Pegleg Dog

"I'm not gonna wash my face for a week! No, A month!"

From The Plaza

Has not one of our Ghost Tour people noticed this ancient cedar tree in the eastern portion of the Plaza near the Slave Market? A visit toward sunset when shadows deepen in the summer months reveals a horrific face in the trunk. This old tree has borne witness to much American history.

Rules

Here is a modest proposal for artists and vendors in the Plaza De La Constitucion.

Rules

1.Artists may not display works that may offend community mores. This includes:

a . No reproductive prints by anyone calling themselves the trademarked name "Painter of Light"TM.

b. No depictions of naked people.

c. Unless licensed , No image can be made of Flagler College, the Lightner Museum or Scott Raimondo.

d. Use of the color mauve is strictly prohibited !

2. Artists must go through a jury process before exhibiting work. This jury shall include. One business man , One biker type, a pre adolescent, a funambulist and a non irritating mime.

3. Permits are issued based upon the astrological sign of your pet dog, parakeet, fish etc. If a pet is not available you may substitute you grandmother' birthdate.

4. Artist's must stay within their assigned area. If there are more artists than spaces available you may exhibit upward ( no more than 15 arial feet ) provided that you have permission of the previous artist to piggyback upon their table , shoulders, chair or partner.

5. Violence against tourists or city officials will not be tolerated. These offenders will be banished for one year to perform community service at the Fountain of Youth ( peacock poop patrol and cleaning rubber Timucuans).

6. Painters are to reply in a civil manner to the remarks " How long did it take you to do that painting?", "You mean for thirty dollars I do not get an original?" " Hey, my three year old can do that ! I should put her to work out here. Haw, Haw".

7. Blowing bubbles, waving flags ighting firecrackers, carnival type barking, funny looking get ups, crazy eye glasses, funny fake teeth or just general odd behavior will be constued as "attention getting" and therefore prohibited.

8. These rules shall be considered in effect unless we change them. Notice will be given two weeks after changes are enforced. Please check with City Hall on an hourly basis.

Featured Artist

That's Elena with her outdoor gallery of Art photos depicting scenes of St. Augustine. Her work is exceptional and inspirational. "I want my clients to have the best framing, with museum mats and precision mounting", says Elena. It is a pleasure having an artist of Elena's caliber with us in the Plaza.

Jazz

SUVO's New Work "Jazz In The Gazebo" 18"x24" Mixed Media on artboard $650
11" x 14" giclee on acid free substrate $35

A Good Time Had By All !

Click pic on to enlarge

Cheers for the City !

We have previously mentioned the Thursday night concerts in the Plaza. Imagine twilight skies, Spanish moss garlands in the ancient trees and some knockout music from professional area musicians. The City is the prime sponsor and Director of Public Affairs, Paul Williamson ( see his lookalike, actor Paul Dooley) oversees all of these events. He is our own Ed Sullivan (if you are over 50) or Carson Daley ( for the twenty somethings)

Last night Bob and Jolene's Friends of Mine Band performed and they were in fine form. We want to see them again so will probably look up their schedule and actually buy a drink or two to hear them play. Last week's Mike Hart Band with their Randy Newman type compositions and the talking wah wah guitar ( think Peter Frampton) were equal hits.

July 4 will have The "All Star Band" ( not the one with Ringo Starr) playing Big Band music, so bring the old folks ! The Bridge of Lions Part 2 will close so that we can all watch fireworks over the Mantanzas River. We are so lucky to be here! Hello to everyone back in Peoria ! Fireworks at Smitty's Salvage Yard just doesn't come up to this does it?

Has anyone heard that the old coquina seawall is in danger of being demolished for a modern seawall? Historian Daid Nolan writes that it WILL be replaced. That would be a shame. We need more info and will inform our gentle readers. We now have 400 subscribers who have walked throug the Plaza within the past six months.

Random Stuff

We've always suspected that celebrity was a false illusion. These disembodied heads, spotted in a shop window near the Plaza only bolsters that belief.

Our good friend, artist Suvo is back after a suspension by the city for not buying the required (so they say) permits. The City is working on a new ordinance for street visual artists. A nearby copy of the U.S. Constitution would be a helpful reference when drafting a new code.

Tonight is another concert in the Plaza. To learn more about the concert series go HERE.

A. I.T.M. took a walk down St. George St. yesterday. Our cultural and historical heritage is maintained at a few government funded locations but the general impression is one of being in a mall. Birkenstock, factory art and phony , cutesy "pirate" gear ("Pirates Girls Have Big Chests") can all be found on St. George. At least the pirate near the Columbia Restaurant has a real pegleg. We know him in private life and yes, he is a real "scalawag".

