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The Art of Sarah Platt

Some months ago a talented young artist from Lake Mary set up her paintings and prints in the plaza on a Sunday morning across the street from the Cathedral. No other artists were there to assist her and help her set up. We would've suggested (though hypocrites we may be) that a large 4'x3' canvas be partially covered as some may take offense. This was the Bishop's day to say high Mass and she was only about sixty feet from the front doors of the Basillica. Alas, no one else was there to give her that advice.

She was ticketed 100 dollars for "offering for sale" her prints and paintings. Later we told her that she might have gotten away with a warning but for the two celestials coupling in her big painting.

We were criticized for covering up the painting as we did above here. So as not to appear censorial we have linked it here without any cover up. Use the back button to return here.

Sarah' s oil painting of two angels.

Le Moyne

What He Saw at the Clash of Civilizations

Reviewed By STUART FERGUSON for The Wall Street Jounal

July 18, 2008; Page W8

Painter in a Savage Land By Miles Harvey (Random House, 338 pages, $27)
Jacques le Moyne de Morgues may be the most influential artist you've never heard of. His elegant depictions of 16th-century Florida's flora and fauna -- including its native inhabitants and questing imperial visitors -- have made their way into millions of primary-school textbooks and have served, for historians, as the documentary record of a time (so hard to imagine now) before cellphone cameras.CONTINUED

Kate Merrick - Studio Azul

Kate Merrick of Studio Azul demonstrating her portraiture skills in the Plaza. Kate is recently back from an extended stay at her other home in the Dominican Republic. Visit Kate's website.

Offensive Speech

Romance In The Plaza Gazebo*

An excerpt from a book by Mark Steyn called “America Alone” (Regnery, 2006). The title was fitting: The United States, in its treatment of hate speech, as in so many other areas of the law, takes a distinctive legal path.

“In much of the developed world, one uses racial epithets at one’s legal peril, one displays Nazi regalia and the other trappings of ethnic hatred at significant legal risk, and one urges discrimination against religious minorities under threat of fine or imprisonment,” Frederick Schauer, a professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, wrote in a recent essay called “The Exceptional First Amendment.”

“But in the United States,” Professor Schauer continued, “all such speech remains constitutionally protected.”

*explanation

Potential

THIEME, Anthony (1888-1954)"Arcade in St. Augustine"Oil on Canvas24 x 29 inches

From :Lost Colony: The Artists of St. Augustine, 1930-1950 by Robert Wilson Torchia

"The Art Association gradually became a provincial organization run by local art enthusiasts.
Other circumstances also prevented the Art Association from fulfilling its potential. Motivated largely by self-interest, St. Augustine's business community generously supported the group, but during the Bonfield years the association's pragmatic values and aesthetic conservatism began to stifle creativity. With few exceptions, the city's art community was unwilling to embrace the abstract expressionism that was de rigueur in more sophisticated northern art colonies, such as Provincetown, where the presence of Hans Hoffman (1880-1966) attracted some of the most famous and progressive American artists of the era. The Art Association's officers were out of step with their time and invariably sought to attract traditionalists, such as Kronberg, Thieme, Wiggins, and Woodward, to serve as magnets for other artists. Many of the paintings produced by the group's artists -- for example, Fritz -- were unabashedly souvenirs for the tourist market, and there was a limit to how long such subjects as historic houses, shrimp boats, and the semitropical landscape could maintain the consumer's interest."

Permission To Speak ?

"We make our own rules down here"...former St. Augustine city prosecutor

Election time is coming up here for our city commissioners. We've heard that a couple of the candidates have expressed a desire that the city be more "artist friendly". Time and again we hear of those that feel the artists, musicians, bead stringers, craftspersons etc. could have a juried system set up and a market could be established in a designated public place and perhaps have a lottery for those spaces. Artist friendly...right? No.

We have tried to be clear about our endeavors to stand up for artist's rights as recognized by the Federal courts. Public space has been the traditional forum for freedom of expression in America. Do we believe in "rules"? Of course we do. Reasonable time, place and manner regulations are necessary to maintain an orderly aesthetic. The key word is "Reasonable". Art is speech. Artist's rights are also your rights.

Here we have an interview with Robert Lederman, an advocate for street artists, freedom of speech and open public spaces. Robert sued the city of New York to strike down permit requirements for artists in public spaces. His case went to the Supreme Court and is cited in many free speech cases. Robert explains our stance very succinctly.

Very Soon this issue will be in the National spotlight. Our city will be known as America's Oldest Police State. Watch what is going to happen. Passivity is over. Most of us are members of A.R.T.I.S.T. Artists in N.Y.C., Reno, Nev, Boston, Chicago , Venice Beach, CA are our brothers and sisters in this battle and we communicate. Perhaps you city officials here in St. Augustine should be contacting you counterparts in those cities. Ask em in Reno, Nevada and other cities how their attempts at stifling free speech worked for them. Link.

