packing and shipping of the artwork buoys will be handled by The UPS Store in Rockland, Maine. Please contact them for a shipping estimate at 207-594-4200 or store2040@theupsstore.com.  

If you need to reach Trekkers with any questions about shipping, please call 207-594-5095.