Tag Archives: Cape Lookout

News

Aboard the SeaFair!

October 7, 2011 – 5:32 pm

On the journey back from its summer season in New England, SeaFair- America’s Megayacht Venue- stopped in Morehead City, North Carolina to participate in the 25th Anniversary of the North Carolina Seafood Festival, which was recently voted the best event in the Southeast.

SeaFair partnered with the Arts Council of Carteret County, Downtown Morehead City Revitalization Association and the NC Seafood Festival organizers to present an exhibition of unique works from North Carolina artists as well as internationally renowned artists throughout the weekend.

ABOUT SEAFAIR

SeaFair is the world’s first mobile megayacht venue and one of the largest private yachts in the United States. Groundbreaking in scale, ingenuity and style, the innovative exhibition facility – which remains dockside during each event – pairs international fine art, jewelry and collectables with harbor view dining and special events in cities along the eastern seaboard.

The ship boasts three decks of international galleries, two outdoor bars, an international coffee bar, as well as a formal glass-walled restaurant and an open-air bistro on the Sky Deck.

The $40M purpose built exhibition yacht was designed by internationally acclaimed yacht designer Luiz de Basto. At 228 feet and 2,800 international tons, it is one of the largest ships built for commercial operation in the Intracoastal Waterway and requires a draft of only 6.5 feet, allowing it to dock at yacht facilities in central city locations rather than use commercial ports.

SeaFair is owned and operated by International Fine Art Expositions (IFAE). IFAE Principals, David and Lee Ann Lester have been in the art fair industry for over 20 years and have organized over 70 international art fairs in art capitals around the world including New York, Chicago, Hong Kong, and London. IFAE has pioneered the Florida market establishing the American International Fine Art Fair (AIFAF) in 1997, now the premiere fine art fair in America, and Art Palm Beach in 1998, one of Florida’s most celebrated contemporary fairs. In addition, the firm founded Miami Florida’s original international art fair, Art Miami, in 1991. In 2011, IFAE launched two of the most successful fairs inaugurated that year, Naples International Art & Antique Fair (NIAAF) and Art Naples.

For more information on SeaFair, please visit www.expoships.com.

Tags art blogs, Arts Council of Carteret County, ArtSpendor, Cape Lookout, Carolina Coast, concord, morehead city, nc artists, NC Seafood Festival, SeaFair, sharon kearns, sharon kearns art, sharon kearns blog | Comment (0)

New Artwork

Bill Collector and Sensation

August 15, 2011 – 4:45 pm

“Bill Collector and Sensation” 11″ x 14″ Acrylic on Canvas

In painting the Bill Collector and the Sensation on the Morehead City waterfront, I began to ponder the naming of vessels – one of the most enduring traditions of the sea. (After all, you have to think of something when you paint!) I love the “play on words” when a captain names a boat. Boats are historically named after women.

I’m hoping that the Titanic was not named after a woman. However, I do know of a certain boat, Tritanic, which was named by three brothers whose previous boat, sank (or more appropriately - was sunk.)

So, as I mentioned, many boats are named after women: Maggie, Peggy, Caroline, Ava D, Sandra D, Annie C, Barbara B, Jeanie B, Miss Tammy, Miss Judy, Lady Sarah, Lady Faye, Lady Barbara, Bluewater Lady, Fight-N-Lady, Carolina Lady, Carolina Princess, Kristy Kay, Island Girl, Callie Girl, Diamond Girl, and Georgy Girl.

Times have changed, of course. And the selection of a boat name can be an art form such as the following: Pelagic- Greek for “open sea;” Serefe -Turkish for “cheers;” Apsara - female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology; Avra – Greek for ”breeze;” Halcyon - an adjective meaning calm, peaceful or tranquil; and Styrbjörn - Old Norse for “the strong.”

Then there are those that Jimmy Buffet might like, such as It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere, Impulse, Dancin’ Outlaw, and Kee West. For those who prefer country music, George Jones’ voice comes alive on Hello Darlin’.

