Macon Arts Alliance presents “Modern Waves” exhibit for May

Featured artists will be making “Modern Waves” throughout the month of May! Curb your abstract cravings with jaunty brushstrokes accompanied by bright and warm colors. The “Modern Waves” exhibit debuts at the Macon Arts Alliance on First Friday, May 6, with a reception from 5-8 p.m. Paintings by Lauren Betty, Jeff Surace, and Laura Surace will be on display through May 28. Admission is always free and open to the public.

Atlanta based artist, Lauren Betty originally hails from the rolling hills of North Carolina, where she began building her creative identity. Betty artfully entwines earth tones, multiple layers, and vibrancy when painting.

“At a young age I developed an affinity for nature as well as an intuitive understanding of the seasons and cycles of life. Later in my formative years, my family moved to a large urban city and this transition to the city compelled me to search for diverse forms of creative expression in an attempt to reconnect with the natural environment of my youth,” states Betty. “Each painting holds a strong, massive textural quality.”

Savannah College of Art and Design graduate, Jeff Surace, has been creating since childhood. The majority of his work is derived from the simplicity of a pallete knife, oils, and nature.

“There is a deep mystery to the mountains that keeps me connected. After creating art about the Appalachians for over seven years, I always saw something new through the familiar. This comes from seeing the ground as a narrative. I believe from this view is how to experience and interpret this terrain,” states Surace.

Laura Surace is always changing as an artist, influenced by what some may call the most minute of details. Color and color composition is reflected in all of her work, and has [lately] been going back to basics, looking at sketches by Degas and Cassatt focusing on the raw unfinished aspects of the work.

“Born and raised from a long line of Southerners, I find inspiration in history, folklore, and stories past down from family members. I create my own interpretations of these stories in my art. Often, the term ‘Southern Gothic’ is in the back of my head as I create my art. If there is irony in my work, hopefully I portray strength and resolution through bold marks using simple, if not elegant, subject matter,” states Surace.

11th Annual Fired Works Regional Ceramics Exhibition and Sale

Geico and Macon Arts Alliance present the 11th Annual Fired Works Regional Ceramics Exhibition and Sale, held April 16-24 in the Historic Round Building in Macon’s Central City Park. The 2016 exhibit features 65 potters and more than 6,000 pieces of pottery from Georgia and the Southeast. This year, featured potters, Bill and Pam Clark, of Clark House Pottery in Greenville, South Carolina, will discuss their work and the influence of George Ohr on their approach to pottery making.

Eccentricity at finest can be found in the folds, ruffles, twists, and pinches of the self proclaimed “Mad Potter of Biloxi’s” work. George Ohr, Biloxi, Mississippi native, was an American ceramic artist whose wild and innovative style have lead many to believe he reigns as the forerunner to the abstract-expressionism movement. Ohr challenged any potter on earth to replicate his wonderfully puzzling work; it wasn’t until nearly eighty years later that that challenge was accepted.

A serendipitous connection was made in 2003 when Bill and Pam Clark attended the annual National Arts and Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn, in Asheville, North Carolina. Enthralled by the craftsmanship and intricacies of Ohr’s work, Bill quickly committed to mastering this lost art of folding clay. This craft was so lost that all formulas, studio and kiln notes used by Ohr were mysteriously destroyed tens of years earlier by an unnamed assailant, thought to be a disgruntled family member.

The mastery of this form would come in stages for Bill. He knew he would need to achieve ruffling and folding, however lightness of weight and delicacy were also essential to this contrived chaos. Experimentation was key along with understanding the fundamentals of pottery throwing, as it is imperative to create pieces in as few moves as possible due to clay’s short lifespan on the wheel due to water absorption. Unknown techniques and a rudimentary understanding of ceramics was a lofty equation to solve.

Use of natural versus commercial clay was a non-negotiable during this process.  Trial and error led to a multitude of techniques, five/six ways of ruffle making, rope looking collapses in the middle of pieces, hidden folds, opposite direction folds, etc. It wasn’t long before the Clark’s work gained vast recognition and a healthy following.

