The Little Mermaid at the San Francisco Ballet

In 2011, PBS's Great Performances featured the San Francisco Ballet's production of The Little Mermaid.

The ballet was choreographed by John Neumeier and the music composed by Lera Auerbach. (A complete cast list and production credits can be found on Odette's Ordeal.)

The little mermaid swims while being suspended in air by the strong arms of fellow dancers, and by flipping her silky blue fins behind her. Hans Christian Andersen also plays a role in this telling. He dances the little mermaid to life with his words and movement.

Here are a few images from the ballet:

The Little Mermaid, San Francisco Ballet

The Little Mermaid, San Francisco Ballet

The Little Mermaid, San Francisco Ballet

The Little Mermaid, San Francisco Ballet

The Little Mermaid, San Francisco Ballet

The Little Mermaid by the San Francisco Ballet is a hauntingly beautiful adaptation of Andersen's fairy tale. It was commissioned for the 200th anniversary of the famous storyteller's birth and had its world premiere on April 15, 2005 at the Royal Danish Ballet in Copenhagen, Denmark.

If you have the time, be sure to watch some or all of this mesmerizing production, available for streaming on PBS. org.

Mermaid of the Moment: The Illustrated Man and La Sirena by George Courage

Earlier this year my husband George designed a mugboard (the photo thingy with the faces cut out) for a musical theatre production of ICARUS, produced by Liars & Believers in residence at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA.

The story was a retelling of the ancient myth set in a Depression-era freak show carnival. (George also designed several banners that were used in the production, getting him a mention in the NY Times, which you can read about Here)

Since George loves mermaids he decided to go with a sailor and mermaid illustration.

Below are his concept drawings and progression throughout the process, from sketchy doodles and reference, to the finished mugboard in use.

Mermaid of the Moment: 2015 Calendar by Abigail Halpin

 

Today's Mermaid of the Moment is another lovely illustration from Abigail Halpin featuring a 2015 calendar she created for  a tea towel design contest on Spoonflower. There will be prints available for purchase on her Etsy shop soon.

Mermaid of the Moment: Sea Bench by Shelly Bradbury

Sea Bench by Shelly Bradbury, Bronze, 2008.

On a recent trip to Gloucester I stopped by the Cape Ann Museum. In their outdoor courtyard I was drawn to this remarkable piece: a bronze bench adorned with various sea creatures, two mermen, dolphins, coral and a lovely female face in the centerpiece.

Sea Bench by Shelly Bradbury, Bronze, 2008.

The bench was created by sculptor Shelly Bradbury in 2008. It is on loan at the Cape Ann Museum from the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center.

Sea Bench by Shelly Bradbury, Bronze, 2008.

Here are the two mermen and some other details. Mermen are an uncommon design element, but their strong shoulders seem fitting to hold up the bench's net-like seat.

Sea Bench by Shelly Bradbury, Bronze, 2008.

Sea Bench by Shelly Bradbury, Bronze, 2008.

Sea Bench by Shelly Bradbury, Bronze, 2008.

 

If you're heading to Gloucester, MA or the Cape Ann Museum, be sure to take a moment to enjoy this beautiful and functional sculpture.

Mermaid of the Moment: The Ipswich Mermaid by George Courage

The Ipswich Mermaid, George Courage, Acrylic on canvas 8"x10".

My husband George Courage painted this mermaid portrait.

The image of a mermaid in a wheelchair is one that's been with him since he was young, growing up in Ipswich, MA. When he was in high school, the drama club produced the play Miranda by Peter Blackmore. (Miranda was made into a film in 1948 starring Glynnis Johns, one of my favorite mermaid films.) The titular mermaid was transported in a wheelchair for the better part of the play and inspired the image. Although the play was set in the 1940's, George loved the idea of a mermaid wearing a Victorian-style dress, and that's how he sketched her as a college student.

This recent version also features a lighthouse in the background. The model for this lighthouse once stood on Crane's Beach in Ipswich. It was moved to Cape Cod in the 1930's and though George never saw it in person, he grew up going to Crane's and heard stories about the lighthouse that used to reside there.

"The Ipswich Mermaid" is currently on display in Salem, MA (along with several other illustration works by George) at the Salem Theatre at 90 Lafayette Street. His work will be on display through December 2014.

