September 26, 2013 — An innovative exhibit titled "Following Fish — Navigate Through the New Bedford Fishery" opens Friday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the New Bedford Whaling Museum.
"Following Fish" debuts on the eve of the port's 10th annual Working Waterfront Festival and precedes a gala concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Cook Memorial Theater to benefit the festival's programming.
Installed in the San Francisco Room, Andrew Wilde Gallery and the Davis Observation Deck overlooking the harbor, "Following Fish" brings the past and present together in a poignant and dramatic way, notes Maria Quintero, curatorial fellow and the exhibit's lead curator. "It is easy to look out across the many draggers and scallopers and imagine a similarly sized fleet 150 years ago, except with wooden hulls, masts and spars. 'Following Fish' draws a direct line from whaling then to fishing now," she said.
Whaling was a dangerous profession and it is no different for the commercial fisherman today. Fishing remains one of the most dangerous occupations in the country, yet the men and women of New Bedford continue to go down to the sea for fish. As a result of their great efforts and with the assistance of processing plant workers on shore, New Bedford has been the nation's No. 1 fishing port by catch value for 13 consecutive years.
Through an innovative design approach, "Following Fish" will be expanded during the next few years. With the input of an advisory panel led by highly respected leaders in the field such as Drs. Brian Rothschild and Kevin Stokesbury, the museum's curators will open up the exhibit development process to the public. Visitors can participate in interactive elements and share their opinions online as they navigate the fascinating, complex and arduous voyage to bring seafood from the ocean to the dinner table.
Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard Times