The Glutton & the Artist

Cape Cod News editorial staff

In a marriage of ocean and art, the Blessing of the Fleet brings together a lead boat and a select artist. Andrea Sawyer's portrait of Beau Gribbin’s boat, Glutton, highlights this year's ceremony.

"It goes by the years that the boat was in the fleet. Who would think that all of a sudden you are the owner of one of the older boats in the fleet ... but here I am!."

Beau Gribbin,

Owner, Glutton

Where do Art and Ocean Mix?

05 July 2024 - PROVINCETOWN, MA - Each year, the Blessing of the Fleet features a "Lead Boat" to head the parade of vessels that navigate in front of Provincetown’s MacMillan Pier to be anointed with holy water. And each year, in a marriage of art and ocean, a featured artist is selected to create a rendering of the chosen lead boat.

What is the boat Glutton?

Beau Gribbin’s boat, Glutton, is the lead boat in this year’s Blessing of the Fleet. Gribbin is a generational fisherman whose father and grandfather also fished these waters. The boat’s name was taken from his grandfather’s nickname, “the glutton” as he had a voracious appetite for seafood and game meat. Gribbin considers the Blessing an event only second to Christmas.

Who is the artist, Andrea Sawyer?

The artist selected to capture the image boat this year is Andrea Sawyer, who known for her evocative and detailed maritime and landscape paintings. This year Sawyer's work encapsulates the Glutton's rugged beauty and the stoic determination of its crew as they head out to sea. She say it was important to her to paint the boat ‘working’.

Her paintings are characterized by vibrant colors, often depicting subjects such as old buildings, port scenes, landmarks, and streetscapes. The Provincetown resident continues to find inspiration in the natural landscape around her and portrays the beauty of her surroundings, as well as showcasing the continuing legacy of what is left of a once vibrant fishing community.

Why combine art and boats?

The intersection of maritime culture and art brings a unique vibrancy to this event, enriching the local heritage and both highlights the vessel and also celebrates the artistic talents within the community. The artwork serves as a cherished memento on t-shirts and memorabilia, capturing the essence and spirit of Provincetown’s fishing culture while honoring the artists who also have a long history in the town.

What is the Blessing of the Fleet?

The Blessing of the Fleet maritime tradition, deeply rooted in the Portuguese culture as well as the town’s history, brings together the local fishing community to seek both prosperity and divine protection for their vessels and crew in the coming season. The annual event is marked by a parade of fishermen and their families carrying banners to mark the name of their boats. The procession originates from the Catholic church, down Commercial Street, and comes together at the pier before families and friends embarking onto their respective vessels. The celebration begins as each boat in a sequence of boats follow the lead boat to wait its turn to be blessed by the Catholic cardinal, ensuring safe and bountiful journeys throughout the fishing season.

Scroll up to watch the news reporting of "The Glutton & the Artists"

Scroll up to hear about this year's chosen artist and lead boat or click HERE to open it in a new window.