Voices of Lighthouses Blog
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 Discover South Portland’s History in this dynamic walking tour with over 50 stops. Explore historic landmarks, architecture and monuments. Learn about popular restaurants, craft beer bars and Portland’s waterfront history.
South Portland is home to Portland Breakwater Lighthouse. The Greek Revival building is the crown jewel of Bug Light Park. The architect of Portland Breakwater Lighthouse also designed the dome of the US Capitol. The lighthouse and a breakwater were built after an 1831 storm damaged ships, piers and buildings in Portland’s harbor. The breakwater was first constructed and turned out to be a navigational hazard. Finally in 1855 the first lighthouse was constructed. In 1874 the current lighthouse replaced the wooden lighthouse.
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 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. In 1976, it was donated to South Seaport Museum and moved to Titanic Memorial Park in Manhattan. The Time ball inspired the New Year’s Eve Time Drop.
The Friends of the Titanic launched a GoFundme fundraiser to restore the lighthouse on the 110th Anniversary of the tragedy on April 15, 2022. Join living relatives of the passengers and crew in preserving their memories by helping to restore the Titanic Memorial Lighthouse. A portion of the purchase will be donated to The Friends of The Titanic.  I spent last weekend driving along Florida’s A1A coast. I was delighted to see wetlands and mangroves blocking my view instead of condos and houses. Besides palm trees, wetlands are one of my favorite things about Florida.
A few days later, I read a post about the vulnerability of Louisiana’s wetlands. They are weakened due to being cut off for over a century from the Mississippi River. The wetlands are a natural buffer from hurricanes.  Purposeful and Playful" that's how a lady characterized my art at the "Voices of Lighthouses" Exhibit at the Lilac Preservation Project in Manhattan, New York. I'm so happy she understood the heart of my art..."Purposeful and Playful." I try my best to promote the preservation of lighthouses in a playful manner. Lighthouse preservation is serious business. But it feels good to help promote such a worthy cause. If you are an art collector, nature lover or conservationist, you will enjoy exploring my Paint the Parks page. I am a member of Paint the Parks worldwide network of artists who are passionate about preserving parks for future generations. Ten percent of the purchase of all art on my website's Paint the Parks page goes to the non profit, The Friends of the Titanic.  My lighthouse paintings are portraits. Each lighthouse has a particular mood and an attitude. Some are friendly and flirtatious while others are reserved and formal. When I paint Lighthouses, It is not the daymark that compels me. It is the atmosphere, sunlight, clouds and setting that becomes alive. The Amelia Island Lighthouse on the front was painted on a sunny day with blue skies. It stood as a closely guarded secret because there were no directional signs for getting there. Hence it blends with the background.  Experience New York during Open House New York October 16-17. There are few cities as exciting as New York. Don’t take it just from me. In a recent interview, James Craig aka James Bond expounded his excitement about living in New York and walking across Brooklyn Bridge.
Open House fosters community and exploration. It provides “access to thousands of places with architectural and cultural significance. Choose from in-person and virtual tours, talks, self-guided walks, and more.” United States Coast Guard Lilac celebrates Open House New York 2:00-6:00 pm. Tour the ship, visit the exhibition “Waters Change, Colors Fade” and meet the artist.  Happiness is a direction, not a place. Sidney J. Harris
My life’s dream was to retire in Miami. My mistake was to think my vacations were a reflection of the reality of living in Miami. When I first moved to Miami Beach I went to the beach everyday, joined a beach running club, took art classes, and delved into Art Deco history. I especially enjoyed the art walks, Miami Beach Art Basel and the Black Film Festival. (I won a $250 gift card at the festival.) Also, I met lots of nice people and developed deep friendships in Miami Beach. I was living my dream! After I lived in Miami Beach for 5 years, I got fed up with the party crowds, bad behaviors and traffic. I lived 5 minutes from the beach, but rarely went because of visitors trashing the beach. But if I had to do it over again, I would. I came away from my Miami Beach with a love of architecture that had laid dormant for years. (In college, I thought about being an architect.) This love of architecture eventually led to me painting lighthouses. I discovered a new direction in life.  The President’s Proclamation on this year’s National Arts and Humanities Month recognizes the importance of the arts during the Pandemic. The arts not only help us to understand our experiences but lifts our spirits. The arts indeed have the ability to heal our collective wounded spirits.
According to the proclamation, the arts have been recognized as a foundation of our Republic since it’s beginning. George Washington wrote in 1781, “The arts and sciences are essential to the prosperity of the State and to the ornament and happiness of human life.”  Located at Anclote Key State Preserve, the lighthouse is a short boat ride from Tarpon Springs. It is home to 43 species of birds and a pristine beach. A scenic nature trail leads to Anclote Key Lighthouse The steel framed 102 ft lighthouse offers a panoramic view of the tiny pristine island.
The Anclote Key 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. Beginning in October, Anclote Key Lighthouse will be open for climbing the second Saturday of every month.  The Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse in Pompano Beach, Florida was built after four centuries of wrecks on beautiful but dangerous area reefs. Pompano Beach is often called the “Wreck Capital” of Florida because of the numerous shipwrecks in Hillsboro Inlet. The lighthouse is a guardian of safety and consolation.
The statue of “The Barefooted Mailman,” memorializes James Hamilton who mysteriously disappeared while on duty. The first mailmen worked the barefoot route from Palm Beach to Miami because there was no road connecting the 68 mile route. They traveled by boat and walked along a sandy shore. The Hillsboro Preservation Society will offer tours on “Barefoot Mailman Remembrance Day” October 9-10. The shuttle boats to the lighthouse leave hourly from 9 am - 3 pm. |
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