Maine Coastal

Painted on site on a brilliantly sunny morning in August at the Nubble Light House rocks I was fortunate to face the mighty Atlantic and have the beautiful ocean breezes to keep me cool.  There were multiple visitors that morning and I had the pleasure of chatting with several people from all parts of the world.  (Oil, 6x6, archival gesso board)

This beautiful spot was witness to one of the most told maritime disasters on the Maine coast for many years, the wreck of the Isidore in 1842.  The newly built sloop left Kennebunk on its way to New Orleans.  Two crew members, so the story goes, had premonitions of the wreck and subsequent bodies being washed ashore.  One escaped and did not report for duty, the other, afraid to bear the wrath of his captain returned to the ship and set sail.  Not long after leaving Kennebunk the weather changed and gale winds drove the ship into the rocky shoals off of Bald Head in York Maine.  All 15 perished with only 7 bodies washing ashore the next morning as predicted by the prescient sailors in the days before departure.  It is said many a sailor have seen the ghost ship and crew off the coast of York since then.  This disaster along with several more led to the establishment of the now famous lighthouse on Nubble rock in York, Maine.  

This story also illustrates the changing nature of the culture and economy of the Maine coast.  Once known as an integral part of the shipping economy and trade around the world, ship building and the opportunities, though often brutal lifestyle, of being a sailor, York as well as its neighboring towns are known now as vacation capitols.