You have the police and their handcuffs. You have the jails. You have your hired "constitutional expert". Your offers of unacceptable alternative spaces and your wholesale purchases from selected artists in our grooup are seen for what they are...transparent shams.

You continue violate the law and we will do our utmost exposing these gross violations to the public. We may well end up being just one old Rottweiler and a grizzled white haired eccentric but keep sending the cops and we''ll provide the prisoner.(but he'd rather not go)

In preparation of a Federal lawsuit our attorneys have asked (under the Sunshine Law) for materials pertinent to the passage of the November 07 ordinance which bans us from the historic districts. Hopefully this is done in a timely fashion so that we can get on with our day in Federal court. We do not have confidence that we get justice in the St. Johns County court system.

Dean Quigley

That's Art In The Market artist Dean Quigley as naturalist/artist William Bartram. Dean is considered an expert on Bartram's 18 century Southern travels. He has worked closely with The University of Florida illustrating a number of books from the University's press. Dean is in Pensacola by invitation this week discussing artist's involvement in Pensacola's 450th anniversary. At a later date we will let you know what agency he was talking with and the extent of artists' involvement in their anniversary.

St. Augustine's own organization, the 450 group is headed by a commissioner who has shown himself to be an enemy of free expression and the U.S. Constitution. We do not expect the City to want the involvement of Art In The Market artists. Pensacola seems to have a different mindset

Charles Dickinson - Bar Harbor Show

Word comes to us that Art In The Market artist Charles Dickinson had a successful opening last night at the Salty Dog Gallery in Southwest Harbor Maine. Folks sampled wine and cheese (lobster rolls?) while viewing the plein air paintings Charles completed outdoors in the area. He also met a few collectors who had acquired their first works here in St. Augustine at Plaza de la Constitucion.*

*Eighteen months ago, as he was painting at St.George St and Hypolita, Charles was told by the local St. Augustine police to either pack up or face arrest.

Police State

Orson Welles

We have received an email from Hollywood screenwriter Joseph C. Cavella giving us insight into his film Freedom River.

To: PlazaNews@mail.com

From: Joseph C. Cavella

"Freedom River is getting way more attention now than it did when I wrote the screenplay. Here’s how the film came to life. Over several of years, Bosustow Films, a small studio I occasionally wrote films for, had asked Orson Welles, then living in Paris, to narrate one of their films. He never responded. When I finished the Freedom River script, we sent it to him together with a portable reel to reel tape recorder and a sizable check and crossed our fingers.He either was desperate for money or (I would rather believe) something in it touched him because two weeks later we got the reel back with the narration word for word and we were on our way."

Joseph C. Cavella

http://www.howtowritecomedy.com/

Welles, as an independent director/producer, was continually on the margins of the industry. Insiders say that in 1968 he ran afoul of the Nixon White House for narrating a political satire critical of the president.The I.R.S.(reputedly under White House orders) seized his production funds causing severe financial difficulties. He was an exacting filmmaker and the financial difficulties remained throughout his lifetime. Voice overs and cameo roles in other directors film

s maintained him. ( do you remember the Dean Martin Roasts or the Gallo Wine commercials?)

For years J. Edgar Hoover's F.B.I. extensively shadowed and monitored Welles after William Randolph Hearst exerted his influence to suppress Welles' films feeling that Citizen Kane was a smear against him.

It is understandable then, that he is quoted as saying that he had more freedom both personally and artistically when he lived and worked in Europe. These remarks led our government to label him a communist and "anti American". Such was the mindset of a good number of Americans in those days.

Let us say that we consider Welles to be distinctly and honorably American. Throughout his career he fought for personal and artistic freedom sometimes exacting a heavy toll.

We'll Keep Coming Back !

We will fight to have our rights restored ! Visit us in the Plaza de la Constitucion

Give Us More Regulations

The Artists In The Market have a recurring discussion amongst us regarding the physical appearance of the tourists passing by. We do not mean to be superficial and some of us certainly may fall into a borderline obese condition. There is a noticeable trend occurring. This year we are seeing less shopping bags and more ice cream cones in the hands of visitors.

An estimated two of every three American adults, and more than one in six children and adolescents are considered overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A survey by the National Center for Health Statistics states that the average man measured 39 inches while the average woman measured 36.5 inches at the waist.

