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The exhibit's focal piece, a kraken/squid sculpture by multimedia artist Cindy Pease Roe, greets visitors as they enter the gallery. Photo from Whaling Museum
On view at the exhibit, Mami Wata (“Mother water”) is a water spirit of African origin. She is associated with the dangers and opportunities inherent in living near the water. You will typically see this deity depicted with snakes, a fish or mermaid tail, or both! This beautiful example from the Baoulé region of the Ivory Coast is unusually ornate with an intricate bodice and traditional scar details on the face.
'Monsters and Mermaids' is currently on view at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum.
This image compiles the creatures included in the Carta Marina map from 1539 (one of the earliest detailed maps of the Scandinavian peninsula).
'Monsters and Mermaids' is currently on view at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum.
'Monsters and Mermaids' is currently on view at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum.
'Monsters and Mermaids' is currently on view at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum.
'Monsters and Mermaids' is currently on view at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum.

The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor has announced the opening of a new special exhibition, Monsters and Mermaids: Legends of the Sea.

The two-year exhibit developed by museum staff will explore ocean-inspired myths, legends, and their contemporary connections. By exploring nautical mythologies, visitors will be prompted to think about the ocean’s influence on how cultures were shaped and continue to shape us, and our impacts on the ocean today. The project will be the first exhibition about folklore on Long Island in 13 years and will shed light on monstrous beings of the deep just in time for the Halloween season.

Nomi Dayan, Executive Director of The Whaling Museum & Education Center, shares, “I think a fascinating element of this project is considering how people have perceived whales through time. Today, people light up when they talk about whales. We view them as breathtaking and highly complex creatures, and whale sightings can bring strong emotions and joy. But for millennia, they were seen quite differently by diverse cultures — in fact, the scientific name for the order of whales, ‘cetacean,’ translates to ‘sea monster.’ As part of this exhibition, visitors will stop and reflect on what the word ‘monster’ means to them.”

A highlight of the exhibition is a commissioned full-size kraken/squid sculpture created out of marine debris by multimedia artist Cindy Pease Roe. Based in Greenport, Roe is the founder of UpSculpt, an organization which combines public arts, conservation, and education. The artist has been featured in numerous exhibitions worldwide, and her work draws inspiration from her lifelong connection with the sea.

“The real sea monsters today are man-made, like marine plastics. By engaging the community to help collect materials for the Kraken, together, we’re reclaiming ownership and responsibility for our oceans, reshaping the narrative from fear to collective action and stewardship,” said Pease Roe.

Her new sculpture, created out of plastic marine debris collected on Long Island beaches, will bring attention to one of the largest sea monsters ever imagined — the legendary kraken, inspired by the Giant Squid. 

The squid/kraken will be displayed in an original and imaginative context by being suspended above the museum’s historic whaleboat, thrusting contemporary plastic materials into a 19th century story. As the gallery’s defining focal point, Roe’s piece will be thematically central to Monsters & Mermaids, and flip the narrative by questioning who is really afraid of whom today? The sculpture will convey a powerful message about the fragility of legendary creatures and confront the massive human refuse which is changing the ocean’s stories today.

The community is encouraged to participate in this exhibit by donating red and orange plastics gathered from Long Island beaches. Donations can be made at the museum or by visiting UpSculpt.com for additional donation options.

In addition to the squid sculpture, visitors will see maps, prints, scrimshaw, ephemera, and specimens exploring the artistic and cultural folklore of sea serpents, whales, sirens, and other global legends. Artifacts will be sourced from the museum’s collection as well as loans from other institutions.

One of the items on display from the museum’s collection will be a 1986 diorama by artist Vincent P. Ciro titled “Ye Dam’n Whale.” It depicts a scene from Moby Dick by Herman Melville. “When we think about the Monster Whale, Herman Melville’s Moby Dick is perhaps the most ubiquitous example in American literature.” said Baylee Browning, Collections and Exhibits Associate, The Whaling Museum & Education Center, “But who is the monster, really? Is it Moby Dick, the White Whale, or Captain Ahab, the relentless pursuer? Monsters and Mermaids, Legends of the Sea will explore these questions about monstrosity and wonder. What is a monster, and what does that say about our understanding of the natural world, and of ourselves? We can’t wait to explore these questions with you this October and “sea” if you can decide.”

