TWO NEW ARTIST LECTURES ANNOUNCED

Picture by Fred Feiler

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Kirsty Gaukel, Press & Marketing Manager, [email protected]

Program Contact: Erin Boss, Education Program Manager, [email protected]

TWO NEW ARTIST LECTURES ANNOUNCED
New May Dates for Follow the River Lecture Series 

KINGSTON, N.Y. (April 16, 2024) – The Hudson River Maritime Museum is pleased to announce two upcoming lectures as part of its ongoing Follow the River Lecture Series sponsored by Rondout Savings Bank, ‘Silver Dollar Girls: The Women Pilots of WWII’ on May 8 and ‘Marine Art: Finding Joy in Color and Peace in Nature’ on May 22. Both lectures will both be held in-person at the museum's Wooden Boat School at 7:00PM. Tickets are $7 for the general public and free for Hudson River Maritime Museum Members. To register, visit www.hrmm.org/lecture-series.

​‘Silver Dollar Girls: The Women Pilots of WWII’ on May 8 will be presented by author Margaret DiBenedetto. In 1941, General Hap Arnold made a surprising and bold decision to allow civilian female pilots to assist in the effort to win WWII. For two years, more than one thousand women flew military aircraft for the US Army Airforce. A local pilot, Ruth Franckling, Margaret’s mother, was part of that effort. Inspired by Ruth’s story, Margaret’s novel 'Silver Dollar Girls' blends a fictional story set in the Catskills Mountains with her mother’s role in aviation history. Join us for a personal talk that sheds light on the brave women who served.

‘Marine Art: Finding Joy in Color and Peace in Nature’ on May 22 features Coast Guard Art Program artist Fred Feiler. This presentation is offered in conjunction with the Hudson River Maritime Museum's exhibition of the paintings of the late Peter K. Eagleton, "Working Waterfronts." Feiler, like Eagelton, is part of the Coast Guard’s Art Program and his work reflects a deep love of water and boats. Feiler will share his works completed at the Coast Guard Station at Boothbay Harbor, ME which depict training missions including using flares, direct hoist, direct trail hoist, and a motor life boat rescue. Feiler will also introduce the work of the broader Coast Guard Art Program, highlighting eleven missions of the Coast Guard/Homeland Security as portrayed by various artists. 

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About the Follow the River Lecture Series
For more than a decade the Hudson River Maritime Museum's "Follow the River Lecture Series" has hosted historians, authors, and maritime experts for engaging illustrated talks on a variety of regional history and maritime subjects. In recent years, many of the lectures have also been recorded and are available on YouTube. For more information about upcoming lectures and to access recordings of past lectures, visit www.hrmm.org/lecture-series. The series is sponsored by Rondout Savings Bank.


The Hudson River Maritime Museum is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries and related industries. In addition to extensive collections documenting maritime transportation, industry, recreation, and natural science, the museum offers classes and programs at its Wooden Boat School, Sailing and Rowing School, and aboard Solaris, the 100% solar powered tour boat and floating classroom. The museum is located along the historic Rondout waterfront in downtown Kingston. Visit www.hrmm.org for more information.