My Hero Portraits-

Disclaimer; there are too many heroes in my life to paint. I've decided that the requirement and deciding factor has to be the impact that the person had on a community and that they have passed on into the next world. The only exception to this rule is that I do take commissions and I do paint my children every 3 to 4 years. Dating back to college I painted my version of the official Presidential portrait every new term, but the people I paint have obviously had a more personal impact on my life. The last President I painted a portrait of was President Barak Obama. It has become more difficult to paint a portrait people I only know through the media. Though it was fun to paint a portrait of a president I actually voted for (first one in my life 1-4) (Could not vote for presidents while I was living in the USVI in the 90's). It is a more meaningful challenge to paint the spirit and likeness of the people I know personally and as I remember them. I like having hero paintings around because they remind me to live everyday like it's my last.

The first hero portrait is my good friend Gawain Mainwaring. Gawain was a huge presence in the West Asheville community especially on Brucemont Circle. We were in the West Asheville baby sitting Coop together, we played softball together, camped, partied, and watched many sporting events including Gawain's favorite the Carolina Panthers. Gawain battled cancer for many years and did so with grace and courage. Ironically he passed away on my birthday a week from Super Bowl 50. The panthers ended up losing to the broncos as we gathered together to celebrate Gawain watching the game in the Mothlight. The painting came from a photo taken by Artist Paul Olszeski during a WAWL whiffle game when a rainbow appeared behind Gawain in left field. I'm pretty sure film maker Rod Murphy exclaimed "A GAWAIN-BOW!"



The second Hero portrait is of Sandy Tattersall. Sandy was like an older brother when I was growing up. He was a huge part of Camp Timanous in Raymond Maine where I spent all my summers till I was 17. He was my Crows Head Counselor in 1976 and later my mentor when I returned to camp 33 years later with my own children. Finding the right photo to use for his portrait was the first challenge. With the help of Kasey Suitor I decided on a photo from the year I was a Crow Camper and he was my Head counselor. There are so many stories I could share but the reaction I got from people at camp this past summer as I was in the process of painting it says it all. People were visiting the Handi-Craft shack just to see the portrait of Sandy. I gave the painting to Sandy's good friend Pineman. I think it's still at camp in Sandy's old cabin or Tattersall Hall. We all loved him and we all miss him! he was huge! A great Friend! A legend!

The Third Portrait is of my friend Fred Watts from St. Thomas USVI. Fred's Wife Polly hired me as an art teacher for The Antilles School in 1991. Polly picked us up at the airport on a hot day in August in an "island Jeep" with a tape deck playing something LG (my Pirate Bride) knew and could sing. Well, Polly took a liking to her immediately. Fred and Polly took us in and helped us navigate through our years and adventures on the Island. There were many adventures. We sailed many of weekend with them on their beloved Amazing Grace and years later along side on our own sailing vessel and home.  Music was always the main theme but what I loved was when Fred would go into one of his many stories with that distinct island accent he had acquired over the 30 plus years he lived in St. Thomas. LG sang in their band, we joined them for many thanksgivings, and we even share the same wedding anniversary (with a few years apart). Fred gave the toast at our "Pirate Wedding" on board a 70 foot schooner. They were our Island Family! Fred was a great friend and the painting was a joy to paint. It didn't come alive until I added the Tropical colors! Thanks for all the stories and adventures Fred!

Those three portraits represent the three most important places in my life. My next portraits will be the next series of portraits of my children Halsey who is 18 and Zada who is 15. They are as important to me as any place I've ever lived.

Halsey Marshall Congleton my 18 year old son is about to embark on an adventure of his life time. He will be in Mexico for 9 months living with a family and going to school. I'm proud of him, and will miss him but also very excited for him to be so adventurous. I wanted to write something to him, but wanted it to be special. So I decided to write him a chapel to be given at Camp Timanous at a future time. I just finished reading "Waking Up White" by Debby Irving which has probably had an influence on this chapel talk. My own father Jake Congleton probably has influenced this chapel talk the most though. My mother as well Sandy Orr who brought me to Civil Rights marches in Boston during the 60's. They both brought diversity into life at an early age. I'm grateful for that, and for being allowed to talk about it. I'll always remember the day MLK was assassinated and how upset my Parents were. I once thought I was color blind. I've always tried to judge people on character regardless of race, sex, or religion. But now I know something has to be done. My own son Halsey is far beyond where I was at his age regardless of the exposure to diverse living experiences I was exposed to as a kid. I'm very proud of my son and thought this would be the best way to express that.  I hope to give this someday in front of some of the best people I know, the people I love like family, Camp Timanous!