In 2009, Bill and Pam were contacted by Dick and Dot Morgan (great-grandchildren of Ohr) and other Ohr descendants to attend a family reunion in Biloxi, Mississsippi. It was at this gathering that the Clark’s were able to connect with the people that Ohr is survived by, discuss the uniqueness of this pottery, and pay homage to Ohr’s cultural influence. 2011 legitimized Bill’s commitment and dedication to honoring Ohr’s work. The Ohr family officially [in-writing] welcomed Bill to their family, the only artists to which they’ve ever extended this invitation.

During its 9-day run, Fired Works includes special events such as an Artist Talk by featured potters, Bill and Pam Clark of Clark House Pottery, Clay Workshops for Children, Corks and Clay, and a Wheel Turning Class for the experienced ceramicists. A special Preview Party will be held on Friday, April 15 with live music from the Macon Pops Jazz Trio, catering by Moonhanger Group, complimentary drinks , and an exclusive chance to purchase work before the exhibit opens to the general public.

A complete schedule and tickets are available now at FiredWorksMacon.com.

Macon Arts Alliance presents “Colorful Distraction” exhibit for April

Come see Macon in a different light. “Colorful Distraction,” will draw you into a lively and exciting array of skillful artwork. The exhibit debuts at the Macon Arts Alliance on First Friday, April 1, with a reception from 5-8 p.m. Photography by Doug Nurnberger and glasswork by Kelly Robertson will be on display through April 30. Admission is always free and open to the public.

Macon-born artist Doug Nurnberger’s work comes directly from the heart and the reality of all that surrounds him. Emotion is an integral part of his creativity and inspiration. Since childhood Nurnberger has always had an inquisitive and sometimes intuitive mind; building entire new worlds and realities.

“I would say that have always had an artistic mind; I spent a lot of my childhood watching Stanley Kubrick films and engulfing myself in National Geographic Magazines from the very first issues till the mid 1980s.  I was always playing and had a big imagination,” states Nurnberger.

All of Nurnberger’s work has its roots in photography, however as technology has progressed and photography has changed, he identifies himself more and more as a digital artist.

“There are times when I will work on a piece and leave it more ‘real’, but occasionally I like to ask ‘what else could be?’ Attention to detail and a photographer’s eye, bring together iconic scenes of reality that cannot be viewed with a closed mind,” states Nurnberger.

“I use a digital camera with an array of lens that range from modern to older than me.  Once a scene(s) is captured I use the digital darkroom to create the various types of my work, from High Dynamic Range photography to Star/Cloud Stacking as well a Panoramas.  I love the idea of multiple universes stacked on top of one another, the idea that we live in some sort of virtual reality that is a possibility of many other realities that could be.

For the last fifteen years, Kelly Robertson of Lawrenceville, Georgia, has used glass as his primary artistic medium.

“I started my life as a glassblower while attending Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus and have studied both traditional and modern styles from institutions like Corning and Penland,” states Robertson.

Robertson is influenced by being a father to three beautiful children.

“The work I’m currently making is colorful and loose, to express both the method of glassblowing and the natural flow of the molten glass.” Over the course of his carrier, Robertson has exhibited his work across the southeast in museums, galleries, and universities. He also frequently tours with his mobile glass studio to demonstrate and teach glass making techniques to a wide variety of audiences and students.

Two Artists Selected for 2016 Mill Hill Visiting Social Practice Artist Program

mill hill logoMacon Arts Alliance is pleased to announce that two artists were selected for the first round of the Mill Hill Visiting Social Practice Artist Residency Program. Samantha Hill and Ed Woodham will be the first Mill Hill Visiting Artists living and working in East Macon’s Fort Hawkins neighborhood from July to October 2016.

The Mill Hill Visiting Artist Program is part of a two-year project that places artists and residents, as collaborators, at the center of a neighborhood cultural planning process. Selected artists are provided with a stipend and housing allowance to live in a renovated mill cottage within the Mill Hill: East Macon Arts Village, a once thriving “mill village” in east Macon. While in Macon, they will work with local residents, local artists, and key stakeholders to develop programming that engages residents, families, and youth living in the area. Residencies culminate in the public presentation of one or more arts-based, community building projects.

“Ed and Samantha were selected for the inaugural year of the visiting artist program because of their experience creating socially engaged art on a neighborhood scale in communities throughout the U.S. and the world,” said Jonathan Harwell-Dye, director of creative placemaking at Macon Arts Alliance.