In addition, visitors will reflect on the endurance of mermaid myths throughout history, from cave paintings to the 2023 mermaid-core fashion trend and ubiquitous Starbucks logo. A closer look into the history of mermaid portrayals will also offer insights into the history of racist perspectives.

Long Islanders can look forward to the museum’s upcoming series of workshops, events, talks, and programming for both adults and children exploring themes in the exhibition.

To celebrate, the museum will host two opening events: “Monsters & Mermaids: Family Bash” on Sunday, October 6th, and an exclusive evening event, “Monsters and Mermaids: After Dark,” on Thursday, October 10th.

The Family Bash, taking place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on October 6, will transform the museum’s galleries into magical underwater realms. Families can enjoy a day filled with meeting a mermaid in a fantastical setting, exploring “Davy Jones’ Locker” with a touch tank featuring live sea creatures, and face painting that brings the event’s enchantment to life.

Museum educators will offer interactive talks on the origins of the kraken and other deep-sea myths. Craft stations throughout the galleries will feature activities like making your own “monster slime” and other monster and mermaid-themed crafts. Guests are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes to add to the festive atmosphere.

“We’re delighted to bring the magical world of oceanic legends to life,” said Brenna McCormick-Thompson, Curator of Education. “The Family Bash offers a wonderful opportunity for visitors to explore the new exhibit with special activities designed for kids and families.”

Admission to the “Monsters & Mermaids: Family Bash” includes all activities. Advance tickets are $20 for children and $8 for adults, with member rates of $15 for children and $5 for adults. Tickets at the door are $25 for children and $8 for adults, with member rates of $20 for children and $5 for adults. The museum extends its gratitude to Gellerman Orthodontics for sponsoring the Mermaid Performer.

“Monsters and Mermaids: After Dark,” set for October 10th from 7 to 9 p.m. is an exclusive adult-only event. This evening will feature activities tailored for a mature audience, alongside the same enchanting backdrop as the “Family Bash”. Attendees can savor sea-inspired cocktails or mocktails and participate in a craft workshop to create fancy creature specimen jars, perfect for Halloween décor.

For those seeking mystical insights, tarot card readings will be featured. A costume contest will add to the fun, with prizes for the most imaginative costumes.

“This special evening event provides a unique way to dive deeper into the exhibit,” added Thompson. “We look forward to creating a memorable and immersive experience where guests can fully explore the legendary history of ocean myths.”

Advance tickets for “Monsters and Mermaids: After Dark” are $40, with member tickets at $30. At the door, tickets are $45, with member tickets available for $35. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit cshwhalingmuseum.org/monsters.

The “Monsters & Mermaids: Legends of the Sea” exhibition and associated programs are supported in part with funds from the New York State National Maritime Heritage Education Subgrant Program. The exhibition is also supported in part by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), and Humanities New York, and Public Funding Provided by Suffolk County.

For the next two years, viewing the special exhibit will be included with regular admission to the museum. Admission to the museum is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and children aged 4-17, and free for children aged 0-3 as well as Active Duty with ID. Gallery hours at the start of the exhibit will reflect fall and winter hours of Thursdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.

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Photo courtesy of Whaling Museum of Cold Spring Harbor
Photo courtesy of Whaling Museum of Cold Spring Harbor
Photo courtesy of Whaling Museum of Cold Spring Harbor
Photo courtesy of Whaling Museum of Cold Spring Harbor
Whales, Ales, and Salty Tales becomes Whales, Ales, and BRINY Tales!

The Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor announces the broadening of its classic event, Whales, Ales, and Salty Tales, now presented as Whales, Ales, and BRINY Tales! This year, the event introduces an exciting new feature: Pickles! Adults aged 21 and over are invited to this immersive indoor/outdoor experience on Sunday, June 1 from 2 to 5 p.m. at The Whaling Museum.

“We are thrilled to unveil the next chapter of our well-received, annual event,” said Nomi Dayan, Executive Director, The Whaling Museum & Education Center. “After offering new pickle-themed programs a few months ago which sold out, we realized Long Island has a crowd interested in flavorful experiences. We are excited to hybridize tastings of pickles with craft beer offerings – a tasty combination that provides a lively backdrop for historical discussions about life at sea.”

