National Lighthouse Day

Cape Lookout Lighthouse | credit: NPS

On August 7, 1789, Congress passed an Act for the establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys and public piers.

In honor of the 200th anniversary of the establishment of the first federal lighthouse, Congress designated August 7, 1989 as National Lighthouse Day.

This recognition has encouraged communities and citizens groups to dedicate themselves to the preservation of these historic structures.

Source: NPS

UPDATE:

Though National Lighthouse Day is celebrated annually by lighthouse organizations nationwide, Congress has yet to designate August 7 as the date the U.S. officially recognizes the nation's lighthouse heritage.

For more information, visit lighthousefoundation.org.

Stellwagen at Twenty Lecture Series

Maritime Gloucester will host a series of lectures on "Stellwagen at Twenty" to showcase the natural, maritime and human history of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

Beginning Thursday, March 22nd, and for the following five Thursdays, experts will present new data, rarely seen underwater footage and stunning photography on topics ranging from the large number of shipwrecks that dot the Sanctuary to the whales, fish and birds that inhabit it.

The "Stellwagen at Twenty" lecture series runs Thursday evenings from 7 – 8:30 pm at Maritime Gloucester at 23 Harbor Loop in Gloucester.

source: NOAA FishNews

Hurricane Themed Artwork

storm damage

Late summer and fall is hurricane season for the Caribbean, Central America, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Coast of North America.

Although hurricanes and other storms are unwelcome visitors, there is no denying their strength, beauty, and mystique. For nautical artists, hurricanes and other ocean storms are often a source of inspiration.

Hurricane-related artwork often includes coastal scenes, storm preparation, boats struggling in rough seas, fishing villages, harbor scenes, coastal architecture, lighthouses, rain squalls, flooding, storm damage, and other scenes.

USA Nautical Festivals

Summer is peak time for nautical festivals in the USA. Along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts, festivals celebrate fish and seafood, recreational fishing, power boating, kayaking, sailing, watersports, beaches, nautical art forms, and other interests.

In most areas, seafood festivals are lined with artist's booths, craft vendors, and other nautical art exhibits. Some artists will work in a single media or focus on a narrow niche, while others will offer a wide range of nautical gifts.

Visiting beach festivals is another excellent way to find nautical collectibles. Beach festivals usually have tents where vendors can set up booths to showcase their work.

Nautical festivals are usually tied to local traditions. In the Pacific Northwest, nautical shows might celebrate wild salmon or Dungeness crabs, while Mid Atlantic festivals often feature sailing art or boats of the Chesapeake Bay.

Ohio Lake Erie Commission 2011 Photo Contest

Amateur photographers who want to capture images of Lake Erie life can enter the Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC) 2011 photo contest. Winning images will be displayed as part of a traveling exhibit and in an online photo gallery.

The 2011 “Life on Lake Erie” photo contest is open to amateur photographers, age 18 and older. Photographs taken between July 9, 2010 and July 8, 2011 in and around the Lake Erie watershed can be submitted to the OLEC through July 14, 2011.

Submissions must be the original work of the photographer and can portray sustainable use, development or protection of Ohio’s Lake Erie coastal resources. They can incorporate shoreline landscapes, wildlife, plants or even people enjoying various coastal activities.

Digital photos must be minimum 300 dpi (600 dpi preferred) and in jpg or tif format, sized to 5 x 6. Up to five entries are allowed per household with all photos submitted on a CD. All submissions become the property of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission.

To enter and read complete rules visit: lakeerie.ohio.gov

source: Ohio Department of Natural Resources