Art, Unanchored

There’s a big boat hanging out in Newport this summer that describes itself as a “floating art gallery.” Dubbed Sea Fair, the world’s first mobile mega-yacht art gallery chose Newport as its Summer Hang, docking at the Newport Shipyard, where owners hoped to attract lovers of art and fancy boats to its 228-foot-long luxury digs.

The plan was to interest tourists in viewing three decks worth of sculpture, glass, jewelry, fine furniture and contemporary photography and painting, while also giving them a look-see at a handful of masterworks by the likes of Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. Most of the works range in price from $3,000 to $35,000. There’s enough space leftover for two outdoor bars, an international coffee bar, an open-air bistro and a glass-walled restaurant. But after a flurry of early interest this summer in Newport, the fourth largest privately owned yacht in the U.S. has pulled anchor on the idea for a few weeks, citing vendor disappointment at the relative lack of daily patronage.

The yacht plans a trip to Martha’s Vineyard later this month and a return engagement in Newport during the lead-up to Labor Day.

Organizers thought the Newport destination made sense, given the art yacht’s popularity in Sarasota earlier in the season. But last year’s yellow lobster drew a bigger crowd to Newport. It shouldn’t have been a surprise. Tough economy everywhere – especially here in Rhody. Newport skews the data somewhat, and there are plenty of rich folks zooming around these parts in July and August, but the state on the whole is a collective of proud, working-class folks with ties to family traditions and the old world (Ireland, Portugal, Italy) that values a bargain and distrusts anything that comes with too many dollar signs – unless it’s the lottery.

We are home to the nation’s first bargain stores and family restaurants that live by the credo of selling big portions for cheap. We make art but rarely buy it. And during our glorious summers, we have a million ways to get on a boat or on the water without paying admission or feeling as if we’re underdressed.

Still, the under-whelming support for the art yacht has given me an idea for a classified advertisement.

WANTED: DINGHY
(Or reasonable rowboat facsimile, such as a whaleboat, dory, lifeboat or currach. Perhaps even a raft. For purposes of artistic experiment.)

Bottom Feeder, a.k.a. Art Dinghy on the Half Shell, would be the world’s first rowboat art gallery. Small enough to dock anywhere on the Rhode Island coast, the boat needs to have enough room for the rower, one patron and one work of art. Maiden voyage to launch with a viewing of “Dogs Playing Poker.” Refreshments will be served at our outdoor coffee thermos and flask of rotating spirits.

Outside of traditional galleries and festivals, where would you like to see art in Rhode Island?