When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened. Billy Graham.
African Americans have been the first to give their lives in defense of this country. This has inspired others to follow their lead. Crispus Attucks, a black man, is recognized as the first person to have died in the American Revolution. Aaron Carter, an African American, was the first Lighthouse staff member killed while on duty after an attack by Seminoles. He was the assistant keeper at Cape Florida Lighthouse. John Thompson the Head Light Keeper survived the attack.
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My son and I caught the Staten Island Ferry to visit the National Lighthouse Museum and to see the lighthouses on Staten Island.
I only had a minute or two to sketch and capture my impression of the Statue of Liberty with a few lines from the Staten Island Ferry. I later recaptured the energy of that moment in my painting, “Majestic Light.” I used the color purple as a symbol of its royalty. The Statue of Liberty is recognized as a symbol of freedom. A broken shackle and lays at her feet representing the abolition of slavery. Congressional acceptance of the gift from France specified that the structure would be maintained as a beacon. The Statue's days as a lighthouse ended in 1902. It should come as no surprise that the Jewish community in South Beach has often defied the status quo.
Barbara Capitman, a Jews, defied the establishment. Capitman fought city officials "tooth and nail" to preserve the historical buildings that lit up Miami Beach and make it the second most popular place in Florida. Facing off with those who thought South Beach should be known only as a place for "fun in the sun," Holocaust survivors rallied public support for the building of the Holocaust Memorial. A memorial garden and a sobering sculpture recall those who died and remind all who visit: "we must NEVER forget." Because of Capitman’s influence, I became an avid supporter of preservation. I began painting the Art Deco Buildings in Miami. I now advocate the preservation of lighthouses through my art. James, the father of psychology in the United States sure had it right. I discovered this quote about knowing what to overlook applies to life as well as art.
Since 2017, I have made several futile attempts to finish a painting of Fort Wadsworth Lighthouse. Recently as I read a book on Cezanne, I became captivated by his colorful painting “Homage to Provence'' and thought about Fort Wadsworth Lighthouse. I looked at a muted blank watercolor wash I had done earlier and decided to use it for Fort Wadsworth. My challenge was how to paint such a massive military complex. As I looked back on my sketches from 2017, I realized that my favorite drawing did not include the entire fort complex. As I began the painting, I recalled the panoramic view of the New York skyline from the lighthouse. I also thought about New York Harbor and the Narrow seaway that Battery Weed once protected. The lighthouse atop the Battery Weed was part of New York’s coastal defense system. The skyline, narrows were just as important as the lighthouse. They dominate my painting as much as the Battery Weed and about Fort Wadsworth Lighthouse. The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary can speak. Hans Hoffman
Constructed in the early 1800s, Fort Wadsworth Battery Weed is one of the oldest military installations in the United States. A panoramic view of the modern New York skyline from the Fort Wadsworth Lighthouse offers a compelling contrast to the historic fort. Located atop the Battery Weed, Since 2017, I have made several futile attempts to finish a painting of Fort Wadsworth Lighthouse. Last year, I created a series of blank watercolors and wondered what lighthouse I would paint on the empty surface. As I read a book on Cezanne, I became captivated by his painting “Homage to Provence'' and thought about Fort Wadsworth Lighthouse. I looked at the muted watercolor wash and decided to use it for Fort Wadsworth. The Battery Weed and Fort Wadsworth Lighthouse is one acre. My challenge was how to paint such a massive military complex. As I looked back on my sketches from 2017, I realized that my favorite drawing did not include the entire fort complex. I had to eliminate the unnecessary… We may have come on different ships but we're in the same boat now- Martin Luther King , Jr.
We sometimes forget that the United States is known as a nation of immigrants. This quote reminds us that we all are tied to one destiny. The latest wave of immigrants from Afghanistan is an echo from our past. It's impossible to mention the Ambrose Lightship (United States LV-87 Ambrose Channel) without including immigration. The Ambrose Lightship served as a beacon marking the Ambrose Channel, New York Harbor's main shipping channel. It is the only shipping channel in and out of the Port of New York and New Jersey. Built in 1907, the Ambrose Lightship greeted millions of immigrants. According to South Street Museum where the Ambrose is anchored, "Her light was the first thing an immigrant would see as they entered New York Harbor..." I visited the South Street Museum and boarded the Ambrose Lightship. It's the only time I've boarded a lightship. The waves in my painting recall the volume of immigrants entering the New York Harbor and the excitement and relief they must have felt coming ashore. Shrouded in the woods, the New Dorp Lighthouse was somewhat difficult to get to. My son and I climbed over a perilous trail in the darkness. As we approached the lighthouse, a ray of sunlight pierced the darkness and bounced off the humble lighthouse to our delight.
To sketch the lighthouse, I stood on a slippery incline while trying to keep my balance behind a fence in a threatening forest. After being abandoned, New Dorp Lighthouse was auctioned off to a private owner who diligently restored the building. In 1997 it was named a New York Landmark as a unique vernacular building with unusual design and outstanding architectural character. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. After sinking twice and laying submerged for three years the Frying Pan Lightship found redemption as a popular restaurant in Manhattan, New York. The Frying Pan Lightship began its career in 1929 at Cape Fear where it served for several decades. It departed briefly during World War II to serve near the Panama Canal. In 1964 after being replaced by a light tower, it became a relief lightship at Cape May, New Jersey. Two years later it was donated by the Coast Guard to a maritime museum in Southport, North Carolina. When the museum fell on hard times, the lightship sank at the dock. The lightship eventually was refloated and moved to Whitehaven, Maryland. After a pipe burst, the lightship sank again for the second time and was submerged for three years. Down but not out, the Frying Pan Lightship was bought, salvaged and restored. The lightship then was dry docked in Baltimore and eventually taken to Philadelphia. The lightship sailed to New York where it now proudly serves as a restaurant on Pier 66 at the Hudson River Park. Paul Cezzane was born January 19, 1839. In 1859 Paul graduated from the college of Bourbon where he began a friendship with Emile Zola. While at the school, he also studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts.
Cezzane's desire to become an artist put him at odds with his father. In April 1861 he finally gained permission from his father to study art in Paris. Apparently after failing entry admission to the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, he worked at Academie Suisse, where he met Pissarro. For the next 20 years he was active much of the time in and around Paris. He continued his self education by studying and copying at the Louvre. In 1863 he exhibited at the historic Salon des Refusés. Beginning in 1872, Cezzane worked with Pissarro, the impressionist who influenced his art the most and with whom he had the most in common. In 1887, now a rich man after the death of his father, he exhibited his work in Brussels. At the peak of his career, Cezzane painted the “ Bathers.” Card players, and many versions of “Mont Ste.Victoire.” In 1904, the Salon d’Automne recognized the genius of his work. He died a year later after painting outdoors. Great Modern Masters by Sir John Rothenstein Impressionism by the editors of Realites The ocean can be treacherous. The recent volcanic eruption near Tonga reminded me of how misfortune can occur without any warning and how vulnerable mankind is.
Mariners and lighthouses live at the peril of the sea. However, many of its dangers lie beneath the surface. The powerful volcanic eruption near Tonga sent tsunami waves around the world. Its roar was heard in Alaska. Gay Head Lighthouse in Aquinnah at Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts was built to warn of a dangerous submerged obstruction called “Devil’s Bridge.” |
AuthorWhen I am not traveling to or painting lighthouses, I am writing or researching lighthouses. Archives
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