Art In The Market advocates the right balance between economic development, sustainable tourism and heritage conservation which includes the prevention of undesired development. Picture Sarasota or Naples Florida. It seems that those communities have evolved into a haven for the wealthy to situate their second or third homes. Residents and working people get short shrift in terms of quality of life. The service jobs that the wealthy require are traditionally low wage positions. St. Augustine is in danger of becoming such a community if unbridled development continues. READ

Good intentions aside, the micromanagement of visual artists in the Plaza is not the answer to creating a desireable park. Colonial Williamsburg is an example of Cultural Heritage Tourism and complete control. Do we want another one? The "Disneyfication" of history may not be the answer. Do we want St. Augustine simply to be a laboratory or classroom for elementary school daytrips? We have much more here in St. Augustine. The contemporary and the colonial can co exist. We would like more nighttime adult diversions in the old quarter. Sangria was invented in Spain. We call for wine and song for adults. Give us folklorico in the form of flamenco and fiestas. Get a babysitter! "But what about the children ?!".This recent trend of "child worship" has baffled many of us. Even Dr.Benjamin Spock and Maria Montessori would not approve. Going to Key West? Sloppy Joe's has a kiddie Daiquiri and a Hemingway Balloon for Junior. No kidding!.

A final note on a conversation held with a local St. Gerge St. merchant who felt that "every dollar spent by a tourist in the low overhead Plaza was a dollar not going to St. George Street businesses". "We have so much invested in rent and need to get every dollar we can to make payroll, replace inventory etc." Perhaps, we say, they should hold this discussion with the landlord who seems to be getting high rents that may not be justified by the gross receipts. There always seems to be another wannabe merchant waiting to gamble that they can succeed where others cannot. The landlord benefits particularly when the lease states that all improvements and fixtures remain after the tenant has left. Bathroom Boutiques? Solar clothing that changes color in the sunlight? Another high end"factory art" gallery? Which one will be the first to go?

This monument in Plaza de la Constitucion was erected in 1812 to celebrate the first written Spanish Constitution. King Ferdinand IV was crowned in 1814 with a promise to uphold the constitution. Not long after his coronation, Ferdinand and the Catholic Church repudiated the Constitution and began ferocious reprisals. In 1823 The Battle of Trocadero eliminated the liberal threat and Ferdinand prevailed with absolute monarchy. As historian Howard Zinn said, "Politicians lie".

News traveled slowly to St. Augustine in those days. The residents here were of a liberal bent and these monuments were by Royal decree to be destroyed. "Hola! Tell the stinkin' King that we worked hard building this monument and we're gonna to keep it , Senor ", said the St. Augustine residents ( loosely paraphrased) Fortunately for the residents, the Spanish Monarchy paid little attention to the albatross colony of Florida. The first time a Spanish King arrived in St. Augustine was five years ago with a visit from King Juan Carlos. All of the "Swells" were out in force. No one mentioned great great grandfather's duplicity. Besides ,he is perhaps still stinging over Generalissimo Franco. We are polite with our guests. SEE PICS Take a look at Florida's own , Katherine Harris toadying up to everyone in sight.

In 1821 St. Augustine became the capital of East Florida with Indian hater Andrew Jackson as governor. If you click onto the photo you can see that the "Constitucion" has been crudely changed to "Constitution." This is done on all four sides. The De La had to remain probably because the rough chisel was not sufficient to change it to "..OF The...". Exactly when it was done we do not know. This could have been done last week for all we know. This could have been the work of Minutemen.

Bon Voyage !

Kate Merrick,the portrait artist, ( she does wonderful linocuts and landscapes as well) keeps busy creating excellent renditions of visitors to the Plaza. Kate will be leaving this month for an extended stay in the Dominican Republic with her daughter, son in law and most importantly...her grandson! We will miss Kate and the Plaza will be lacking one of best. Good luck Kate! Bring back some inspiration. Kate Merrick's website link

Every Thusday throughout summer, from 7-9 PM, the City sponsors a concert in the Plaza de la Constitucion. Last Thursday the popular local group, the Driftwoods played their smooth and elegant version of Bluegrass both classic ("I'll Fly Away"and contemporary. We were impressed. They were reminiscent of the defunct "Gin Blossoms". Next week get out the ukeleles and slack key guitars because bra there will be da kine Hawaiian style music ! We wanna hear Drop Baby !

