Shipping Forecast, Blue Moon, The Limited Edition of 24

The Shipping Forecast, Blue Moon is a reduction woodcut designed and printed at the Don Gorvett Gallery, located at 123 Market St, Portsmouth, NH, before the printing press was moved to Gloucester, MA, in 2019.

The nocturnal scene is from the artist's apartment above the gallery, overlooking Portsmouth Harbor as a blue moon rises on a wintry night. At the end of Ceres Street, a salt freighter is docked at the Granite State Minerals terminal. Don used salvaged plywood from the apartment's subfloor for the woodblock. The woodcut's richly printed surface reveals the rough surface of the aged plywood's natural grain. Together, the surface, materials, and subject matter contribute to the visual excitement.

The "shipping forecast" part of the title refers to the four daily weather reports broadcast by BBC Radio since 1925. These reports detail barometric pressure, visibility, and wind speeds around the island, following a strict script, format, timing, and rhythm for clarity. Seafarers and shipping schedules depend on this vital information. For non-mariners, the effect is poetic; for BBC broadcasters, reading the report live is a rite of passage.