Tag Archives: sharon kearns

Visit Sharon Kearns at ArtSpendor on the SeaFair!

On the journey back from its summer season in New England, SeaFair- America’s Megayacht Venue- will be stopping in Morehead City, North Carolina to participate in the 25th Anniversary of the North Carolina Seafood Festival which was recently voted the best event in the Southeast. SeaFair will partner with the Arts Council of Carteret County, Downtown Morehead City Revitalization Association and the NC Seafood Festival organizers to present an exhibition of unique works from North Carolina artists as well as internationally renowned artists. A jury of art collectors, museum professionals and artists will select among the submissions to select the best artists to be represented aboard.

The 25th North Carolina Seafood Festival officially opens with a private preview on Thursday evening September 29th aboard SeaFair docked at Portside Marina.

SeaFair will host “ArtSplendor on SeaFair, A Fine Art Show & Sale” in the exhibition salons during the festival, a juried art exhibition sponsored by the Arts Council of Carteret County. Eighteen of the twenty eight gallery salons will be devoted to this juried exhibition of outstanding artists of North Carolina and the Southeast.

Sharon Kearns has been selected to exhibit in one of the ArtSpendor Galleries. She will display several new works for this special fine art show and sale.

In addition to the bevy of artworks onboard, the three-day festival will bring special artist demonstrations. Admission is $ 10 per person, $ 5 for children under 10 years old and Priority Boarding tickets $15. Separate Sky deck access for the Saturday fireworks display – limited tickets available for $15. Tickets may be purchased in advance at www.expoships.com. SeaFair will be centrally located in full view of the N.C. Seafood Festival’s firework display on Saturday night. SeaFair’s Sky Deck – rising 60 feet above the water – is always a spectacular platform to view waterside fireworks events.

In the evening, attendees can enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views from the sky deck paired with live music and unique seafood selections. The Sky Deck bar will present a wide selection of beers, a unique selection of wines as well as lively performances by Flair bartenders.

The Arts Council of Carteret County will hold “Art & Jazz at Sunset,” a cocktail party and private viewing of the exhibition on Sunday, October 2nd from 6:30-10pm. Tickets are $75 per person. This fundraiser will benefit the arts council (a 501(c) 3 non profit organization) and will feature full access to the yacht and all art galleries, fine hors d’oeuvres prepared by a popular local caterer, open bars and live vocal and keyboard jazz by world renowned performer Grenoldo Frazier. For more information: Visit ACCC’s website at www.artscouncilcarteret.org, email artscarteret@yahoo.com or call 252.659.0253. Tickets are limited, and must be purchased by Sept. 22.

ABOUT SEAFAIR

SeaFair is the world’s first mobile megayacht venue and one of the largest private yachts in the United States. Groundbreaking in scale, ingenuity and style, the innovative exhibition facility – which remains dockside during each event – pairs international fine art, jewelry and collectables with harbor view dining and special events in cities along the eastern seaboard.

The ship boasts three decks of international galleries, two outdoor bars, an international coffee bar, as well as a formal glass-walled restaurant and an open-air bistro on the Sky Deck.

The $40M purpose built exhibition yacht was designed by internationally acclaimed yacht designer Luiz de Basto. At 228 feet and 2,800 international tons, it is one of the largest ships built

for commercial operation in the Intracoastal Waterway and requires a draft of only 6.5 feet, allowing it to dock at yacht facilities in central city locations rather than use commercial ports.

Learn more about SeaFair on CNBC!

SeaFair is owned and operated by International Fine Art Expositions (IFAE). IFAE Principals, David and Lee Ann Lester have been in the art fair industry for over 20 years and have organized over 70 international art fairs in art capitals around the world including New York, Chicago, Hong Kong, and London. IFAE has pioneered the Florida market establishing the American International Fine Art Fair (AIFAF) in 1997, now the premiere fine art fair in America, and Art Palm Beach in 1998, one of Florida’s most celebrated contemporary fairs. In addition, the firm founded Miami Florida’s original international art fair, Art Miami, in 1991. In 2011, IFAE launched two of the most successful fairs inaugurated that year, Naples International Art & Antique Fair (NIAAF) and Art Naples.

SeaFair will be docked at Portside Marina, 209 Arendell Street, Morehead City. The ship will be open Friday, September 30th from noon – 10pm, Saturday, October 1st from 10am – 10pm, and Sunday, October 2nd from 11am – 5pm. Dinner service in the glass walled dining room overlooking the harbor will be available by reservation. Lunch and full bar service will be served on the Sky Deck 360 Bar and Luxe Lounge on the second outside deck. For more information on SeaFair and to acquire advance tickets, please visit www.expoships.com.

For more information on the “Art Splendor” exhibition and for ticket information about the “Art & Jazz at Sunset” cocktail party please contact the Arts Council of Carteret County, www.artscouncilcarteret.org/.

