Arden Scott: A Life in Art, Ice Sailing & Madison Connection

Arden Scott Metal Sculpture Photo: Mike Acebo

Dan’s Papers :Arden Scott Shares Her Art & Life with Pair of Greenport Harbor Brewing Shows

Orient Ice Yacht Club (OIYC) member Mike Acebo shared news about a sculpture exhibit. OIYC member and highly accomplished artist Arden Scott’s minimalist metal sculptures, inspired by iceboats, are on display at the Greenport Harbor Brewing Company in Greenport, NY. Scott’s artistic journey brought her to Lake Mendota’s ice when she was a University of Wisconsin student in the early 1960s.
Arden Scott recalls:

Fond memories of Lake Mendota- the iceboats I remember were old Stern Steerers. A friend found one under his back porch, and the landlady said, “Oh my, by all means, use it! I have the sails somewhere.” Someone must’ve known what they were doing – I was only 17 or 18 at the time. Coming from New York, I’d never experienced ice like that! Exhilarating, to say the least! I was unaware of anything organized about it, although many were affiliated with the Hoofers sailing club. My memories seem to be dramatic speeds and terrain. The lake had what they called pressure ridges; navigating these sometimes had us airborne. Oh, and did I mention cold! But ah, youth, anything that exciting….It ’twas a long time ago and much ice under the bridge.

From the Dan’s Paper article:

Another major component of Scott’s life informing her work is her passion for sailing. The artist has been addicted to the sport since she tried it as young girl in summer camp. During her college years, she sailed on lakes with a sailing club, even during freezing winter temperatures, sailing to class on stern steerer ice boats. Continue reading.

“Arden is a member of the Orient Ice Yacht Club, the home of East End historic Stern Steerers. She has worked on restoring these boats and sailing them on local ice. I had the pleasure of working with Arden for many years at the boatyard in Greenport that I managed, Arden worked in the rigging department.” Photo and caption via Mike Acebo.

Calm Before the Storm

Scooter from Mike Acebo on Vimeo.

Iceboats of all types were out in force over the weekend, using up every hour they could before a winter storm lashed the east coast. Here’s a classic Long Island South Bay Scooter sailing Bantam Lake in Connecticut. Henry Bossett was also there with his drone. See his video here.
Tip of the Helmet: Mike Acebo

Photo: Henry Bossett

The C in Connecticut

There goes another C-Class Skeeter ready for measuring and swage rigging. This one’s out East. Mike Acebo built the boat for George Nyssen, a Yankee and J14 skipper in Connecticut. Mike reports the Skeeter was a group effort. Bill Bucholz up in Maine made the mast, George made the springboard, plank, chocks, and seat, the Jeff Rogers of Airplane Plastics from the Midwest supplied the airplane canopy. Mike says, “the most important, Pat Heppert, for the fantastic plans and support. I know George will represent us well when all the pieces are together.”

Bob Reeves: Sail On


A remembrance of  a good man who brought many into the sport and a request from Mike Acebo of the Long Island, NY ice sailing community:

One of the most important members of the Long Island, NY iceboating community has sailed on. Bob Reeves, Orient NY, past Commodore of the Orient Ice Yacht Club has left us. His presence at every Long Island ice boating event, and beyond, served to coalesce our community and add to the membership of every club he was involved with. He was an avid Stern Steerer historian, builder and sailor with the history of several generations of iceboaters in his family. Through his plumbing supply business in Greenport he sold Skimmer 45’s to numerous locals to initiate them into the sport on local Hallock Bay, tiny Swan Pond and Lake Ronkonkoma. Many of these Skimmer sailors moved on to DN’s, C Skeeters, Stern Steers and the earliest 9 boat fleet of J14’s, an Orient club boat building project spearheaded by Bob. He was safety conscious, shared good ice reports and often spent his iceboating days helping others set-up, adjust rigging and advising novices how to improve their sailing while his J14 #20 stood by waiting. He travelled to ice and taught us there was always ice somewhere. Bob has moved on in the search of perfect ice. We will remember Bob in our own search for that perfect ice and great day with fellow iceboaters.

If anyone would like to share their stories of Bob please send them my way for our Club history archives.

Thank you,

Mike Acebo
macebo@mac.com
LRIBYC Newsletter editor