A Chapel for Halsey

Timanous Prayer;

We thank thee, O lord for the joy of fellowship;

For the beauty of our surroundings:

The tall trees and sparkling lake,

The life which teams around us in the woods,

The skies and clear water.

We thank thee for the love of doing things.

For active bodies and minds alert,

For the excitement of something new

and the comfort of things which are old.

For all these we give thanks:

For the cool and quiet evening

The restfulness of night,

The glory of starry skies

The new life which comes with showers,

For mothers and fathers who have given us our homes,

And for the trails which help us to know ourselves.

For all these we give thanks.

This Chapel is dedicated to all the Parents who have seen their child grow into an amazing human being and to the children who have seen the glow of love in their parents eyes.

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dear Halsey,

When you were born I held you up to the sky and the stars. I think they liked what they saw. They at least liked the music that you heard for the first time in your life, Bob Marley Trenchtown Rock. You are blessed! The Universe has been kind to you so far. There are many lessons though, and life skills that I feel I’ve neglected to tell. Whether I thought you would learn them best on your own time or I just forgot to tell you I’m not certain. When you turned 18 years of age I felt proud, love, and panic all in the same moment. I’m proud of the person you have become. I’m proud of your confidence in your self and how you easily talk with all people. I’m proud that you have an awareness of the inequality that has been unseen in our own communities and which have given you privileges as a white person that you have had in your life. It’s not right and it’s ok to talk about it. You are good at that. I’m proud that you seem to not have any bias toward anyone, and your ability to judge people on character not looks. I’m especially proud of your adventurous spirit your love for nature. I’m proud to be your Dad! I love your friends, your loyalty, and your abundant energy to go on expeditions. I love you as my son and friend. Though I’m panicked because I’ll miss you, I’m panicked because the child I helped raise is ready to meet the world.

“It is usually easier and more reliable to carry extra tricks up your sleeve instead of extra gear in your pack.”

-John Gookin

  Song- This Land is your land –Woody Guthrie

I hope that I have instilled a lasting adventurous spirit into your life that you will embrace all that confronts you and challenges you. Adventure is not neat It is not always fun. Adventure can and should bring discomfort and even personal injury. I hope that you will look at adventure as an opportunity to grow as a human being. Please do not be idle for very long, rest when you need to, but go out there into the world try new things, be open and always take the path of adventure. You are good at that too. You have a gift of youthful energy. Use your energy and time never take it for granted. Take a new road get lost, explore, slowdown, really talk to people, listen, it’s all part of the adventure called life. Oh the stories you will tell!

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to ones courage”

-Anias Nin

Song- Puff the Magic Dragon

“Life is ether a daring adventure or nothing”

-Helen Kellor

When I was young I made many mistakes. Don’t be afraid to fail because you will stumble, and you will fall. What you do in the moment will help you see what kind of a man you are. It is not expected that you will always know what to do. There are many choices in life and not all lead to happiness. What road to go down, which friends to hang out with, and eventually where to make your home. Don’t blame others for your own mistakes, take responsibility for your choices or the chance at being somewhere you do not like. Remember what you are good at. Don’t blame others for things you can change in your own self and be cautious of judging people. When you fall pick yourself up look around there may be many like you who are stumbling through life as well. Show them empathy, share your story, many times your true friends will be standing right next to you and will go unnoticed to you. Pay attention to the world it is an awesome spectacular beautiful mystery. Pick yourself up again and again be positive, and go try again and again. Don’t expect to change the world right away. The world owes you nothing it has been here a very long time. You cannot change people to your likening, learn how to appreciate their differences. You are the only person you can change in this world. Mistakes happen and will keep happening, we all fail, so will you, but what you do after will speak volumes about your character. What you do when the world is not watching and you are alone will determine the man you are and will be. I’m very proud of you because I know you will be a great human being. Halsey I love you! I’m proud of who you are, and always know I’ll be waiting to hear your stories of the good times and bad. You are about to make many stories, which I hope you someday will share with your Mom and Dad.

“Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit”

-Bernard (Arthur Owen) Williams

 

Song- Lively Up Yourself- Bob Marley and the Wailers

Salutation to the Dawn

Attributed to Kalidasa

Look to this day!
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course
Lie all the verities and realities of your existence:

The glory of action;
The splendor of achievement;
For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is only a vision;
But today, well lived, makes every yesterday
a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

The bliss of growth;

Look well, therefore, to this day!

Such is the salutation of the dawn.