This exhibit opened alongside 2024’s Portland Art and Heritage Fair and is inspired by the groundbreaking ceremony of our upcoming AHOY Children’s Museum. For more information on the event, check out our recap using the button below:
The Adventure House Of You (AHOY) Children’s Museum is set to be a multi-faceted project filled with maritime wonder, so no simple exhibit could properly represent it. As such, It’s aBOAT Time features three different rooms with three different types of pieces exhibited.
Family Artwork
Lining the walls of our Comstock Gallery is artwork from parents and children. Some are represented side-by-side, while others are single, collaborative works. Mediums range from photography to painting to sculpture to fabrics, with the uniting theme being love between creative parent and creative child. Much like AHOY, this collection of artwork is perfect for bringing families together.
Featured Artists
- Skylar Smith with Forest Faversham and Eleanor Faversham
- Natasha Krider with Rowan Libretto Krider
- Lacie Eubank with John Eubank, Judy Eubank, and Jubilee Miller
- Melissa Stone with Goldie Stone
- Rebecca Norton with Milton and Maggie Miller
- Danny Seim with Goldie and Fritz Seim
- Shae Goodlett with Hazel Grace Goodlett
- Shauntrice Martin with Iniejah Allen Jr.
- Jose Manuel Napoles Puerto with Mia Napoles
- Nora Christensen and Shawn Hennessey with Oscar Hennessey
- Andrew Cozzens with Iris Cozzens
- Suyun Son with Elina Son
- Danica Novgorodoff with Ismae and Ada Novgorodoff
- Sharon Humble with Jane Humble
AHOY Information
The AHOY Children’s Museum has been in development for a few years now, and as such we’re thrilled to share the progress we’ve made! Featured in this section of the exhibit are five panels with information on different aspects of the children’s museum including a full-scale shrimping boat for the outdoor play yard, input from our Catfish Club advisory committee of local kids, new conceptual exhibit designs made in collaboration with Wolfgang & Hite (who provided the displayed artwork) and Squallis Puppeteers, a sculptural tiktaalik walkway, and the completed restoration of the Lighthouse Education Center.
Portland Boats
Speaking of that shrimp boat, the final room of the exhibit is dedicated to it and a custom-built shantyboat which will both be integrated into the interactive AHOY experience. Originally completed in 1949 and weighing 70,000-pound, the Draco shrimp boat, as it was originally named, was for years abandoned on the Ohio River. Thanks to help from Michael Weinert, PACE Contracting, and Padgett Crane Company though the Draco is now riding the AHOY wave into Portland Museum’s backyard where it will be restored for use in our upcoming play yard. Artifacts from and historic photos of the Draco are on display alongside the full story of its journey toward AHOY thanks to the Vogt family who generously donated it to us.
Hand built by Art Baltes and Jerry Steimel in Portland, as captured in the new KET documentary Shantyboat – Rediscovering a River Way of Life, the H. A. Hubbard shantyboat is inspired by its namesake Kentucky figure Harlan Hubbard who advocated for a simple life in harmony with nature. After spending its time on the Ohio River the boat is now located here at Portland Museum, and featured alongside it is more information about shantyboat living and Baltes and Steimels story of creating it.