Hidden at the end of a narrow, unassuming alley at 145 Water Street in Stonington Borough lies the studio and gallery of Marine Artist Russ Kramer. Inside the studio by the water, located directly behind Grand & Water Anitiques, you can catch Russ working on his latest projects and chat with him about his process.
Although his career as a marine artist only began in 2002, Russ knew this is what he was meant to do since he was 15. Previously, Russ worked in the newspaper business as an artist, art director, senior editor and design consultant.
Recently, Russ, his wife, Laura, and four-year old son, Jack, moved to Stonington from Florida. What better place to be a marine artist than Stonington? History plays a huge role in Russ’ paintings, and being in the heart of one the oldest whaling ports, and so close to Mystic Seaport provides him with endless resources.
“It’s a journey,” Russ says about his process. “I go on voyages with my paintings. I research the history, learn a lot about the people and imagine what they must have been thinking. I feel like I’m sailing on these great boats in history,” he says. “My goal is to take viewers on this voyage with me.”
Russ is represented by the Mystic Maritime Gallery and the J. Russell Jinishian Gallery in Fairfield.
From September 30 through November 12, Russ will be exhibiting his newest painting at the 29th Annual International Marine Art Exhibit at the Mystic Maritime Gallery.
Russ enjoys giving talks and presentations to yacht clubs or other interested groups of people about yachting history and his painting process. To contact Russ, call 860.535.9373, email russ@russkramer.com, or visit www.russkramer.com.
In his last visit to Mohegan Sun, Hartford’s Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey thrilled fans with an explosive second round kayo. On this visit, Matt needed double the rounds to do just about the same thing in his first fight since losing to Rudolf Kraj in Germany this past March. Matt Godfrey survived a second round knockdown to finish off Emmanuel Nwodo, of Baltimore, MD in round four of an NABF title bout in the Main Event of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights.
Despite looking a bit sluggish in the early rounds, Matt seemed to be landing the harder punches while Emmanuel pressured the local favorite from the start. In the third both fighters threw right hands and it was Emmanuel’s that landed first dropping Matt for a flash knockdown. But things deteriorated rapidly for Emmanuel in round four when Matt scored with a hard overhand right that wobbled Emmanuel. Sensing his opponent was in trouble, Matt let loose with a barrage of power punches that opened up a cut on the nose of Emmanuel and had him reeling about the ring. With Emmanuel in trouble, referee Danny Schiavone stepped in to halt the bout at 1:57 of the fourth.
Afterwards Matt told reporters his opponent certainly came to fight but didn’t keep the pressure on to stay effective.
“He started too early,” Matt said. “I knew he’d start to slow down and I’d get him.”
Matt Godfrey is now 17-1 (10) while Emmanuel Nwodo falls to 22-5 (18).
In the televised co-feature Manchester’s Matt Remillard scored a crushing fourth round kayo over Adauto Gonzalez of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Adauto looked to be in great condition and started fast in round one, winning the first on this observer’s unofficial scorecard. But by the second, Matt was scoring with power shots, especially to the body, and it seemed Adauto was fighting aggressively because of doubts about his own stamina.
In the fourth, Matt took control and scored the first of two knockdowns with a double left hook to the body and head of Adauto. With Adauto on his feet, referee Arthur Mercante Jr. allowed the bout to continue but it was only seconds before Matt was all over his opponent again and sunk a hard left into the side of Adauto which put him on his hands and knees for the ten count.
With the victory, Matt is now 15-0 (8) while Adauto falls to 10-6 (4). Matt Remillard claimed the vacant WBC USNBC Featherweight belt with the kayo win.
Also making the ESPN2 broadcast was Ledyard native light heavyweight Brian Macy who remained undefeated with a first round knockout over Sean Kirk of Lexington, KY. Like Matt Remillard before him, Brian finished off his opponent with a hard left hook to the mid-section that dropped Sean for a count of ten. Brian is now 5-0 with 2 kayos, while Sean drops to 4-3 (2).
Even in the rain, these Scouts from East Haddam’s Troop 22 showed up to fulfill their responsibilities with their ongoing Bottles and Cans Drive. This continuous effort supplies the boys with camping gear, camp tuition, Merit Badge classes and any other Scout related activity.
On a tight budget with children, how many times a day do you hear, “Mom, I am so bored what can we do today?” or “ When can we go somewhere?”
Well, my boys and I go letterboxing. All you need for letterboxing is a small journal, a stamp pad and a stamp. Letterboxing was introduced in the early 1800’s. It started in Dartmoor, England when a gentleman placed his “calling card” in a sealed bottle and hid it. His note asked that others who found this bottle do the same. This practice evolved over the years and people now go around placing ink-stamps in small boxes throughout various locations. When you find the box, take out the ink-stamp and stamp your journal, date it, who found it, and where you found it. Some “Letterboxers” will leave a pad in the box so that you can leave “your mark” and your trail name (mine is Fern Fairy). Children and adults have a wonderful time finding the hidden boxes and making their own mark. This is a great way to get outdoors and have something interesting to do. It is quite popular in CT’s state parks. We recently trekked through Salmon River State Park in East Hampton with our stamps and had an absolutely marvelous full day of adventure, fun and teamwork. This site has 29 boxes.
Go to www.letterboxing.org, pick what town/county you would like to visit, print out a clue map, and hit the trails!
Captain Kenneth A. Swan relieved Captain Richard H. Moyer as Commanding Officer, Submarine Learning Center, in Change of Command ceremonies at Momsen Hall, Naval Submarine Base New London, Thursday, August 28. In assuming command, Captain Swan offered a first look at the way ahead, “I’m honored and excited to be joining this training team, solving tomorrow’s problems today.”
Captain Moyer summarized the daily challenge facing the Submarine Learning Center, a command encompassing fifteen time zones, from Groton to Guam, and, he felt, to which it must successfully respond everyday, “We have made great strides in aligning our exceptional training expertise to master the newly modernized equipment and to rapidly train our crews.” His next assignment is as the Department Head of the Training and Education Requirements Branch, of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV).
Hidden at the end of a narrow, unassuming alley at 145 Water Street in Stonington Borough lies the studio and gallery of Marine Artist Russ Kramer. Inside the studio by the water, located directly behind Grand & Water Anitiques, you can catch Russ working on his latest projects and chat with him about his process.