“Hondo and Boots”

“Hondo and Boots” 16″ x 20″ Acrylic on Canvas

For Mary Katherine’s mother, Karen, on her birthday.

To discover how this painting evolved, click HERE.

Tour de Sunflowers

“Tour de Sunflowers” 25″ x 85″ Acrylic on Canvas

For Katherine’s Birthday!

To learn more about how this project evolved, click HERE

Bill Collector and Sensation

“Bill Collector and Sensation” 11″ x 14″ Acrylic on Canvas

In painting the Bill Collector and the Sensation on the Morehead City waterfront, I began to ponder the naming of vessels – one of the most enduring traditions of the sea. (After all, you have to think of something when you paint!)  I love the “play on words” when a captain names a boat. Boats are historically named after women.

I’m hoping that the Titanic was not named after a woman. However, I do know of a certain boat, Tritanic, which was named by three brothers whose previous boat, sank (or more appropriately - was sunk.)

So, as I mentioned, many boats are named after women: Maggie, Peggy, Caroline, Ava D, Sandra D, Annie C, Barbara B, Jeanie B, Miss Tammy, Miss Judy, Lady Sarah, Lady Faye, Lady Barbara, Bluewater Lady, Fight-N-Lady, Carolina Lady, Carolina Princess, Kristy Kay, Island Girl, Callie Girl, Diamond Girl, and Georgy Girl.

Times have changed, of course. And the selection of a boat name can be an art form such as the following:  Pelagic- Greek for “open sea;” Serefe -Turkish for “cheers;” Apsara - female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology; Avra – Greek for ”breeze;” Halcyon - an adjective meaning calm, peaceful or tranquil; and Styrbjörn - Old Norse for “the strong.”

Then there are those that Jimmy Buffet might like, such as It’s Five O’Clock SomewhereImpulse, Dancin’ Outlaw, and  Kee West. For those who prefer country music, George Jones’ voice comes alive on Hello Darlin’.

Boat names also seem to be derived from happy experiences during their summer escapes. Consider the following:  Release, Islander, Carolina Time, Inspiration, Great Escape, Magic Moment, Reel Dreams, Some Kinda Good and No Problem.

With a name like Frayed Knot, Cardinal Sin or Never Easy, you wonder if boaters’ feel a bit guilty for having so much fun on the open water.

The Beagle is the only boat I have seen with his own mascot.

Then there are those who just can’t help but take a little of their work with them. I’m guessing that Miss Calculation is probably owned by a CPA, Mental Floss by a dentist, Wet Floors by people in the floor business, Bobbin by a textile mill, Megabyte by a computer geek, Class Action by a lawyer,  Citation by a policeman, Miss Demeanor by a judge or policeman, Welder’s Ark by a welding company, Chainlink by a fence company, Frequent Flyer by a traveling businessman, and Resuscitation by a doctor.

My theory is that the Penta Gone from Chesapeake, VA works for the Pentagon.

There are names that are derived from the names of captains and boat owners. Examples include:  Captain Phillips for the Phillips family, Dun Rite for the Dun family, MoBoat for Amo, Jim Dandy for Jim, Tailwalker for the Walker family, Fishinnant for the Hinneant family, James Joyce II for James Joyce, Reel Jim for Jim, Haphazard for Hap, and Bizzy B for the Bizzell family. The one where I was privy to spend most of my boating hours was ARKangel, a play on my husband’s initials and his saintly nickname.

I am not sure that I would want to run into Rodeo or Safari on the open waters.

“Sea” appears to be the most popular name:  Sea Striker, Sea Spud, Sea|Sea, Sea Toy, Sea Hag, Seaweed, Sea Creature, and Sea Dancer II. There are boat names that relate specifically to fishing: Offshore, Yellowfin, Marlin and Marlin Fever.

I am completely confused by Pig Rig.

There are those boats whose captains I imagine push the envelope a bit: Wet-N-Wild, Skirt Chaser, Outlaw, Reel Affair, Risky Business, Strip Teaser, Knot Accountable, Hooligan and Piracy.

There’s a boat called Dawg Haus, which could be a guy who seeks the ship’s refuge when he is not getting along with his wife.

If I were giving a prize for the most clever boat name, It would have to be Fahr Frum Wurken. I’m not sure if the owner is of German descent, or owns a Volkswagen, but he definitely has the right attitude toward relaxing unless, of course, the boat is actually not running.

Endorfin is also quite clever for the energetic fisherman.

According to legend, each and every vessel is recorded by name in the Ledger of the Deep and is known personally to Poseidon, or Neptune, the god of the sea. (Perhaps this is why Neptune, still stands watch over the fishing boats on the Morehead City waterfront today.)