Imperium Neptuni Regis: Shellback Certificate

The ceremony of "Crossing the Line" (the "Line" being the Equator) has been a part of Naval culture in many a country's military maritime practice for the last 200 years or more. This rite is commemorated with several initiation "exercises" and a certificate usually featuring King Neptune, mermaids and other sea-life.

The certificate below was given to my husband George's uncle and namesake, George Wallace Kitzmiller, who served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. Around the border of the certificate are mermaids riding large fish, mermaids in whirlpools, and various other small sea creatures. The central large illustration features King Neptune with his trident flanked by four hippocampus. The large banner reading Imperium Neptuni Regis, translates to "The Empire of King Neptune."

(Click on image to enlarge)

Shellback Certificate, U.S. Navy, George W. Kitzmiller, 1944.

The text on the certificate reads:

To all sailors wherever ye may be: and to all Mermaids, Whales, Sea Serpents, Porpoises, Sharks, Dolphins, Eels, Skates, Suckers, Crabs, Lobsters, and all other Living Things of the Sea GREETING Know ye That on this 29th day of December 1944, in Latitude 00000 and Longitude ____ there appeared within Our Royal Domain the USS Earl V. Johnson bound south for the Equator and for the Southwest Pacific.
BE IT REMEMBERED
that the said Vessel and Officers and Crew thereof have been inspected and passed on by Ourself and Our Royal Staff And Be It Known: By all ye Sailors, Marines, Land Lubbers and others who may be honored by his presence that
George W. Kitzmiller
having been found worthy to be numbered as one of our Trusty Shellbacks he has been duly initiated into the SOLEMN MYSTERIES OF THE ANCIENT ORDER OF THE DEEP.
Be It Further Understood That by virtue of the power invested in me I do hereby command all my subjects to show due honor and respect to him wherever he may be.
Disobey this order under penalty of Our Royal Displeasure
Given under our hand and seal this 29th December 1944
Davey Jones, His Majesty's Scribe
Neptune Rex, Ruler of the Raging Main
By his servant J.J. Jordy

Here's a detail from the border of the certificate.

Uncle George served on the U.S.S. Earl V. Johnson in the South Pacific. Here's a photo of him with a sailor buddy, most likely on shore leave judging by the playful grins on their faces.

Unknown sailor (left), George W. Kitzmiller (right), U.S. Navy, 1944.

U.S.S. Earl V. Johnson

Mermaid of the Moment: A Fair Catch by Norman Rockwell

(Click image to enlarge)

A Fair Catch, Norman Rockwell, Saturday Evening Post, August 20, 1955.

This mermaid by Norman Rockwell graced the Saturday Evening Post on August 20, 1955. His reference for the painting included an 81-year-old Gloucester, MA lobsterman, a professional female model from New York City (it would have been too scandalous to ask a neighbor to pose nude) and a 12 pound pollack from the Berkshire Fish Company. He photographed the fish, then gave it to a local restauranteur who served the resulting fish fillets for two days.

Howard Pyle's Seaside Holiday Photos, 1910

Earlier this year, I wrote an entry about The Mermaid, one of my favorite mermaid paintings by the late famous illustrator Howard Pyle.

Just recently, I was contacted by a fellow mermaid devotee, an employee at the Winterthur Museum in Delaware, who also collaborates with Howard Pyle's great granddaughter. (On a side note, the Winterthur Museum is hosting an exhibit of original costumes from Downton Abbey through January 4, 2015.)

As a result of this serendipitous cyber-world connection, The Daily Mermaid has been given permission to share never-before-seen photos taken by Howard Pyle of his family at Rehoboth Beach in Delaware in 1910.

I hope you'll enjoy these photos of an Edwardian day by the sea. In terms of dress things have changed quite a bit, but I think we can all understand the joy of a day at the beach.

(Click on the photos to see them at a larger size.)

Howard Pyle, Rehoboth Beach, 1910

Howard Pyle, Rehoboth Beach, 1910

Howard Pyle, Rehoboth Beach, 1910

Howard Pyle, Rehoboth Beach, 1910

Howard Pyle, Rehoboth Beach, 1910

Howard Pyle, Rehoboth Beach, 1910

Mermaid of the Moment by Maureen Pelletier

This beautiful mermaid sculpture was created by artist Maureen Pelletier. It's fashioned from natural driftwood and wire. I love how it's constructed from found materials. The texture on the wood adds depth and color.

