FOLKSINGER
With folk songs ranging from boisterous sea shanties to haunting whaling
ballads and Appalachian instrumentals, Don draws his audience into his music
with rollicking chorus songs, accompanying his singing with 5-string banjo
(played mostly in the old-time frailing style), concertina, and bones. Most
of his music is rooted in the British Isles, Canada, and the United States.
LECTURER
Don can speak with exhaustive knowledge about whales and dolphins,
illustrating his talks with baleen, scrimshaw, and his own sensitive
illustrations. He can present a program which deals in a general way with
the Order Cetacea, or he can devote himself to an in-depth lecture on a
single species, giving suggestions for positive action(s) to save these
majestic giants of the deep. His music is an integral part of the program.
ARTIST
Internationally acclaimed for his accurate portrayals of marine mammals, Don
has had showings of his work at the United Nations, Indiana University, and
at a number of museums and galleries. His illustration of Connecticut’s
State Animal, the Sperm Whale (physeter macrocephalus) has been used in
Connecticut’s State Register And Manual (a.k.a. “The Blue Book”). Don was
the major illustrator for Alaska Whales And Whaling, and he has had his work
published in Alaska magazine, and on the World Of Whales calendar, and The
Whale Watchers Guide. His prints are available for purchase, as are
note-cards and other items. Custom commissioned works are also possible.
ARTS-IN-EDUCATION
Don combines his talents as folksinger/shantyman, instrumentalist, artist and
lecturer to present educational enrichment programs as either classroom
workshops or school assemblies. Extended residencies are also possible.
Students of all ages, and almost any artistic aptitude can learn to draw
whales and other marine mammals, recognizable by their species
characteristics.
Don served as a consultant for the 20th Century Fox movie "Master And Commander, The Far Side Of The World". They requested his input on the traditional sea songs used in the film. He said it was great fun, and he got a "thanks" on the C.D.
