Blue Angels Homecoming Show Veterans Day Weekend
Blue Angels return home for the NAS Pensacola Homecoming Airshow. See them Friday, Nov. 11 and Saturday, Nov. 12 during the air shows around 2:00 pm. During Veterans Day, the Nation officially pauses to remember the sacrificial love of veterans. Veterans Day is held on the anniversary of the end of World War I to honor veterans and victims of war. Their mission is to bring aviation to men, women and children across America. For more information on the Blue Angels Homecoming Show, call 850-462-7790 or visit naspensacolaairshow.com
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Change is not a threat, it's an opportunity. Seth Godin
Like most people, I don’t like change. I love the familiar and routine. During these last few years of Covid, I’ve learned how to embrace flexibility. When a new opportunity came as an Art Consultant, I was excited. However, my old hesitancy about change daunted me. As I began to move forward in my new career, I realized that my past experiences and achievements were assets. My former career as a graphic artist helped me to develop creative material. I am leveraging my marketing background to create content, press releases and develop campaigns. I recently realized my experience with art exhibits could be useful in developing a timeline for an upcoming special event. Despite all the positive changes in my life, one day I began to doubt myself as an artist. The next day I won the United States Lighthouse Society’s Midwest Art challenge. My lighthouse art of Grosse Point Lighthouse would be featured in their social media and weekly newsletter. Yay! I love the small town of Evanston, Illinois. It is a short train ride from Chicago. Quaint restaurants, scenic parks and historic buildings adorn it’s streets. Evanston is home to Northwestern University and is a popular retirement area for Fortune 500 executives. No wonder—-it is a beautiful coastal city off Lake Michigan.
Surveying a city map of Evanston, Illinois; I was surprised not to see any map symbols or references for the Grosse Point Lighthouse. It’s within walking distance from the center of downtown; the omission of the lighthouse on the map puzzled me. Evanston was once called Grosse Point hence Grosse Point Lighthouse. It really seemed sadly ironic that part of its history was erased by the exclusion of the lighthouse on the map. Because the city once petitioned Congress for ownership of the lighthouse, I remained baffled. Still the city of Evanston was a good caretaker of the lighthouse. It was in excellent condition. See this lighthouse on elainemariefineart.com Gateway National Park is 50 years old this month. An act of Congress established the National Park on October 27, 1972.
It spans New York and New Jersey. Gateway National Recreation Area offers 27,000 acres of green spaces, beaches and a fort. I visited the National Park and Fort Wadsworth Lighthouse in 2017. Since then, I have made seven futile attempts to finish a painting. 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, I realized that my favorite drawing did not include the entire fort complex. When I sent my son a copy of the finished painting he exclaimed it’s the biggest lighthouse complex you’ve painted, but it’s the smallest of them all. After two solo exhibits that began in the summer and concluded during Open House New York, I was emotionally drained. A New York exhibit should have been a high point in my career but for some reason it had the opposite effect. I didn’t want to look at or travel to a lighthouse.
Then came the pandemic. It put a bookend on my travels. Many lighthouses temporarily closed their doors. A few months later, I received a call from a cousin about my aunt’s doll collection exhibit. At the display, I talked to one of the staff at the nonprofit historic building. Her enthusiasm was contagious. I began having non stop ideas about collaborating with them during their restoration process. My passion for history rebirthed! Or was it? I began my journey as a lighthouse artist after painting buildings in Miami Beach Historic Art! Voted one of the world's most beautiful lighthouses, Fanad Lighthouse is one of 12 the Great Lighthouses of Ireland. Designated by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, the 12 Lighthouses feature breathtaking coasts and superb accommodations. Surrounded by spectacular mountains, the Fanad Lighthouse sits high on a peak with a helipad nearby. The beautiful, pyramidal 1912 lighthouse lived up to my expectations. The statuesque brick lighthouse stood solemnly upon cascading stairs like an Mayan temple. The plush green foliage surrounding it seemed to bow in submission.
The United States Navy was founded on October 13, 1775. Its initial mission was to intercept ships with supplies to the British army. It was known as the Continental Navy.
Today the US Navy focuses on winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas. The Navy has many elite teams that accomplish its mission through various channels. The Navy’s Blue Angels aerobatic team brings aviation to men, women and children across America and showcases the Navy. The Blue Angels certainly lived out their motto “Ambassadors of Goodwill” during 2020. Their “American Strong” salute honored healthcare workers, first responders, essential personnel, etc. todaysmilitary.com Blessed is the season which engages the world in a conspiracy of love - Hamilton Wright Mabie
I love the fall. It’s a season of moderate temperatures and a time of honor and love. Ordinarily we don’t honor much in our society. Somehow we have the erroneous perception that honoring others minimizes who we are. It is quite the contrary. Honoring and loving others strengthens us. These fall holidays that we celebrate and enjoy are about honor and love in one way or another: Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, Hanukkah. Love draws us together. Indigenous Peoples Day kicks off the season. The President has proclaimed today as Indigenous Peoples Day. It honors and recognizes the sovereignty, resilience and contributions of Native Americans who were forcibly removed from ancestral lands. “They are the greatest stewards of the environment. They have chosen to serve in the United Armed Forces at a greater rate than any other people.” The President restored the White House Council of Native American Affairs. He appointed more than 50 Native Americans in significant roles, including appointing Deb Halaand as Secretary of the Interior. She is the first Native American to serve as a cabinet Secretary. She oversees the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, etc. Today is Clifton Davis’ birthday. For those who don’t know who Clifton Davis is, I’ll share some of his notable accomplishments. He is an American Actor, singer, song writer and a licensed minister. He wrote the Jackson Five's number two hit “Never Can Say Goodbye.”
Davis played Reverend Ruben Gregory in the hit TV series “Amen.” His career gained momentum when he starred in “That’s My Mama.” He has recently appeared in the CBS hit show, “Madam Secretary.” His career began on Broadway. He recently finished a four year run on Broadway in the Disney musical, “Aladdin.” He remains active in the arts and in ministry at St. Lukes Baptist Church in New York, New York I was fortunate enough to share an elevator with Rev. David in Miami years ago. Because of my fond memory of meeting him and his pleasantness, I decided to honor him during National Arts and Humanities Month. The President’s Proclamation on this year’s National Arts and Humanities Month celebrates visionary artists, scholars and creators whose work touches and reveals the soul of America. Rev. Davis continues to touch the heart and soul of America. Happy Birthday. |
AuthorWhen I am not traveling to or painting lighthouses, I am writing or researching lighthouses. Archives
December 2022
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