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.