Boat names also seem to be derived from happy experiences during their summer escapes. Consider the following: Release, Islander, Carolina Time, Inspiration, Great Escape, Magic Moment, Reel Dreams, Some Kinda Good and No Problem.

With a name like Frayed Knot, Cardinal Sin or Never Easy, you wonder if boaters’ feel a bit guilty for having so much fun on the open water.

The Beagle is the only boat I have seen with his own mascot.

Then there are those who just can’t help but take a little of their work with them. I’m guessing that Miss Calculation is probably owned by a CPA, Mental Floss by a dentist, Wet Floors by people in the floor business, Bobbin by a textile mill, Megabyte by a computer geek, Class Action by a lawyer, Citation by a policeman, Miss Demeanor by a judge or policeman, Welder’s Ark by a welding company, Chainlink by a fence company, Frequent Flyer by a traveling businessman, and Resuscitation by a doctor.

My theory is that the Penta Gone from Chesapeake, VA works for the Pentagon.

There are names that are derived from the names of captains and boat owners. Examples include: Captain Phillips for the Phillips family, Dun Rite for the Dun family, MoBoat for Amo, Jim Dandy for Jim, Tailwalker for the Walker family, Fishinnant for the Hinneant family, James Joyce II for James Joyce, Reel Jim for Jim, Haphazard for Hap, and Bizzy B for the Bizzell family. The one where I was privy to spend most of my boating hours was ARKangel, a play on my husband’s initials and his saintly nickname.

I am not sure that I would want to run into Rodeo or Safari on the open waters.

“Sea” appears to be the most popular name: Sea Striker, Sea Spud, Sea|Sea, Sea Toy, Sea Hag, Seaweed, Sea Creature, and Sea Dancer II. There are boat names that relate specifically to fishing: Offshore, Yellowfin, Marlin and Marlin Fever.

I am completely confused by Pig Rig.

There are those boats whose captains I imagine push the envelope a bit: Wet-N-Wild, Skirt Chaser, Outlaw, Reel Affair, Risky Business, Strip Teaser, Knot Accountable, Hooligan and Piracy.

There’s a boat called Dawg Haus, which could be a guy who seeks the ship’s refuge when he is not getting along with his wife.

If I were giving a prize for the most clever boat name, It would have to be Fahr Frum Wurken. I’m not sure if the owner is of German descent, or owns a Volkswagen, but he definitely has the right attitude toward relaxing unless, of course, the boat is actually not running.

Endorfin is also quite clever for the energetic fisherman.

According to legend, each and every vessel is recorded by name in the Ledger of the Deep and is known personally to Poseidon, or Neptune, the god of the sea. (Perhaps this is why Neptune, still stands watch over the fishing boats on the Morehead City waterfront today.)

A special thanks to the Bill Collector, Captain Stephen Draughon and the Sensation, Captain Dale Britt of Morehead City, N.C. for allowing me to paint their boats.

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“Bill Collector and Sensation” 11″ x 14″ Acrylic on Canvas

Now Available: Arts & Things Gallery, Morehead City, N.C.

Tags Bill Collector, Cape Lookout, Carolina Coast, concord, fishing boats, morehead city, Sensation, sharon kearns, sharon kearns art, shrimp boats, waterfront | Comment (0)

New Artwork

The Front Line

July 11, 2011 – 4:22 pm

The Front Line 16″ x 20″ Acrylic on Canvas

The Front Line is a view of some of the fishing boats along the Morehead City waterfront. When I see them from the waterfront, they give me a sense of a brave and high-spirited fleet – dashing and gallant warriors of the adventurous sea.

For me, this resonates all the more. I do not like to be at sea in anything less than a gigantic vessel. (Of course, the Titanic certainly had her share of problems, too! But at least you did not have to endure endless hours of roller-coastering from point A to point B, while buckets of water are being thrown at you from all sides amidst lightning bolt side-shows!)