The museum’s plaza will be transformed into a hub of activity, showcasing craft brews from local breweries such as Jones Beach Brewing Company, Secatogue Brewery, Take Two Brewery, Threes Brewery, and more to come. Horman’s Best Pickles will offer pickle samples, along with the option to purchase pickles on sticks. For the adventurous, one brewer will even offer samples of pickle- flavored beer. The event will be further enriched by live sea chanteys performed by Scuttlebutt Stu, providing a lively maritime soundtrack guests can sing along to.

Inside the museum, attendees can expand their knowledge through informative talks on pickles and preservation on whaling ships. Creative minds can participate in designing scrimshaw-style keychains or select the box option for a unique keepsake. The “Tales of the Tavern” adult scavenger hunt will offer a fun and educational experience for interacting with the museum’s exhibits through QR codes and a booklet of clues.

To commemorate this special occasion, the first 150 attendees will receive a commemorative tasting cup sponsored by Mercedes of Huntington, adding a collectible element to their experience. Tickets are available for purchase online at $40, $30 for members or at the door for $45, $35 for members. Designated driver tickets are also available for $15. Event t-shirts will also be available for purchase and are sponsored by local marina, H&M Powles.

“This event has evolved over the course of 10 years, beginning as a quaint tasting event inside the museum to a tented affair featuring new vendors and activities,” said Gina Van Bell, Assistant Director at The Whaling Museum & Education Center. “We are thrilled to see the ongoing excitement from guests, sponsors, and brewers who have supported the event year after year. We are eager to continue expanding the event, connecting the community with our maritime heritage through creative and delicious experiences.”

Tickets are on sale now. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit cshwhalingmuseum.org/ales.

 

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A stranded humpback whale. Photo courtesy the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society

Since 2016, various agencies along the Eastern Seaboard have been investigating unusual mortality events among whales, including humpback, minke and North Atlantic right whales.

In recent months, a growing chorus of politicians, pundits and some environmental groups have suggested that efforts to build wind farms in the water and, specifically, to use sonar to develop a contour of the ocean floor, may be confusing whales, injuring their ears or causing these marine mammals to lose their way.

Research groups such as the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society have raced to the scenes of these beachings, hoping to gather enough information to learn about the lives of these whales and conduct necropsies to determine a cause of death. [See story, “Humpback whale deaths increase along Eastern Seaboard,” TBR News Media website, Feb. 11.]

For many of these whales, however, the decaying condition of the carcass makes it difficult to draw a conclusive explanation. Additionally, some whales that weigh as much as 30,000 pounds have washed up in remote and protected places, making it difficult to analyze and remove them.

“We don’t have any evidence to suggest” a connection between wind farms and whale deaths.

— Robert DiGiovanni Jr.

Robert DiGiovanni Jr., chief scientist at AMCS has responded to over 4,600 strandings of marine mammals and sea turtles and has tagged over 120 animals, according to the society’s website. Currently, he is serving as the principal investigator on aerial surveys in the mid-Atlantic region.

Pointing to data from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, DiGiovanni suggested that many of the whale strandings relate to vessel strikes.

According to NOAA data, 181 humpback whale mortalities occurred between 2016 and early February of this year. Researchers were able to conduct necropsies on about half of those whales. Of those examined, about 40 percent had evidence of a ship strike or entanglement.

“We don’t have any evidence to suggest” a connection between wind farms and whale deaths, DiGiovanni said. “What we’re seeing is what we’ve been previously seeing.”

He urged a close examination of all the changes and factors that could affect the location and health of whales, “not just one source.”

The chief scientist advocates consistent and ongoing investment in research on a larger scale, which could aid in responding to ongoing concerns about whale mortality events.

Understanding where whales are located is critical to protecting them.

DiGiovanni pointed to street signs around schools and neighborhoods that urge drivers to slow down because there might be children running into the street or playing on lawns.

Similarly, research about the location and movement of marine mammals can enable policies that protect them while they’re around the shores of Long Island and, more broadly, the Eastern Seaboard.

