Sailors Valentines: Maritime Art from the Heart

March 19 – December 21, 2025

Sailors Valentines: Maritime Art from the Heart celebrates the friendship and artistic collaboration of painter Ralph Cahoon and sailors valentine artist Bernard “Bernie” Woodman. Sailors valentines originated during the 19th century and feature exquisite shellwork housed in octagonal wooden boxes. Once popular gifts from sailors to their sweethearts back home, Ralph and Bernie further developed upon this artistic tradition with the inclusion of what they called “spyglass scenes”—paintings Ralph created as the centerpiece of Bernie’s intricate shell arrangements. Together between 1977 and 1982, Ralph and Bernie created dozens of whimsical, nautical fantasies in the sailors valentines tradition complete with mermaids, sailors, and hot air balloons. After Ralph passed away in 1982, Bernie commissioned Ralph’s wife and business partner, painter Martha Cahoon to carry on the tradition of painting spyglass scenes for his valentines. Ralph and Bernie’s sailors valentines tell a special story of friendship, artistic collaboration, and maritime history.