Thursday, April 9, 2009

Maine Lobster Gear


When I first arrived in Maine in the fall of 2006, Colby played up the Maine aesthetic with an "all-you-can-eat" lobster and Gifford's ice cream cookout. I have never been a big fan of lobster itself and I found the whole spectacle grossly excessive environmentally speaking. Despite my lack of enthusiasm for Lobster, I am interested in the process and phenomena surrounding the "Maine Lobster," and its role in defining an identity for the state of Maine. When most people think of lobster gear they think of a bib, a nut cracker and melted butter, not hundreds of neon yellow cages, blaze orange rope and black and green buoys. I spotted this gear last weekend on the side of the road near Brunswick Maine, was moved by its vibrant colors and its often over looked importance.

The bright colors of this lobster gear contrast sharply with the gray water and white waves where they earn their keep.

Maine lobster men weather the elements year round to fish for lobster and this gear has to handle the punishments.

I love the blues and the reds, all we need is some white .

The finished project of Maine, a 1.5 pound lobster.


Here are some more links,
Lobster Gear (Picasa),

5 comments:

Erin said...

I love that you dig the story behind things rather than take them at as they are at first glance.

Luke Warner said...

This is really cool to see, man. I just read The Lobster Chronicles by Linda Greenlaw about her seasons on Ile au Haut and this is like the missing photo pages. Keep it up.

Foster Huntington said...

Erin,
i'm glad you like my analysis.
Foster

greenjeans said...

I love that things so important are often so simple. Kind of makes me want to change my name to Ishmael...

TUCKER GORMAN said...

i reckon marden's carried some similar lacrosse boots some time back.