Marker 24
Florida’s mangrove islands are mysterious and curious. They are filled with an abundance of pristine wildlife often living amongst an odd collection of debris that remains tangled in the web of roots that bind the island.
The Boca Grande Railroad Station – 1928
A landmark that has survived in Florida’s landscape. Beautifully repurposed and filling a community’s needs in the 21st century.
Byrd’s, Florida in the 50’s
Fish camps were distinctive architecture in Florida’s coastal communities. Rivers, bays and inlets often had these worn buildings teetering out over the water. Respites for hungry and thirsty boaters – with a characteristic scent of bait lingering about them!
Saturday Matinée, Florida in the 50’s
Visually documenting a place in Florida’s past offers a look at what helped to shape the character of a community. It’s a typical movie house in the 1950s in Florida with a wonderful twist! The Greatest Show on Earth premiered in the theatre with Charlton Heston, Jimmy Stewart and Betty Hutton in attendance. Elvis performed here and Ringling Bros. used the facility as their infamous clown college for years! Today the building is Sarasota’s Opera House.
The Casino, Florida in the 50’s
A landmark lost – dependent on photographs, paintings and writings to be remembered. The Lido Casino was designed by architect Ralph Twitchell and built as a WPA project. It opened in 1940 and was demolished just 29 years later in 1969. The iconic eight foot tall concrete sea horses are the most remembered architectural detail of the building.
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I choose the subjects of my paintings in part because I feel some responsibility as an advocate for historic preservation. It is my way of contributing to the chronicling of the history of our state and showing off the rich and varied fabric of each city, town and waterway that distinguishes it.
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