Outer Banks Art Show Award Winners

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Seaside Vacations

2011 Frank Stick Art Show - Best in Show - Owen Perry Sullivan’s “Resurfaced Vessel”

The 33^rd annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show opened on Friday, and awards were handed out on the opening night.

There were 146 entries into the art show, and more than 250 people attended the opening night reception. The show will remain open for viewing through February 25^th at Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery, 210 E. Driftwood St., Nags Head. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

And the winners are…

Best in Show: Owen Perry Sullivan’s “Resurfaced Vessel”
Excellence Awards
- Holly Nettles, “Prime Time,” acrylic
- Fay Davis Edwards, “Miss Mamie & the Birthday Nails,” watercolor
- Haley Sullivan, “Open Field Vessel,” mixed media metals, peridot, wood
- Tracy Bell, “75 Cents per 100 Pounds,” acrylic
Honorable Mention
- Glenn Eure, “Seven Faces,” collagraph
- Randy Hodges, “Groovy Octopus,” iron
- Carol A. Robinson, “Solitude by the Sea,” photography
Excellence in Fiber Arts
- Katherine Wassink, “Dunrovin,” fiber
People’s Choice Award
- Gigi Wescott, “Apparition,” acrylic

33rd Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show on the Outer Banks

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Seaside Vacations

Outer Banks - Frank Stick Memorial Art Show

The 33rd Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show opening reception will be held on Saturday, Jan. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m., and will be located at Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery, 210 E. Driftwood St., Nags Head. The show will remain open for viewing until Feb. 25.

The Frank Stick Memorial Art Show includes a wide variety of local OBX fine art ranging from conceptual to realistic. All original work, featuring sculpture, painting, drawing, fiber, pottery and mixed media, this is the longest running visual art exhibition in Dare County.

Stick gained recognition as an illustrator for magazines such as Collier’s, Saturday Evening Post, Ladies Home Journal and Outdoor America during the early part of the 20th century. He is most known for painting hundreds of hunting and fishing scenes to illustrate outdoor and adventure stories.

In addition to his contribution to the art world, Stick had great vision. After visiting the Outer Banks in the 1920s on a surf-fishing trip, he fell in love with the region and its potential as a tourist destination. As a result, Stick played a large role in establishing the Cape Hatteras National Seashore as America’s first national seashore.

Cash prizes will be awarded for “Best in Show,” “Excellence,” and “Honorable Mention” as chosen by judges based on merit. In addition, a “People’s Choice” award winner will be selected by public ballot during the opening reception.

Blackbeard’s Sword Discovered Off the North Carolina Coast?

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Seaside Vacations

Blackbeard the Pirate

The infamous Mr. Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard the Pirate, is back in the news.

A team of archeologists has been excavating the famed bandit’s ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge (a converted French merchant ship), since 1997, and Time Magazine is reporting that the team may have discovered Blackbeard’s sword.

National Geographic has pictures online of the recovered objects.

The Time Magazine article offers some interesting Blackbeard facts and a quick synopsis of the buccaneer’s final days:

Blackbeard’s thick mass of facial hair was so menacing that it has been immortalized in history.
Among the first pirates to fly the black flag with bones on it.
Had a habit of lighting fuses under his hat to create a threatening halo of smoke around him.
Abandoned the Queen Anne’s Revenge after blockading the port of Charleston, S.C. in 1717, where he and the crew successfully got ransom from the British colonial government for the town and the residents.
British troops out of Virginia eventually found Blackbeard hiding out in Ocracoke Island along the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and after a fierce battle, Blackbeard was beheaded.

At least one historian, Kevin Duffus, has a theory that these famed Blackbeard tales may be much exaggerated, and Blackbeard may not have been a pirate at all.

Blackbeard memorial celebrations still occur on Ocracoke Island.

106th Anniversary of Wright Brothers’ First Flight

Posted on December 10, 2009 by Seaside Vacations

The 106th Anniversary of First Flight – December 17, 2009

Program Schedule:

106th ANNIVERSARY OF POWERED FLIGHT – Wright Brothers National Memorial – Thursday, December 17, 2009
First Flight Boulder 8:30 a.m. Placing of the Wreaths Darrell Collins, Historian, Wright Brothers National Memorial And Descendants of Witnesses
Pavilion 8:45 a.m. – Band Concert, Northeastern High School Band, Elizabeth City, NC (Wayne James, Director)
Presentation of Colors Northeastern High School Junior Air Force ROTC Elizabeth City, NC SMSgt Tom Albanese
Official Welcome Superintendent Mike Murray Outer Banks Group, National Park Service
Recognition of Special Guest Wayne Leary, 1st Vice President, First Flight Society
The Wright Brothers Story Darrell Collins, Historian
Fly Over Tribute to Wright Brothers Wright Brothers National Memorial 10:35 a.m.
LUNCHEON AND ANNUAL MEETING Hilton Garden Inn, Kitty Hawk, NC 12:30 p.m.

The First Flight Society’s annual Anniversary Luncheon will be held at 12:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kitty Hawk. You may register for the luncheon by sending an email to the First Flight Society at dec17@firstflight.org or by calling the First Flight Society office at 252-441-1903.

Pirates Have Returned to the Outer Banks

Posted on December 11, 2008 by Seaside Vacations

pirate-skull-crossbones November 22, 2008 was the 290^th anniversary of the Battle of Ocracoke, which took the life of the fabled Blackbeard the Pirate.

This anniversary was commemorated for the first time with a ceremony organized by Blackbeard’s Crew, a living history troupe based in Hampton, VA, and Blackbeard historian, Kevin Duffus.

Fifty eight people dressed in pirate costumes marched through Ocracoke to the sound of a monotonous drum beat that that helped build the solemn mood of a funeral march. Followed by an interested crowd of residents and visitors, the marching concluded at Teach’s Hole, named after Edward Teach, Blackbeard’s believed name. Today this historic spot is a thriving fishing hole, but on November 22, 1718, this was the site of a bloody battle that cost 23 men their lives.

Known as The Battle of Ocracoke, it is believed that Blackbeard, 11 of his crew, and 11 sailors of the British Navy were killed. This ceremony was held to honor the memory of the fallen men and to educate people about the fascinating history of pirates on the Outer Banks.

For more information on the event and a great slide show, take a look at Sundae Horn’s recent article in the Island Free Press.