A special thanks to the Bill Collector, Captain Stephen Draughon and the Sensation, Captain Dale Britt of Morehead City, N.C. for allowing me to paint their boats.

———————————————————————————–

“Bill Collector and Sensation” 11″ x 14″ Acrylic on Canvas

Now Available:   Arts & Things Gallery, Morehead City, N.C.

The Front Line

The Front Line 16″ x 20″ Acrylic on Canvas

The Front Line is a view of some of the fishing boats along the Morehead City waterfront. When I see them from the waterfront, they give me a sense of a brave and high-spirited fleet – dashing and gallant warriors of the adventurous sea.

For me, this resonates all the more. I do not like to be at sea in anything less than a gigantic vessel. (Of course, the Titanic certainly had her share of problems, too! But at least you did not have to endure endless hours of roller-coastering from point A to point B, while buckets of water are being thrown at you from all sides amidst lightning bolt side-shows!)

My brushes with “Mother Nature’s” wrath on the open waters have given me great respect for life jackets and for those who spend their livelihoods on the ocean. I imagine that it is not an easy life. I imagine the toils, tribulations, mountainous swells and stormy seas while trying to perform the simplest, as well as the more complicated of tasks. My imagination falls short of an inconceivable reality.

Certainly there is a flip side that affords the brave and daring a certain freedom – a freedom to roam, explore, experience  -  in a manner few can. I imagine sun-kissed days, glorious sunrises and sunsets, flying fish skimming the tops of sparkling waves,  icy storages filled to the hilt with bounty, and an awaiting beer among buddies while tales of tall adventures are shared.

These  – majestic vessels and her courageous souls -  forever retain an honorable slip in “The Front Line.”

Soon Available: Arts & Things Gallery, Morehead City, N.C.

Good Morning


Good Morning 24″ x 36″Acrylic on Gallery-Wrapped Canvas

Fascinating light and shadows peaked my interest on the waterfront behind Tony’s Restaurant on the Morehead City Waterfront one morning some months ago.

First day’s light emerges strikingly through an opening in the sleepy, morning clouds – filled with blues and turquoises from the evening’s slumber.  Bright white light beams down to the sailboat, illuminating it and making it glow as the new day awakens.   The sunlight radiates all the way through the railing, bikes… to the windows and wall. The light is so intense that it bounces off the windows and wall with an incandescent glow that further illuminates and creates additional shadows on the facing railing where the sailboat is docked.

The scene was indeed a mesmerizing view to behold…

Webster’s Dictionary sites a fitting definition for the word, “glow” -  “to experience a feeling of well-being or satisfaction.”

So yes….  it was indeed a “good morning!” on the waterfront!

Available: Arts & Things Gallery, Morehead City, North Carolina

Palms at Sunset

Palms at Sunset 6″ x 8″ Acrylic on Canvas

The Wedding Tree…

The Wedding Tree 24″ x 36″ Acrylic on Canvas

“The Wedding Tree” is a reflection of a very special tree at the Country Club of the Crystal Coast on the Bogue Sound in Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina. “The Wedding Tree” was painted in celebration of my daughter’s marriage. I wanted to paint the tree on a bright, crisp, sunny, spring day to symbolize the joy and happiness many couples have found in exchanging vows in front of this majestic tree…

The original artwork is available at Arts & Things Gallery in Morehead City, North Carolina.

New at Tidewater Gallery

“Provisioning for the Pamlico Sound” 16″ x 20″ Acrylic on Canvas

“Provisioning for the Pamlico Sound” is the latest addition to the Clyde Phillips Seafood Market series. The painting illustrates the Miss Gwendolyn being loaded with ice for a week-long trip to the Pamlico Sound in pursuit of shrimp.

“Moored on the White Oak” 11″ x 14″ Acrylic on Canvas

“Moored on the White Oak is a familiar scene for those who live and visit Swansboro. This is a view from the Clyde Phillips Seafood Market dock and also part of the Clyde Phillips Seafood Market series.

“Vern III”  14″ x 11″ Acrylic on Canvas

Vern continues to be the most popular subject in the Clyde Phillips Seafood Market series.  I dedicate  another painting to Vern  and for those who continue to see him as an integral part of the Clyde Phillips Seafood Market and Swansboro community. Here’s to you, Vern! ;-)

The Clyde Phillips Seafood Market series is available at Tidewater Gallery in Swansboro, N.C. in their brand new gallery on Main Street!

To view the entire series online, visit the Clyde Phillips Seafood Market series on my Web site:

http://www.sharonkearns.com/clydephillips.html

“Grace” at Greensboro Coliseum

“Grace,” a 36″ x 36″ acrylic on canvas painting, is now on display at the Greensboro Coliseum. “Grace” is a finalist for the 2011 US Figure Skating Association’s Poster Competition.

Congratulations to all the finalists!