From where we sit we can see ample evidence of this. Remember your teen years? We recall the years when we could and would eat anything in mass quantities. We were like sharks in search of protein. What we did do was burn it off, not on a treadmill but youthful exuberance seemed to keep us lean and hormonal. How is it that we now see teens whose physique resembles a sedentary fifty year old? Sure we rarely see serious acne anymore but we see now see lots of fat kids. Too many Lunchables? Another reason? Pepsico, drug companies, Kellogg’s, General Mills, Mars candy, Coca Cola, Sara Lee are all giving considerable revenue to school districts in return for exclusive placement in the cafeterias. A corporate-dietitian-school triad has been established and the children pay via obesity, diabetes, tooth decay and attention deficit.

Perhaps the regulation minded will come up with "fatty credits". Four trips to the salad bar get you points for a double dip ice cream cone. Imagine the system similar to the environmental "carbon offset" programs. If you choose to go to Outback Steakhouse but have no "fatty credits" available, you can call a commodities exchange, using your credit card to purchase "fatty offsets" from those who have excess offset points(the "skinnies"). If your credit card is maxed and you are short of cash you will have settle for celery stalks and V8 juice. Yes sir! I'll bet that the think tanks are already working on this and the profiteers are dreaming of untold profits in trading in a necessary product......food availability.

Meanwhile, we have here in the nation's oldest city group of bureaucrats who feel that they can control and regulate the basic rights and freedoms our nation was founded upon.

We Won't Back Down

This is dedicated to the artists who continue to exercise their right to display and sell their works on public property risking fines and arrest in St. Augustine, Florida . the nations oldest city.

Thomas Paine - Forgotten Patriot

Thomas Paine 1737 - 1809

The existence of Thomas Paine was as important to our Freedoms as Adams . Jefferson and Washington.

Paine quotes

"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right."

"A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice."

"But such is the irresistable nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants is the liberty of appearing."

"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good."

"The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection. "

Peg McIntire 1911 - 2008

photo by Peter Willott

Our Friend Peg

Activist for Peace & Justice

St. Augustine Record Story

John Lynch 1945 - 2008

When tourists or residents complained about the "bums" in the Plaza it was many times in reference to John Lynch. Whatever sent Mr. Lynch on the road to broken down alcoholism, we'll never know. He was usually in an extremely foul mood. Life had battered him apparently and he escaped into the bottle. He had over 32 citations and a number of incarcerations from" open container" violations to aggravated battery(drunken disputes).

If anyone took the time to talk with John they would find that it wasn't easy to make friends with him, but eventually you could get him to smile at a joke or express thanks for the donut or whatever. He had eyes that were a striking blue when not bloodshot. If he had been dry for awhile (jail time) his appearance changed to a tall ,distinguished ,white haired 63 year old gent who could be mistaken for the head of the Rotary. This change was brief, until he got a hold on another bottle

Mr. Lynch had a rough year . His favorite bench was made off limits when he got out of the slammer the last time. He was incontinent and his legs stopped working , so he had been assigned a wheelchair on his last hospital/jail incarceration. The local cops were amazed at his durability. The last time that I saw him, his wheelchair was parked next to the Cathedral on St. George. I bought him a pizza slice and asked him if he was ok. "Goddamn legs won't work anymore!" he barked. I said, "You sound like your old self, you grumpy bastard". He grinned and went about eating the pizza. "Can you get me a goddamn beer? I considered it for a moment but then told him, "I can't John".

I found out that Mr. Lynch's body finally gave out and he died recently. I thought about the speech to the troops from the film "Gladiator".

"If you find yourself alone, riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled for you are in Elysium and you are already dead."

.......Enjoy the green fields and the sun on your face, John.

Gangsta Car

The S.A.P.D. are most likely disgusted with the job of surveilling (word?) artists on the street. They might ask themselves "Is this why I went into law enforcement?".

Never let it be said that City Manager Bill Harriss won't take on the dirty jobs himself. Yesterday Harriss and an underling were spotted in a black S.U.V. with a fellow in the back seat taking photos of artists set up in a "legal" area. This was reported to us by a painter and a photographer (who somehow didn't think to take his own photos) Fellow artists.....keep your cameras handy and your voice recorders ready. If you do not have these things documented.........it didn't happen.

A friend of ours from Paraguay said that these things happened in his country during the Stroessner regime. He was aghast that this happens here.

A cynic is simply a disappointed idealist.

Artists Among Us

ARTIST POWER by the numbers...

NY TimesJune 12, 2008

A 21st-Century Profile: Art for Art's Sake, and for the U.S. Economy, Too

By SAM ROBERTSI

If all the professional dancers in the United States stood shoulder to shoulder to form a single chorus line, it would stretch from 42ndStreet for nearly the entire length of Manhattan. If every artist inAmerica's work force banded together, their ranks would be double the size of the United States Army. More Americans identify their primary occupation as artist than as lawyer, doctor, police officer or farmworker."It's easy to talk about artists in lofty and spiritual terms," said Dana Gioia, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. "Without denying the higher purposes of the artistic vocation, it's also important to remember that artists play an important role in

America's cultural vitality and economic prosperity. Artists have immense financial and social impact as well as cultural impact."Drawing from the census, the endowment has compiled what it bills as the first nationwide profile of professional artists in the 21stcentury.In 2005 nearly two million Americans said their primary employment was in jobs that the census defines as artists' occupations — including architects, interior designers and window dressers. Their combined income was about $70 billion, a median of $34,800 each.

