Lobster Trap Tree In Stonington Borough Features Painted Buoys

Press release from the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce:

Nov. 30, 2021

The first annual Stonington Lobster Trap Tree was in Stonington borough and officially launched with a tree lighting ceremony Nov. 27. The art installation is at least 25 feet tall and features 330 new, green lobster traps adorned with 330 gorgeous buoys, most of which are painted by invited professional artists from CT and RI.

Some of the buoys will be available for auction on February 4 while others have been sponsored by businesses or family members and will become their property when the tree comes down at the end of January.

The project is being produced by the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce which serves the two state region of Stonington CT and Westerly RI. Chamber President Lisa Konicki had the idea for the tree in December of 2019 and began working on it in Spring of 2021. “We are so excited to present these incredible works of art as part of this collaborative project for our community. We are also focused on bringing more awareness of the commercial fishing fleet that operates out of Stonington borough and the amazing bounty of seafood that comes from the Town of Stonington” said Lisa Konicki.

In total, 55 professional Connecticut artists from Stonington to Sterling to Torrington and Watertown CT painted buoys that will be on the tree. Two local CT artists, Susan Pfeifer Scala of Stonington and Jeanette Morrone Vertenes of North Stonington painted more than 35 buoys each for sponsors who commissioned a specific scene. 62 of the 330 buoys were painted by professional Rhode Island artists. The balance of the buoys were painted by 44 Stonington, CT school children that participated in one of 2 free workshops. (This Sunday is the second workshop at La Grua Center at 1pm) and a couple dozen community members who paid to submit a buoy.

The tree will have an entryway created of mahogany. It is being constructed by Bruce Powell of AB Powell Woodworks in Stonington CT. It will have a channel of inlaid rope from Mystic Knotwork in Mystic CT. J & R Sheetmetal of Westerly will create the sign that hangs over the entry.

The tree is lit with over $3,000 worth of LED lights, uses more than 1,500 tie wraps, 14 duck clamps and has a total cost of over $36,000. It is located at the town docks, 1 High Street in Stonington. Lights will be on each evening from 4:30-9pm. Thousands of people are expected to come view the spectacle, take photos and start an annual tradition of visiting this landmark. Each year the buoy designs will change.

Some of the buoys are very meaningful to those who sponsored them. There are 5 memorial buoys- 3 for people who have passed (1 of which was painted by the widow) and 2 for dogs who have passed. There are 2 wedding buoys depicting the wedding ceremonies. 1 buoy depicts the journey of a family who moved here from Africa and became a family in Westerly RI.

There are buoys that depict various locations in the region such as Lords Point, Enders Island, Olde Mistick Village, downtown Pawcatuck CT, downtown Mystic CT, Barn Island in Stonington, Stonington Borough and Vargas Corners. Many buoys depict local small businesses or non-profit organizations that sponsored them.

Most buoys are painted with acrylic paints but some are made of mosaic tile, sea glass, beads, yarn or recycled materials.

Susan Pfeifer Scala of Stonington borough has painted over 35 buoys including some of boats that fish out of the town docks, local businesses and non-profits. Many of the buoys tell stories and include much more than business logos. One design requested by a small business owner was that of a woman at the healm of a ship, navigating a dangerous storm meant to represent Covid, and then entering a lovely safe harbor on the other side.

Eva Leong of Mystic was moved to tears when she was included in this project. When the finished buoy was picked up at her home studio, she discussed feeling totally isolated during Covid, missing people and her art classes. This project made her feel a part of something special and gave her something positive to focus on.

Sea Odyssey is the name of one buoy that is getting a great deal of attention. It features an octopus completely grabbing ahold of a ship at sea like The Kracken. A husband and wife team from Westerly collaborated on this masterpiece. They used clay to sculpt the creature that is affixed to the buoy. (Alan Jones and Ysela Caceres)

Rafael Lino of Pawcatuck painted a buoy of a dog to be donated to the project. When Mal Makin of Professional Planning saw this buoy on display at the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce he commissioned Rafael to paint 2 buoys of his 2 dogs. Another artist received a mural commission as a result of her involvement with this project.

Tim Love created a buoy entitled “the Lobster Catcher” that is made of reflective glass beads normally used on roads. The strikingly intense 2 faces on his buoy are expected to glow in the dark.

A popular and incredibly detailed buoy was created by Tony Nguyen of Irish Rose Tattoos in Pawcatuck. He depicted a dragon and named in Falkor.

Kristin Shaffer of Westerly RI is an artist who painted several buoys including a memorial for a woman whose husband passed away. She has had long conversations with Gayle about what her husband liked to do, his line of work and what she’d like to see on the buoy. This is one of several memorial buoys on the tree.

Artist Jonathan McPhillips of Saunderstown, RI has his work shown in galleries all over, including Mystic CT. He created his “Nautical Nightfall” buoy which is one of the few evening buoy scenes. It’s quite beautiful.

Kathy Brown Humphreys Of Warwick has relatives that live in Stonington and so she was excited to participate with her buoy “Flying into the wind."

Wendy Gencarelli of Westerly has painted several buoys for sponsors and has contributed 2 buoys to the auction as well. As a result of this project, she now has added painted buoys to her personal Etsy shop and is making money selling them direct to customers.

There are more than 15 lobster trap trees in communities in New England. The Stonington tree is the only one that features professionally painted buoys. Overall, our tree is closely modeled after the size and structure of the Gloucester Mass lobster trap tree. The Stonington tree lighting ceremony will have free refreshments and visits with Santa. Throughout the day, which is Small Business Saturday, there are special sales and a buoy trail in 12 shops. Complete the trail and you could win great prizes.

For much more information including a photo gallery of ALL the buoys, a sponsor listing, a committee listing, project goals, upcoming events and more, visit Lobstertraptree.com.

This press release was produced by the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author's own.