Researchers need to get a “better understanding of where these animals are and how that changes from day to day, week to week and month to month,” DiGiovanni said.

In aerial surveys a few years ago in the first week of February, he saw one or two whales. Two weeks later, he saw 13 right whales.

“We need to get a better understanding of those changes to help manage that,” the chief scientist said.

Against the backdrop of ongoing unusual mortality events, DiGiovanni noted that whale deaths occurred consistently before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We saw a difference in what was going on in the world, but we still had large whale occurrences,” he said. “Pulling all these pieces together is really important.”

The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society is working to develop incident command systems for marine mammal strandings with towns, fire departments, police and other authorities.

When DiGiovanni gets a call about a stranded whale, he can reach out to local partners, particularly in areas where these events have occurred in the past. Such rapid responses can ensure the safety of the crew and any bystanders on-site and can help bring needed equipment.

“What we do is very specialized,” DiGiovanni said. “Getting people to understand that and getting what’s needed is usually the first challenge.” 

Members of the conservation society team sometimes work 12 or 14 days straight without a break, depending on the complexity of a stranding and the number of whales washing up on beaches.

“The people doing this work are extremely dedicated to what they’re trying to answer” about the life and death of marine mammals, he added. Some of them drive six hours to a site to bring their expertise to bear.

“The discovery part is why we do this — to answer questions that would otherwise go unnoticed,” DiGiovanni said.

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Floating humpback whale offshore of Delaware. Photo courtesy the Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation Institute

This year has been tough for the population of humpback whales, as eight of them from Maine to Florida have had so-called unusual mortality events as at Feb. 7.

Indeed, a 41-foot humpback whale was discovered washed up Jan. 30 at Lido Beach on the South Shore. The whale likely died after a vessel strike, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Officials said.

Threats to whales in the area include getting hit by boats, becoming entangled in fishing lines and ocean noise.

The last of these potential dangers to humpbacks has received considerable attention from some members of the popular press, who have suggested that the process of installing wind farms along the coastline has or may create the kind of noises that can cause trauma to whale ears and that might throw a whale off course in its search for food.

To provide a broader context, unusual mortality events have been occurring for humpback whales since 2016, as 180 have been stranded along East Coast states since that time, according to NOAA data.

Scientists were able to study about half of the total humpback whale strandings from 2016 and attributed about 40% to ship strike or entanglements. The rest either died from starvation, parasites, inconclusive causes, or were in places where it would have been difficult to study and analyze them. 

The combination of whales distracted by feeding and boat traffic has led to some of the deaths.

“Our waterways are one of the busiest on Earth,” said Nomi Dayan, executive director of The Whaling Museum & Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor. “During busy eating months, when they are gorging, it’s harder to pay attention” to what’s around them.

Many of these humpback whale deaths occurred during periods when wind farm activity was low along the Eastern Seaboard.

“What we’re seeing right now [in terms of whale strandings] is something that has been going on for years,” said Lesley Thorne, associate professor in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University. 

In a press conference last month, officials suggested that the wind farms, which are designed to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels, cut down on carbon emissions and slow global warming, are not likely to make what is already a challenging period for humpbacks even worse.

“At this point, based on the information that we do have, we do not believe the evidence supports that those planned construction activities would exacerbate or compound these ongoing unusual mortality events,” Ben Laws, biologist with NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources, said during a Jan. 18 conference call with reporters.

‘What we’re seeing right now [in terms of whale strandings] is something that has been going on for years.’

— Lesley Thorne

As part of the investigation process, NOAA has brought together an independent team of scientists to coordinate with the Working Group on Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events to review data, sample stranded whales and determine the next steps for this investigation.

The scientists include marine mammal stranding network members, academics and veterinarians with local state and federal biologists.

At this point, most of the surveys off the coasts of New York and New Jersey are “characterizing the seafloor and the sub-bottom for engineering purposes for the foundation of offshore wind facilities as well as looking at cable burial risks along that route,” Brian Hooker, marine biologist in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, said on the press call.

Slower boat speeds

Reducing boat speeds in areas where whales are likely hunting for food or migrating can reduce the likelihood of vessel strikes and, in the event of contact, can improve the outcome for whales.