Another300,000 said artist was their second job.The percentage of female, black, Hispanic and Asian artists is bigger among younger ones. Among artists under 35, writers are the only group in which 80 percent or more are non-Hispanic white. Overall, women outnumber men only among dancers, designers and writers. Similarly,while 60 percent of professional photographers are men, 60 percentunder age 35 are women.

Like the population in general, the number of artists has grownfastest in the West and the South since 1990, but New York State,followed by California, Massachusetts, Vermont and Colorado, has the most artists per capita.California claims the most actors per capita, Nevada the most dancers and entertainers, Vermont the most writers, Tennessee the most musicians, New Mexico the most fine artists, Massachusetts the most architects and designers (including, among others, commercial,fashion, floral, graphic, interior designers and window dressers),Hawaii the most photographers and North Dakota (where radio showsabound) the most announcers.

By 2005 the proportion of non-Hispanicwhites among artists had declined to 80 percent from 86 percent in1990, but the proportion of blacks, 5 percent, remained the same.San Francisco leads metropolitan areas in the proportion of artists inthe work force, followed by Santa Fe (which ranks first in writers and fine artists), Los Angeles, New York and Stamford-Norwalk in suburbanConnecticut. The Top 10 also include Boulder, Colo.; Danbury, Conn.;and Seattle.Orlando, Fla., leads in entertainers and performers.

The "Artists in the Workforce" report, prepared by Sunil Iyengar, the endowment's director of research and analysis, identified 185,000writers, 170,000 musicians and singers, nearly 150,000 photographers,nearly 40,000 actors and 25,000 dancers. (They have the youngest median age, 26, and the highest proportion of minority workers, 40percent).The only artists whose ranks declined since 1990 were, as a group, fine artists, art directors and animators, to 216,000 from 278,000.The number of announcers also dropped.More than one in four artists live in California and New York, wheretheir sheer numbers are overwhelming compared to the artist colonies in other states. New Mexico, Vermont, Hawaii and Montana rank first in fine artists per capita, but they total 7,000, compared with 66,000 inCalifornia and New York combined. Since 2000 Minnesota, New Jersey,Rhode Island and New Mexico gained in the proportion of artists compared to all workers.

Mr. Gioia attributed the spread of artists beyond traditional urban clusters to the growth of cultural institutions in maturing cities in the South and West, the mobility of the work force, technology that enables a painter in Santa Fe to reach a broader audience and the high cost of living in cities including Boston, New York, San Francisco andLos Angeles.Overall, the median income that artists reported in 2005 was $34,800 —$42,000 for men and $27,300 for women.

The median income of the 55percent of artists who said they had worked full-time for a full year was $45,200.Over all, artists make more than the national median income ($30,100).They are more highly educated but earn less than other professionalswith the same level of schooling. They are likelier to be self-employed (about one in three and growing) and less likely to work full-time, year-round. (Dancers have the lowest median annual income of all artists, architects the highest — $20,000 and $58,000,respectively.)

"Many performing artists are underemployed," Mr. Gioia said, "but one of the stereotypes we're trying to debunk is that artists are mostlymarginal and unemployed."About 13 percent of people who say their primary occupation is artist also hold a second job — about twice the rate that other people in the labor force work two jobs. The majority of artists work for for-profit enterprises but 8 percent work for private, nonprofits and 3 percent work for government.

While the number of artists doubled between 1970 and 1990 as theaters,galleries, orchestras and university and commercial venues grew, their ranks since 1990 have increased at about the same rate as the total work force. They now represent 1.4 percent of the labor force, or nearly as many people as the active and reserve armed forces

Looking The Other Way

St. Augustine City Police uses male and female undercover operatives to get the artists to actually quote a price for their work and then they issue a $100 fine and sometimes jail.

In contrast, the St. John's County Sheriff's Office use their resources to actually CATCH CRIMINALS ! Here is the story of an alleged bad step - father and his unfortunate son.

If these guys are guilty, it is possible that they offloaded their multitude of stolen goods at their residence right on St. George Street about 200 feet from the surveillance of the artists. ( Read correction in comments) Now I'm not a police dog and yeah, I'm second guessing, but the photo above illustrates how it would've looked to Officer Tyus the beat cop and the crew watching he artists.