Free Expression

There is an old Spanish saying ,"Lunes es los hoyos, hombre " meaning "Monday is the pits, man" That's the artist Suvo sitting in the market with his artworks. The City has already cited him for not obtaining a permit. "I have decided that the illegal demand for a 1000.00 dollar a year permit to sell and display my art should discontinue". After a $100 fine last Friday issued by the St. Augustine Police, he was banned from the Plaza for a year. (Life is just high school all over again isn't it?) After missing one of the best high traffic weekends (Mother's Day) he attempted a meeting with City Officials but was shuffled around. After informing the clerk to pass on to the City Attorney a copy of the Federal Law he informed them that he will continue to set up and display. "The police had already told me that they would confiscate my art and send me to jail if I did so. That did it, I usually buy supplies and replenish my inventory from weekend sales (80% of his income) But I was put out Friday afternoon and missed Saturday and Sunday altogether. I set up waiting for the cops on Monday waiting for the arrest . Four cop cars passed me but did not stop." Do you see how lonely Suvo looks in the above picture.? St. Augustine is pretty quiet on Mondays."Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves. " William Pitt. Now read Rudolph Guiliani's quote on Freedom (he was unsuccessful at limiting artist's 1st amendment rights) "Freedom," Giuliani argued, "is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do and how you do it." " Click here to read the REAL LAW

Crimes and Misdemeanors

Do you see that easel on the right of the picture? Well... a St. Augustine police officer noticed it and gave artist Suvo a citation since it was not in the proper place. It is important for all artists and vendors to be put in their place. You can see from this photo that by having the easel out of place, the Plaza looks skewed or somehow out of whack and cluttered. Keep up the good work, St. Augustine Police! The fact is that in the shade, the acrylic pigments and encaustic on this piece were drying as slow as oil paint. Using the heat of the sun was perfect for quickening the process without the dreaded crackle effect. This is the maquette for a print series planned for Mother's Day.

Richard Boone Redux

The actorRichard Boone played Paladin in the 60's TV show, "Have Gun Will Travel". When I was a kid,I had these business cards with that slogan printed on it . He and Matt Dillon from "Gunsmoke" were my heroes. Paladin rarely killed anyone and was usually hired by a rich land baron to scare off settlers. After finding out that the settlers were in the right and the land or cattle baron was unscrupulous, he switched sides. I wondered back then, how he ever collected on his fee. I guess that he got it in advance and cheated the big guy out of it without delivering the expected result ( Get em outta here!). Is it OK to cheat a bad guy? He lived in high style at the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco and had a Chinese houseman that he called Hey Boy. Jeez, can that be any more demeaning? What happened to Paladin after the big earthquake in 1909? We need a movie sequel for us mid baby boomers. This homeless guy is not Boone but is just as homely and from his looks could be his son. Richard Boone died here in St. Augustine in 1981 More on Boone Here

False History

Here are the exact words given by a Red Train tour driver as they pass the market

"In 1964 Martin Luther King came to St. Augustine and threatened to burn down the Slave Market. He was arrested by the local police. The F.B.I. came in and escorted him to Washington D.C. where he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize" A History Lesson

"Spanish Law that decreed no one be taller than the Captain of the ship"

" All Blacks in St. Augustine were freemen"

Excerpt from research "St. Augustine’s 1789 census revealed of a total population of 1,592 residents, 483 slaves (30.3%) and 102 free blacks (6.4%). Read more

This is just one driver, in one spot. It's hard to believe that virtually everything stated is false. You pay your eighteen dollars ,but do not expect facts.

Easter Parade

Boys in Bonnets


Could it be true that this horse on a wagon was killed by a car a number of years back yet still participates in the annual Easter parade as a taxidermy specimen? This is what I heard and here he is:

I"t's Good To Be Back Under The Magnolias"

" There once was a land of cavaliers and cotton fields called The Old South...."

Confederate Memorial Day was celebrated in St. Augustine last weekend. Shortly after the Civil War, revisionist writers such as Gen Jubal Early started the myth of the "Lost Cause". whereby all Johnny Rebs were courageous, the dead were martyrs to the cause of freedom, the women were chaste and the faithful slave defended their masters. Such nonsense. The Southern culture ,if there was such a thing was based upon the evil institution of slavery. The first paragraph of each secession proclamation says so. There continues to be the delusion that the old days were better. See here and here

Minor Cans ?

Aren't Minorcans those half horse/half man creatures from Jason and the Argonauts? No they are not! Minorcans are the forebears of some of the old St. Augustine families. Over 200 years ago some 1400 citizens from the Mediterranean arrived as indentured servants to Scotsman Trumbull in New Smyrna Florida In1777 they abandoned their despotic master and walked 90 miles northward to St. Augustine asking the governor for asylum . The book Mullet on the Beach by Patricia Griffin is a fascinating study of these people and the conditions on the indigo plantations of yore. Order here