“One of my goals as an artist is to develop engaging projects with communities about regional histories and culture,” explained Hill. “The Mill Hill Visiting Artist Program will allow me the opportunity to collaborate with Macon artists and residents to develop projects which reflect the cultural aspirations for the Fort Hawkins neighborhood.”

“I’m thrilled and excited to return to my Georgia homeland for an extended stay,” said Woodham. “I look forward to getting to know the residents of Fort Hawkins and the Macon arts community.”

NEA Chairman Jane Chu said, “The arts are part of our everyday lives – no matter who you are or where you live – they have the power to transform individuals, spark economic vibrancy in communities, and transcend the boundaries across diverse sectors of society. Supporting projects like the one from Macon Arts Alliance offers more opportunities to engage in the arts every day.”

“Through the program, these new artists will help to bring a new perspective to community-building in Macon, allowing residents to play a bigger part in transforming their neighborhood and investing in its future,” said Beverly Blake, program director for Macon at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which supports the Mill Hill Visiting Artist Program.
“The Community Foundation is excited to see Mill Hill come to life,” said Kathryn Dennis, president of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia. “The current residents and the visiting artists will increase the vibrancy as they live, work and play together.”

Samantha Hill - Photo by Michael Conti; Image courtesy of the Rasmuson Foundation.
Samantha Hill – Photo by Michael Conti; Image courtesy of the Rasmuson Foundation.
About Samantha Hill

Samantha Hill is a transdisciplinary artist from Chicago, IL with an emphasis on archives, oral story collecting, social projects & art facilitations. Hill creates multi-media installations and performance interventions within historic landmarks and public locations. The purpose of these interventions is to create an ephemeral memorial to a historic moment, which reflects significant components of a region’s culture through community engagement.

Hill participated in residences, exhibitions and public projects for several venues including the Anchorage Museum, Hyde Park Art Center and McColl Center for Art & Innovation. Her work is documented in several publications including the Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquire and WBEZ 90.1 Chicago Public Radio. Hill’s work is also featured in the book Problematizing Public Pedagogy, published by Routledge Press. She received several honors including International Sculpture Center Award in 2006 & 2008 and Philadelphia Sculptors Award.

Ed Woodham - Photo by Rodrigo Viñas
Ed Woodham – Photo by Rodrigo Viñas
About Ed Woodham
For more than 25 years, Ed Woodham has been active in community art, education, and civic interventions, across a variety of media and cultural contexts. A visual and performance artist, puppeteer, and curator, Woodham employs humor, irony, subtle detournement, and a striking visual style in order to encourage greater consideration of – and provoke deeper critical engagement with – the urban environment.Woodham created Art in Odd Places to present visual and performance art to reclaim public spaces in New York City and beyond (2005 to present). Woodham teaches workshops in socially engaged public performances at NYU Hemispheric Institute for EMERGENYC and at School of Visual Arts in NYC for City as Site: Public Art as Social Intervention. In 2015, he was selected as an advisor for Expo 2020 in Dubai, UAE.

 

About Mill Hill: East Macon Arts Village
Mill Hill: East Macon Arts Village is a creative placemaking initiative of the Macon Arts Alliance in partnership with the Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority, the residents of East Macon’s Fort Hawkins Neighborhood, and many local partners including Macon-Bibb County, Coliseum Health System, Regency Hospital, Marriott Macon City Center, Macon Housing Authority, Historic Macon Foundation, New Fellowship Baptist Church, Macon Roving Listeners, Phillips Children’s Performing Arts Studio, the Otis Redding Foundation, The Listening Post, Mercer University’s Research that Reaches Out, Middle Georgia State University’s Center for Applied Research and Education. Mill Hill is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works; the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; the Community Foundation of Central Georgia; the Watson-Brown Foundation; Macon-Bibb County; a number of individual donors; and a generous anonymous donor.

 

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Macon Arts Alliance presents “Mentors and Protégés” exhibit for March

Class is in session with “Mentors and Protégés,” an exhibit of influential guidance. Works by leading art educators in the community and their mentees will be featured at the Macon Arts Alliance on First Friday, March 4 with a reception from 5-8 p.m. Mentors, Eric O’Dell, Diane Mead, and Martha Tisdale hand-selected current and former students that have demonstrated significant development as artists. The opening reception will also include a reading from poet, Anya Silver at 6:30p.m.