You can find more of Maureen's work at Walker Creek Furniture and Gallery in Essex, MA.

The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley and William Heath Robinson

The Water Babies by Reverend Charles Kingsley was first published in its entirety in 1863. This hardcover version (a gift from my coworker Doug and the serendipitous Rockport, MA transfer station) looks to be from 1915, published by the Houghton Mifflin Company.

This volume is in fairly good condition for being 99 years old. It's a little weathered around the edges and there's some water damage, some of the front pages are a little loose, but they're all present. It's too bad the front cover illustration is missing.

Here's an image I found of the front cover on Google. This illustration also appears later in the story.

 The content of the story is didactic in tone and tells of a young chimney sweep named Tom who falls into a river and drowns. He becomes a water baby and sets about having various moral adventures, which culminate in his quest to redeem his old master, Grimes. Grimes also drowns, and is given a chance at life if he can perform a final act of penance. 

Through the story Kingsley shares his concern for the English poor and questions the use of child labor. However, he also reveals several typical Victorian prejudices towards Americans, and the Irish Catholics in particular.

I confess I haven't read the story in its entirety yet. My main interest is with the illustrations by William Heath Robinson.

There are two different illustration styles represented in The Water Babies. First, a pen and ink, black and white style, like the illustration below.

I love the art nouveau, Mucha-like look of the lady and how her dress floats around her in a graceful swirl.

The second style, found in the color plates, is a dreamy watercolor style which is well suited to the numerous underwater scenes.

 William Heath Robinson lived from 1872 - 1944. He was best known for his "drawings of ridiculously complicated machines for achieving simple objectives." He also illustrated many classic fairy tales and stories including The Arabian Nights, and Tales from Shakespeare. Original drawings by Robinson are available for purchase in the UK.

I think I like his pen and ink style the best. The slightly cartoon-y quality of the pen and ink figures have a lot of personality and charm.

Mermaid of the Moment: Merbaby by W. Heath Robinson

This little guy is a teaser for a longer post I will be doing shortly about The Water Babies by Charles Kinglsey, illustrated by W. Heath Robinson, copyright 1915, from Houghton Mifflin.

Stay tuned for more water-babies!

Mermaid of the Moment by George Courage

This was a Christmas present my husband George created for me a few years ago. He used a plain basswood box, drew in pencil and then painted in acrylic. The mermaid design was inspired by a free Dover Publications download.

I love the organic, art nouveau feel of the design with the plants and leaf motif trailing off the edges.

The First Swim of Summer

Walden Pond State Reservation

What better day to take a dip than the first day of summer? And...I got to use the new beach towel my friend Kalila gave me for my birthday, adorned with four cute mermaids.

I love swimming.

It's not that I'm particularly good at it. I never swam competitively in high school or college. It's just that the feeling of weightlessness is so relaxing.

It feels like it's not just my body that's weightless, but my soul as well. I often feel bogged down by worries, cares, and fears, but in the water I'm nine years old again. The years are stripped away and it's just little me, playing in the wide pond, embraced by it's cool, enveloping touch. The water holds me and I am uplifted with it, buoyed by hope and a thousand more summer days.

Several years ago, I dreamed I was a mermaid. I remember swimming in shallow, greenish water, light filtering through in wavy, dappled rays. Smooth plants glanced my sides and tail, and rocks hunkered below me on the floor of the brackish inlet I traveled. Breathing underwater, I inhaled and felt the liquid enter my nostrils, and then down into my lungs without resistance.

There was no effort at all. It was all so easy.

My Writing Process - Pyewackett of Salem

Last week, children's writer Sophia Mallonee linked to The Daily Mermaid from her post on The Red Door Blog. This week I'm sharing my process and projects. 

What am I working on now?

I’m working on several different picture book manuscripts right now. In particular this year, I’m focusing on a story called Pyewackett of Salem/Pyewackett Sets Sail. It’s the story of a ship’s cat on the merchant vessel, the Friendship of Salem, and a cabin boy named Thomas, taking their first voyage to sea together.