“What’s been demonstrated in the past is that, with faster vessels, collisions are more likely to occur and it’s more likely for that collision to be fatal,” Thorne said. The specific speeds or thresholds that are more likely to cause fatal collisions vary depending on the whale species.

The whales around Long Island include sei whales, North Atlantic right whales, finback whales, minke whales and, rarely, blue whales, according to Dayan.

Some management strategies for a host of whales such as the North Atlantic right whale include seasonal management areas, in which boats around a particular area during a specific season are required to travel more slowly.

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Offshore oil and gas drilling has devastating effects on marine life. Stock photo

By Nancy Marr

On Jan. 4 of this year, U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced that the federal government is developing a five-year plan to lease ocean lands in federal offshore areas all along our shorelines, including two leases on the North Atlantic region of the Outer Continental Shelf to companies that would drill for gas and oil. (Each state along the Atlantic coast owns the waters 3 nautical miles from the shore at mean low tide; they have jurisdiction to decide whether or not to lease their territory for oil and gas.)

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has been considering the many possible effects of offshore drilling compared with the estimated potential of the gas and oil drilling. Research by BOEM will consider a wide range of issues: physical considerations; biological considerations; social, economic and cultural considerations; and alternatives and mitigation measures. BOEM estimates that, at current national consumption rates, the support of undiscovered economically recoverable offshore oil and gas in the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf Coast of Florida would only meet domestic oil demand for two years and gas demand for just over one year. 

Opposition has been growing 

• Both Republican and Democratic governors in every state where offshore drilling doesn’t already exist (except Maine) have expressed opposition to opening their coastlines to the oil and gas industry. In case efforts to exempt their states are unsuccessful, lawmakers in California, New York and New Jersey are pushing legislation that would make new offshore drilling in federal waters as difficult as possible.

• Resistance to the plan has been expressed by at least 130 organizations along the Eastern Seaboard, including groups that support conservation, wildlife, clean water and political action.

• The risk of oil spills, which could destroy the environment for a wide area, as it has in the Gulf, is a major cause of opposition. 

• Seismic air guns that fire intense blasts of compressed air every 10 to 12 seconds 24 hours a day for months on end will disrupt and displace marine life, including whales, which rely on sound to find food and mates, sea turtles and many fish and shellfish species, including those of commercial importance. 

• Drilling and processing infrastructure along the shoreline and in nearby areas will limit tourist and recreational activities.

• Tourism, with fishing and other industries that depend on clean, oil-free water and beaches, supports nearly 320,000 jobs, which could be lost, with $5.6 billion from the tourism economy of Long Island.

• The fossil fuel industries create five times fewer jobs than are created by the clean energy sector.

• This proposal will slow our nation’s progress toward solving the climate change problem. The Fourth National Climate Assessment, mandated by Congress and released in November 2018, concluded that coastal communities and the ecosystems that support them are increasingly threatened by the impacts of climate change.

What can be done

Although dissent was expressed at many public hearings, it is likely that the Department of the Interior intends to carry out its offshore drilling plan. The League of Women Voters urges towns and villages that will be affected by drilling to pass memorializing resolutions to submit to the BOEM and its local elected officials. Riverhead, Southold, Shelter Island and Southampton towns in Suffolk County have already done so. (See a sample resolution at https://www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org/TakeAction.html.)

Representative Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) of the 1st Congressional District has opposed the drilling plan at local meetings. Individuals should write, call or email him (30 Oak Street, Patchogue, NY 11772; 631-289-1097; www.zeldin.house.gov/contact) to express their concerns about the need to protect our local economies and the environment.

Write to Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), U.S. senators Chuck Schumer (D) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D) and your New York State senators and assemblypersons (visit https://www.lwv-suffolkcounty.org/DirectoryOfPublicOfficials.html for full contact details).

A revised plan, with a new period of public comment, may be released this month. If implemented, it will affect all of us. We can protest, as individuals. We should each also contact our town and village governments to ask them to adopt memorializing resolutions in opposition to the drilling in order to protect our oceans, our fishing industry, our tourism and our quality of life. Specific requests for action by many constituents are always more effective with elected officials … Act now!

Nancy Marr is first vice president of the League of Women Voters of Suffolk County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, call 631-862-6860.

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