“I paint, I draw, I teach,” states O’Dell. “After finishing graduate work [Florida State University], I returned to Macon and set up Liberty Hall Studios in downtown Macon at the Contemporary Arts Exchange and renovated a house where I spend time with my wife and two daughters. After several years as curator and Director or Exhibitions and Collections at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon, along with serving as adjunct instructor at local universities and colleges, I became a full time Assistant Professor of Art at Mercer in 2013 where I teach studio courses, Great Books, as well as studio courses overseas.”

Of his many students, O’Dell carefully chose six Mercer undergraduates to display their work alongside his own. Caleb Brown, Gabby Carter, Kathryn Honeycutt, Jasbir Kaur, Anna Schneeger, and Sarah Ugan all credit O’Dell with charging them to think and see differently. “I would be misguided if I did not attribute much of my knowledge to my first art instructor, Eric O’Dell. I have known him since my sophomore year at Mercer and he has truly taken me under his wing as it relates to matters of art—techniques, history, business, and life,” states Brown.

Mead, current instructor of fine arts in the upper school at Mount de Sales, has always been influenced by the physical world, both manmade and nature. Most recently, Mead has studied at the Whitney Museum, the Guggenheim, The Museum of Modern Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She continually aims to share her robust enthusiasm with others. “I like to make sure my students love art…I hope I teach them that art is a lifelong passion,” states Mead.

Brianne Hall, Samantha Lee, Angie Stephens Sanders, Alli Talbert, and Nora Xie all attribute a fundamental understanding of art to their mentor. “Diane helped me to finally see that I did have a gift and helped me to develop my skills as an artist. She constantly challenged me in class to learn new things about art and to try new media, and was always there offering encouragement and kind words,” states Sanders.

Mead’s passion for art extends outside of classroom and into the gallery. “I’ve been fortunate that my teaching job allows me time to put shows together. I enjoy putting a variety of artists together, and hope viewers can see how they augment each other,” states Mead. Mentors and Protégés will be Mead’s sixth show curated at Macon Arts Alliance.

Prominent and ever evolving painter, Tisdale began her journey as an artist drawing for her teachers in elementary school. Her relationship with the arts has changed over the years from pupil, to teacher, to commercial design. Reared in Macon, Tisdale lived in Tennessee and Alabama before returning back to Georgia. “My surroundings influence me most…I take pleasure in the subtle nuances of people being themselves,” states Tisdale. Mead asked Tisdale to be a part of the show, as her work resonated on a personal level. “She has the same fresh approach to art as she ever had. Martha’s work is a great font of inspiration for me. Curating a show of her work a few years ago, I could see the amazing depth. Her work in art has been a lifelong labor of love! She reinvents herself in wonderful ways,” states Mead.

Anya Silver, author of I Watched You Disappear (LSU Press, 2014) and The Ninety-Third Name of God (LSU Press, 2010), will be reading varied original works related to visual art and music. A Swarthmore, Pennsylvania native, Silver was educated at Haverford College and Emory University. She currently teaches in the English Department of Mercer University and lives in the College Hill Corridor with her husband and son. “I’m mentored by all the wonderful poets whom I’ve read through the years: Anna Akhmatova, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Adam Zagajewski, Friederike Mayrocker, and Marina Tsvetaeva. They’ve taught me the power of the well-placed image and the ability of poetry to witness to the world carefully, passionately, humbly, and honestly,” states Silver. Her third book, From Nothing, is forthcoming from LSU this fall.

Macon Arts Alliance presents “Havin’ Fun” exhibit for February

Searching for a good time? Look no further than the Macon Arts Alliance for “Havin’ Fun” this First Friday in Historic Downtown Macon. Broad strokes, thick paint, and bold colors welcome home Macon born artist, Bill Matthews. Relish in Matthew’s approach to color as a communicator, paying homage to it’s influence and ability to take form. The exhibit will debut at the Macon Arts Alliance on First Friday, February 5, with a reception from 5-8 p.m. Paintings will be on display through February 27. Admission is always free and open to the public.

After a wildly successful stint in retail, Matthews turned his keen eye to the creation of art. Classically trained as a painter in the style of John Singer Sargent, Matthews’ style has naturally evolved over the years, finding a home between the alluring space of realism and abstraction. Using palette knives and thick brushes, he applies pigment in lush layers interspersed with thin glazes that enrich colors and result in canvases that glow with light and form. Color and color relationships have always innately guided Matthews artistic approach, regardless of genre or style.

