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Page 26 Vol. 39, No. 1
The 2010 Philadelphia Shell Show
Paul Callomon
The 28 th Philadelphia Shell Show was held on Columbus
Day weekend and was a great success by any measure. It was the
largest yet, with over five hundred feet of exhibits, and the quality
of the displays reached new levels. One of the hallmarks of the
Philly show is the balance of art and science, and this year saw
strong entries from both sides. The scientific displays tackled many
different themes and some visitors were surprised to learn that
this was not a professional museum exhibit but an amateur show!
Guests at the supper enjoyed a cocktail hour in the Academy’s
newly refurbished main lobby before moving into Dinosaur
Hall to eat. Photo by Mike Gage.
The Academy’s Department of Malacology fielded several
exhibits, including this one on the Pearly Nautilus. Photo by
Paul Callomon.
The main science awards were:
• R. T. Abbott Award: Ed Shuller & Jeanette Tysor,
“Mystery of the Migrating Mollusks”
• Robert B. Fish Award: Michael Gage, “Shells of Hawaii”
• Leonard Hill Award: Tom Grace, “Maurea of New
Zealand”
• DuPont Trophy: John & Darlene Schrecke, “True Conchs
of the World”
• COA Award: Karen VanderVen, “Volutes of the Tropical
Western Hemisphere”
• Masters Award: Gene Everson, “Seashells of the New
Millennium”
Spectacular Sailor’s Valentines continue to be a major feature
of the Philadelphia Show.
On the art side, great new work was displayed in several categories
including photography, shell flowers, shell pictures, and mirrors.
The principal art awards were:
• Best Single Sailor’s Valentine (non-professional):
Beverly Hartzell, “Objets Trouvés”
• Best in Show – Traditional Single Sailor’s Valentine:
Gerda Reid, “Dancing Flowers”
• Best in Show – Contemporary Single Sailor’s Valentine:
David Rhyne, “Springtime”
• Best in Show – Objets Trouvés Single Sailor’s Valentine:
Wendy Marshall, “Fruits of the Sea”
• Best in Show – Double Sailor’s Valentine: Jane Santini,
“May You Walk Gently”
• Best Artistic Exhibit (excluding Valentines, nonprofessional):
Lisa MacDonald, “Tidal Pool”
• Best Artistic Exhibit (excluding Valentines, professional):
Constance Marshall Miller, “Scratchboard Drawing”
• Best Shell of Show: Patricia Whitaker, Angaria sphaerula
• Best Self-collected Shell of Show: Gene Everson, Conus
theodorei
• Judges’ Special Awards (Scientific): Nick & Betty
Ruggeri, “The Clams that Nobody Loves” and Robert
and Happy Robertson, “Gastropod Coiling”
• Judges’ special awards (Artistic): Lindsey Rafter,
“Flowers and Fish”; Constance Marshall Miller, “Snowy
Egret”; Carolyn Mirkil, “Flowers in Vase” and Michele
Gilmartin, “Beautiful Bounty”.
The Preview Party on Friday evening was a huge success
with over 150 guests browsing the bourse and viewing the show.
The Phillies were in the playoffs that night (third year running),
which might have represented a dilemma for some, but happily a
live feed to the game was laid on! The evening raised $30,000 for
the Center for Molluscan Studies and the Academy’s Department
of Malacology.