My brushes with “Mother Nature’s” wrath on the open waters have given me great respect for life jackets and for those who spend their livelihoods on the ocean. I imagine that it is not an easy life. I imagine the toils, tribulations, mountainous swells and stormy seas while trying to perform the simplest, as well as the more complicated of tasks. My imagination falls short of an inconceivable reality.

Certainly there is a flip side that affords the brave and daring a certain freedom – a freedom to roam, explore, experience - in a manner few can. I imagine sun-kissed days, glorious sunrises and sunsets, flying fish skimming the tops of sparkling waves, icy storages filled to the hilt with bounty, and an awaiting beer among buddies while tales of tall adventures are shared.

These – majestic vessels and her courageous souls - forever retain an honorable slip in “The Front Line.”

Soon Available: Arts & Things Gallery, Morehead City, N.C.

Tags art blogs, art commissions, Cape Lookout, Carolina Coast, concord, morehead city, nc artists, north carolina, North Carolina art, sharon kearns, sharon kearns blog, waterfront | Comment (1)

News

Outlook

March 30, 2011 – 2:46 pm

“OutLook”

36″ X 56″ Gallery Wrapped Acrylic on Canvas

Original Artwork and Prints Available:

Arts & Things Gallery, Morehead City, NC

Tags art blogs, art commissions, Cape Lookout, Carolina Coast, concord, morehead city, nc artists, north carolina, North Carolina art, sharon kearns art, sharon kearns blog | Comments (4)

New Artwork

"Seafarer's Guiding Light"

June 27, 2010 – 6:04 pm

“Seafarer’s Guiding Light” 16″ x 20″ Acrylic on Canvas Panel

I have always been amazed by the North Carolina lighthouses.. and often surprised at the number of North Carolinians who have never visited them.

Highly recognizable, the black and white diamond decked lighthouse at Cape Lookout was not always black and white, nor was it a lighthouse. Since, there is no house attached, the structure is really a light tower. In fact, of the four lighthouses protecting North Carolina’s Outer Banks, only the lighthouse at Currituck Beach is an actual lighthouse; the other three, Cape Lookout, Cape Hatteras, and Bodie Island are light towers. Their names changed to lighthouses, when authorities conceded after much confusion; everyone insisted upon calling them all lighthouses.

Built in 1812, the original octagonal light tower at Cape Lookout, painted red and white, was only 98′ tall. Even perched atop the 8′ sand dune, the structure was too small, too ineffective, mariners rightfully, complained. Throughout history, over 600 ships have sunk along the coast of the Outer Banks. The area off the Carolina coast, dubbed the graveyard of the Atlantic, was too dangerous to traverse without an effective guiding light, claimed Sea Captains. Along this section of the outer banks, hidden shoals extend for 14 miles out into the Atlantic. The shallow sandbars constantly shift under the pressures of the strong currents. Here the cold waters of the Labradors meet the warm waters of the Gulf Stream and they furiously collide, and clash. The effects of the treacherous hidden shoals, combined with the strong currents, can rip a ship to shreds in a matter of minutes. “There is greater danger from seeking the light than any danger it marked,” Seafarers claimed referring to the poorly designed lighthouse.

If you have ever boated to “The Cape” you know that the weather and conditions can change rapidly. Small crafts, as the one depicted in my latest painting, can suddenly become very frightening places to be. The one thing missing from the painting are the life jackets on the sailors. Whenever I heard the words, “get out the life jackets,” I knew that it would be a roller coaster of a ride home! And, you can not get out and walk, if you do not like gigantic swells.

At the bottom of a wave trough, you see only walls of neighboring swells. Above the walls of water, you see only sky. At the top of the trough you can see as far as the eyes can see, as if atop a mountain.

To this day, rapidly changing conditions at sea impact and remain clear in my mind from days long past.