“While I’ve always had an interest in art, I didn’t have an opportunity to enjoy painting until after I retired about 15 years ago,” states Matthews. He initially began his training by driving once a week to Atlanta for eight years where his instructor taught in the style of the renown American artist, John Singer Sargent. “During the last several years, I’ve been working with a highly acclaimed abstract artist in Highlands who has been assisting me in developing an appreciation for and creation of abstract art.”

Matthews and wife Fran grew up and raised their family in Macon, Georgia. Prior to painting, Matthews served as President of 10 Belk Matthews stores in Central and South Georgia. Civic engagement included his role as President of the Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of SunTrust Bank, founding Chairman of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, founding Trustee of FPD, Trustee of Wesleyan College, Chairman of Hay House, President of Idle Hour Country Club, and other worthwhile organizations that benefit Central Georgia. Matthews, now Floridian, resides in Ponte Vedra.

Macon Arts Alliance Presented with Challenge Grant to Restore Auditorium

The Community Foundation of Central Georgia presented Macon Arts Alliance with a challenge grant of $211,000 from an anonymous donor, to raise additional funds for the restoration of the Old Bibb Mill Manufacturing Auditorium in Mill Hill: East Macon Arts Village. The challenge was met by county commissioners with appropriated blight bond funds. Restoration of the auditorium and the development of the park will begin on January 6.

Built in 1920s by the Bibb Manufacturing Company, the auditorium is a key asset of the neighborhood. Once renovated, the auditorium will return to its original purpose, to provide entertainment and showcase local talent.

“The last time we gathered here was for the unveiling of the Macon Action Plan. It’s hard to believe that was only 10 short weeks ago. By working with residents, churches, businesses, and organizations both public and private, an idea became a movement. With collaboration, anything is possible,” states Jan Beeland, Executive Director of the Macon Arts Alliance.

“On behalf of an anonymous donor, the Community Foundation of Central Georgia was proud to award a $211,000 challenge grant to Macon Arts Alliance for the restoration of the Auditorium in Mill Hill according to the Macon Action Plan.  The Foundation is pleased that this grant was the catalyst to raise all of the remaining funds necessary to renovate the auditorium and jumpstart the Mill Hill: East Macon Arts Village project.”

The Macon Action Plan is a community-driven plan to assist in the regeneration of Macon’s urban core. Mill Hill: East Macon Arts Village is one of two early action projects recommended by the plan in partnership with Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority, Historic Macon Foundation, community residents, local churches, Macon Housing Authority, and area businesses.

“There are few challenges that cannot be solved with teamwork, and this is yet another example of what has become a trademark of Macon-Bibb County. Together, we will take a building that was well on its way to demolition and make it the cornerstone of this neighborhood’s revitalization and a signal of the growth of Macon’s urban core,” said Alex Morrison, Executive Director of the Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority. “It is a testament to our community that so many players came together to make this project happen.”

Regeneration continues throughout Macon, now specifically in the “birthplace of Macon” to “create an unparalleled Urban Core experience,” as noted by MAP. Mill Hill: East Macon Arts Village reduces blight and increases access for public parks, residential living, and programming to amplify connectivity.

“We know from our work in Beall’s Hill, Village Green, and Downtown that neighborhood revitalization takes a focused and concentrated effort by multiple groups working together,” says Macon-Bibb County Mayor Robert Reichert. “By bringing a focus to Mill Hill, we are looking to bring back one of our first neighborhoods and support our vibrant arts community, and I couldn’t be more delighted about what the future holds for this area.”

Six county commissioners leveraged blight bond funds in the amount of $813,000 to attract another $211,000 dollars in private investment into this project. Larry Schlesinger of District 2, Gary Bechtel of District 1, Ed Defore of District 6, Mallory Jones III of District 4, Al Tillman of District 9, and Elaine Lucas of District 3 lead the charge for the challenge grant, turning an idea into reality.

Macon Arts Alliance presents “Creating the Subconscious” exhibit for January

Prepare yourself for an unexpected juxtaposition. Artists of known prowess, Maryann Bates and Beth Smith, dissolve the restraints of conventionalism and preconceived reality in “Creating the Subconscious.” Eyes will feast on striking and astonishing imagery of a world in which reason and societal limitations are extinct. The exhibit will debut at the Macon Arts Alliance on the second Friday of the month, January 8, with a reception from 5-8 p.m. Photographs and paintings will be on display through January 30. Admission is always free and open to the public.

