People from all over the world visit Gay Head lighthouse. The popularity of the gaily, colorful cliffs and iconic lighthouse is nothing new. Charles Vanderhoop, assistant light keeper, according to a newspaper article, retired on disability in 1933 due to "visitor-itis!"
A century later in 1975, the popular lighthouse caught the eyes of Hollywood and Steven Spielberg. There's a shot of Gay Head Lighthouse in the Academy Award thriller, "Jaws.” When it was being relocated, the lighthouse was in the spotlight again in 2015. I was visiting Martha’s Vineyard during this time. Despite all the fanfare, the Gay Head Lighthouse was built in 1799 to warn mariners about the treacherous, submerged obstructions called “Devil’s Bridge.” My painting depicts the lighthouse as it was being moved against the backdrop of the cliffs. A splash of the ocean is shown in the background.
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After a short boat ride, I arrived at Anclote Key State Preserve and debarked at a pristine beach. A scenic nature trail led to Anclote Key Lighthouse. I drew several sketches and took photographs of the fuel house before scaling the 102 foot lighthouse. The steel framed lighthouse offered a panoramic view of the tiny pristine island. I was delighted to be able to visit during the reopening.
When I painted the lighthouse I thought about the signs that I had read along the nature trail. They warned that Florida’s natural habitat was being endangered by invasive erotics. These erotics endanger the vibrant ecosystem that supports some of Florida’s great wildlife, such as manatees, sea turtles and shore birds. This inspired me to used green in the painting to symbolize Florida’s lush natural habitat and to add a few palms trees that were prevalent on the island. Anclote is the Spanish word for anchor. The lighthouse was built in 1887. The tower was fabricated in the north and shipped to the island. It took just three months to assemble it. (www.lighthousefriends.com) One year after the Titanic sank, the Titanic Memorial Lighthouse and time ball was built in 1913 to honor the victims atop Seamen’s Church. The time ball would drop everyday at noon.
In 1976, the lighthouse was donated to South Seaport Museum and moved to Titanic Memorial Park in Manhattan. The Friends of the Titanic has launched a GoFundme fundraiser to restore the lighthouse on the 110th Anniversary of the tragedy on April 15, 2022. Ten percent of purchases on The Paint the Parks page will be donated the Titanic fundraiser. Peace is a fragile thing. It takes courage to secure it. It takes wisdom to maintain it - Jenny Shipley
Lighthouses are memorials of our history. Howth Harbor Lighthouse is a reminder of turbulent times in Ireland’s history. It is a symbol of the fight for Irish independence. A small plaque recalls this period. The lighthouse served a dual purpose. Not only did it guard the harbor but it also had a gun position for defensive purposes. Weapons were landed here during the Irish Civil War. Today, Howth Harbor is a quaint, peaceful village and a popular holiday destination. Howth Harbor Yacht Club is the largest in the Republic of Ireland. Check out my Saatchi Gallery, to see more of my Original Irish Lighthouse art. Artist Joe Rush hopes his sculpture Mount Recylemore in Cornwall, England will catch G7 leaders’ attention. His electronic waste sculpture has images of all G7 leaders mimicking Mount Rushmore. Rush’s artwork calls attention to the damage caused by disposal electronic devices.
In 2019, 53 million tons of e-waste was generated worldwide, a five fold increase from 2014 according to a United Nations report. To see more of my European Lighthouse Art, visit my Saatchi Gallery. Howth Harbor Lighthouse established in 1837 is built like a fort. The small lighthouse has a Georgian style house attached. It also has a gun position for defensive purposes. Weapons were landed here during the Irish Civil War 1922-23. The Civil War erupted over the disagreement over the Anglo-Irish treaty.
Today, Howth Harbor is a quaint, peaceful village and a popular holiday destination. Howth Harbor Yacht Club is the largest in the Republic of Ireland. To see my Original European Lighthouse Art, visit my Saatchi Gallery. It took a bit of mischief to see the St. John's Point Lighthouse in Ireland.
It was difficult to see and sketch the lighthouse while balancing on a wall! I wondered why our tour group couldn't get inside the lighthouse but now wasn’t the time for that discussion. To add to my anxiety, I fretted about the possibility of being handcuffed and taken to a foreign jail. Luckily we escaped without capture and headed to the next lighthouse. Although the initial dire request from mariners for a lighthouse on Rathlin Island was made in 1827, East Rathlin Lighthouse in Northern Ireland was not built until March 1856.
There were differing opinions on the need for a lighthouse by the Irish Commissioner of Northern Lights and the Corporation for improving Dublin Port. East Rathlin Lighthouse or Altacarry Lighthouse is unique in that it has two beacons. The taller light flashed and shorter light was fixed. The lighthouse’s two beacons were meant to distinguish them from nearby lighthouses. The ‘upside down’ lighthouse on Rathlin Island in Ireland is a marvel of human ingenuity. Unlike most lighthouses, the keepers at West Rathlin Lighthouse had to climb down to the light. Known as perhaps the “most friendly lighthouse”
Rathlin Light is built into the heart of the United Kingdom's largest seabird colony. Puffins and thousands of seabirds make the island home during various seasons. A limited collection of my original art is on sale at Saatchiart.com |
AuthorWhen I am not traveling to or painting lighthouses, I am writing or researching lighthouses. Archives
December 2022
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