YARROW THORNE

Founder & Executive Director, The Avenue Concept Inc.
Owner of WHIRLWIND II

Yarrow Thorne developed his passion for art and design in urban spaces growing up in a design-based family in Northampton, Massachusetts. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), and for the last ten years has been learning how to support public art programming in the urban environment. While a student, Yarrow established RISD’s first public art policy to create revolving walls for artists to showcase their work.

In 2012, he was selected to receive one of twenty SEED Grants from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, which he used to found The Avenue Concept, a platform for a scalable and sustainable public art programming in Providence, Rhode Island. Yarrow’s vision for The Avenue Concept is a private organization that leverages support for public art projects to get off the ground, to jump-start excitement and recognition for art and its value in Providence and everyday life.

Yarrow believes his dyslexia is his greatest asset because through it he has developed his ability to work outside the box in many venues, particularly in finding creative solutions to urban challenges using public art. Yarrow has installed over 150 pieces of public art since 2012.

MARY ANN THORNE

Captain

Mary Ann Thorne has always had a great appreciation for the water, having grown up in an avid seafaring household. This lead her on a path to collect a plethora of marine certifications and teaching experiences along the way from Hawaii, to California and recently landing back in Rhode Island. She is currently working as Program Director for New England Science & Sailing Foundation (NESS) in Stonington, CT. NESS provides ocean adventure education to 10,000 students annually with over 100 different schools and organizations. Her passion for science, nature, and anything to do with the sea has made a large impact on her artwork. Whether this creative expression comes from her immersion in nature or her submersion in the sea, it is a true representation of her world.

EZRA SMITH

Designer and Project Manager

Ezra Smith has been involved in the design of some of the world’s finest yachts since 2002, first as a designer at Fontaine Design Group in Portsmouth, RI and since 2009 as Principal of Ezra Smith Design. Through a lifetime of sailing and a deep understanding of the technical and aesthetic elements of yacht design, Ezra brings an artist’s eye and designer’s discipline to all of his projects, delivering thoughtful and creative solutions for his clients.

MATTHEW SMITH, NA

Naval Architect

I have been an avid boater since I was old enough to swim. My first jobs in high school were at boatyards on the South Shore in Massachusetts. I have combined my hands on experience with my degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan to provide quality yacht designs and unique solutions to the marine environment.

ALEC BRAINERD

President, Artisan Boatworks

Alec Brainerd grew up sailing and racing wooden boats on Maine’s idyllic Penobscot Bay, and after many years working as a schooner captain, boatbuilder in local yards and crewing on large classic yachts around the world, founded Artisan Boatworks in 2002.  Alec lives in Rockport with his wife and two daughters, where they enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and ice boating during the winter months, and cruising aboard their 40 ft. wooden S&S yawl NORA in summer.  Alec served on the board of the Rockland Apprenticeshop and Camden Yacht Club and is an active member of the Camden Yacht Club and Cruising Club of America.   

Artisan Boatworks specializes in the new construction, restoration, storage, maintenance, and brokerage of classic wooden yachts.  Alec and his crew have built more new replicas of Herreshoff designs than any builder since Herreshoff Manufacturing Company closed their doors in 1944; and store and maintain a fleet of over seventy-five wooden boats for clients between New York, Nantucket, and Northeast Harbor.  For more information about the accomplishments and services of Artisan Boatworks, please visit www.ArtisanBoatworks.com.

ALISON LANGLEY

Photographer / Filmmaker

Alison Langley is a professional photographer and cinematographer with over 25 years in the industry, specializing in classic yacht and nautical imagery. After studying film at NYU and photography at RISD, Alison moved to Australia where she learned to sail. She spent several years sailing around the world, honing her craft and embracing a passion for the sea. Combining her artist’s eye and an intimate knowledge of classic wooden yachts, Alison has earned international recognition and has been featured in hundreds of magazines and books worldwide. Living in Midcoast Maine has provided an opportunity for her to develop a niche in documenting yacht building and restorations in many of the finest boatyards on the east coast.

CHRIS MUSELER

Writer

Chris Museler has been a freelance writer for 25 years covering sailing and environmental issues for a broad range of print and online media outlets. He is a sailing correspondent for The New York Times and develops media concepts for large-scale yachting events, and has been a consultant for video news, features and documentaries. He lives with his family in the island community of Jamestown, Rhode Island.

RUSS KRAMER

Artist

Russ Kramer is widely regarded to be among the country’s leading marine artists. His paintings create ‘first-hand’ experiences for the viewer, putting you right on board with the crew during some of history’s greatest yacht races or on turn-of-the-century luxury vessels. A sense of the dramatic moment, combined with meticulous research and attention to detail, have found considerable appeal and sell quickly into private and corporate collections. His works combine narrative, historical, figurative and maritime disciplines. He is a fellow and past President of the American Society of Marine Artists.

tim fallon

Catboat Advisor

Tim started sailing catboats at a young age out of Wild Harbor Yacht Club on the eastern shore of Buzzards Bay. He went on to race small boats in college and beyond but continually came back to Beetle Cats and catboats for racing and pleasure cruising. Eventually, Tim commissioned a large catboat that he now cruises with his family. Tim is one of those sailors that thinks excessive weather helm is normal and is perfectly satisfied with only one sheet to the wind. 

Pearl Marvell

Multimedia Storyteller

Pearl Marvell is a multimedia storyteller with over ten years of combined experience as a writer, reporter, photographer and producer. Pearl grew up sailing around the world on a three-masted Herreshoff schooner. She received her bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the University of Puerto Rico in 2011 and later received a master’s degree in journalism in New York City. Since moving to Rhode Island, she has applied her skill set in helping companies and individuals tell their stories through visual imagery and the written word. Her work as a writer, producer, reporter and photographer has been published by the Wall Street Journal, The Public’s Radio, and The Providence Journal.