When looking at her work, Bates hopes the observer will feel the sheer wonder and joy of life. “I guess it’s that feeling of magic that I get from taking photos that leads me to do surrealism. I photograph what’s in front of me but I’m always looking for what’s not so easy to see,” states Bates. “I make my living in taking photos for others but the surrealism is done just for me. It’s usually an emotion that I’m feeling that I try to convey using the kinds of images I have in my dreams.”

Bates is a freelance photographer constantly going to new places, meeting new people, and having new experiences. Most recently, Bates has photographed the Macon Pops concert, three performances of the Nutcracker, the College Hill Alliance Community Report, and a pole vaulter.

Smith’s clever disregard for tradition crept in slowing while growing as an artist. Anything too obvious or literal began to evoke little to no feeling for Smith, becoming indifferent to the majority of her work. Thus began Smith’s journey, tapping into the inhibition that is surrealism. “I wanted to create images in just such a way that no one else on the planet could have. It’s capturing one precise moment in time when the obscure is laid bare for interpretation,” states Smith. “My artistic inspirations come into my mind through visions and dreams. I take from what is in my mind and heart and create a vision of the world and the events that shape its history.”

Smith is a member of the Fine Art Society of Middle Georgia and the Fine Arts Director for The 567 Center for Renewal in downtown Macon, Georgia. When not working in her studio at The 567 Center for Renewal, Smith teaches private art lessons at her in home studio in Warner Robins.

Macon Arts Alliance presents “Discover” exhibit for December

Macon Arts Alliance invites you to “Discover” this holiday season. Unearth something new; find a fresh voice; allow your eyes to be surprised. Exploration of eighteen artists begins on First Friday, December 4 with a reception from 5-8 p.m. Works of art will be on display through December 31. Admission is always free and open to the public.

“The December exhibit is an amazing opportunity to provide a kaleidoscope of work, both for gift giving purposes and to promote a wide variety of artists,” states Director of Programming and gallery curator, Stephanie Fritz. “It’s a tradition that has organically evolved over the years, allowing for discovery in it’s purest form to take place.”

Charles Wells will be making custom glass blown ornaments on site at First Friday. Those who visit the gallery can select colors for their ornaments and have them made by Wells that night. “Live glassblowing is very dynamic and fascinating to watch. It generates a lot of excitement,” proclaims Wells.

In addition to glass blowing, the exhibit will feature the following artists: jewelry by Nancy Barnes; jewelry, ornaments, and mugs by Lauren Bausch; paintings by Lauren Betty; paintings by Sharon Clabo; jewelry and crafts by Alicia David; duck decoys by Matt Defore; earrings by Jerry & Linda Hunter; mixed media by Narinder & Sneh Khosla; ceramics by Michael Klapthor; wood work by Kevin & Cheryl Raber; photography and mixed media by Suzanne Rogers; river bowls by Mark Strozier; paintings by Martha
Tisdale; photography by Michael Williams.

“Shopping local shares the vibrancy of Macon with those you love. Be a regular this holiday season and a patron of downtown when you give gifts,” states Jan Beeland, Executive Director of Macon Arts Alliance.

A Gallery Post

Then, as the midday sun withdraws from the gulf the shadow of the mountains, the clouds begin to roll out of the lower valleys. They swathe in sombre tatters the naked crags of precipices above the wooded slopes, hide the peaks, smoke in stormy trails across the snows of Higuerota. The Cordillera is gone from you as if it had dissolved itself into great piles of grey and black vapours that travel out slowly to seaward and vanish into thin air all along the front before the blazing heat of the day. The wasting edge of the cloud-bank always strives for, but seldom wins, the middle of the gulf. The sun—as the sailors say—is eating it up.

Indeed, these cloudy nights are proverbial with the seamen along the whole west coast of a great continent.

Unless perchance a sombre thunder-head breaks away from the main body to career all over the gulf till it escapes into the offing beyond Azuera, where it bursts suddenly into flame and crashes like a sinster pirate-ship of the air, hove-to above the horizon, engaging the sea.

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