I wrote the story with my husband George Courage who is an illustrator and graphic designer. We put together a dummy of the book and two sample illustrations and submitted it to three publishers so far. We're getting ready to send it out to another publisher this week.

How does my work differ from others of the genre?

This story differs from other picture books because it’s based on a historical time period and therefore required a bit of research for both the story and illustrations. Having a ship's cat on a merchant vessel was a common practice during the late 1700's, early 1800's. While I couldn't confirm for sure that the Friendship had a ship's cat, it's fairly likely. So, in writing the story I wanted to imagine what it may have been like for a ship's cat and a cabin boy's first sea voyage. We wanted to make the story as historically accurate as possible while still making it fun and engaging for children.

Another thing that makes this story different is that people can visit the ship where the story takes place. A full-size replica of the Friendship of Salem is docked at Derby Wharf and is part of the nine acre National Maritime Historic Site in Salem's waterfront.

Since we live in Salem it’s been pretty easy to walk downtown to the Visitor’s Center to talk with the park rangers who give tours of the Friendship, visit the Peabody Essex Museum, and to find books and resources about Salem’s maritime history.

Why do I write what I do?

I write picture books because I love the form. I love how words and pictures blend together to create a magical experience for children. I also love picture books because they’re one form of writing that’s almost always read aloud, so there’s a certain aspect of performance to reading them. I have a background in theatre and oral interpretation, so I have a deep-held love for the spoken word. There’s a unique thing that happens between an audience and a performer, and I feel that reading picture books captures part of that.

I wrote this particular story to tell about an aspect of Salem’s history with which people might not be as familiar. Most people know about the Witch Trials of 1692, and what a tragic event that was, but there is more to Salem’s history. I chose to tell the story of a ship’s cat because I love cats, and it’s an interesting entry point into the history of this period.

How does your writing process work?

I keep a small journal in my purse and by my bed in order to record any ideas or interesting dreams I have.

Dreams are great for ideas or for brainstorming new stories. I sometimes feel like I’m the most creative when I’m asleep. Sometimes I get really funny, kooky ideas that would be great for picture books. Other times I have really scary, fearful dreams. Not that I would use those in a picture book per se, but it’s always interesting to analyze them, and they could become a motivation behind a picture book character.

I also like to visit and explore museums, gardens, reservations, and historic homes in and around the area where I live, and when I travel. The journal in my purse is perfect for visiting these kinds of places. Inspiration for a new story can happen anywhere.

As far as making time to write, I work full-time during the week, so I write mostly on the weekend. I’ll sit down on Saturdays in the late-morning or Sunday afternoon to hash out an idea I have, make revisions, or write a blog post.

Thanks for reading! Next I'll be passing the blog tour baton to illustrator Nancy Meyers.

Nancy Meyers, whose mother was a watercolor artist, grew up surrounded by paints, pastels, crayons, and colored pencils. She continued to study art throughout high school and college. After working more than 20 years as a designer and art director, she began writing and illustrating for children's publishing. She has illustrated over a dozen books for children, and her doodle books (Buster Books, London) have been translated into six languages. Nancy endures the world's most absurd weather extremes living in Minnesota with her husband, two daughters, and one not-so-well-behaved dog.

See more of Nancy’s work at nancydrewit.wordpress.com.

Mermaid of the Moment by Anna Chouinard

This mermaid doll was created by my friend Anna Chouinard, a talented artist who creates dolls, intricate bead-work jewelry, and sculpture.

The shelf siren was fashioned from fabric, wire and paint and was sold at Nightingale Arts. To see more of Anna's work visit Nightingale Arts of Salem at 124 Boston Street in Salem, MA or online.

Mermaid of the Moment by Abigail Halpin

This lovely mermaid scene is by illustrator Abigail Halpin. Abigail has illustrated many children's books, including Bella's Rules from Dial Books for Young Readers and Mia's Boiling Point: #10 Cupcake Diaries from Simon Spotlight.

I met Abigail at the NESCBWI conference in May. We bonded over our shared affection for cat-eye glasses and of course, mermaids.

To see more of Abigail's work, visit her site, Theo Design or her blog.