Bicentennial Year at the Port of Houston
© Judith-Ann Saks
oil on canvas
Larger Image
| 10" x 13" Giclée | $89 | ||
| 12" x 16" Giclée | $175 | ||
| 15" x 20" Giclée | $299 |
Bicentennial Year at the Port of Houston
It was in the midst of a busy dock scene portraying the activities of the Port of Houston that the imaginary red, white, and blue ship, "Bicentennial" representing the spirit of the Bicentennial, sailed up the Ship Channel. Its prow can be seen between the two ships lashed to the dock with the skyline of downtown Houston in the background. This is how the skyline appeared from the area of the Port Terminal Building.
The "Bicentennial" is flying the "Betsy Ross" flag, seen beneath the arm of the crane at the left edge of the painting. Beneath this flag, on the superstructure, is the emblem of the Battle of Bennington flag which is believed to be the inspiration of the original Stars and Stripes. Over near the warehouse on the right is the present United States flag with fifty stars flying above a Battle of Bennington flag.
On the left is an open dock with some of its typical cargo: steel, pipes, and containers. A Ducommun Metals and Supply Company truck, painted by an artist for the Bicentennial with a waving flag on the sides of the engine and a liberty bell in front(not shown), is receiving a load of steel. The driver, Clive Holmes, in a red, white, and blue cap watches at the rear of the truck. The artist went to the Ducommun office warehouse to insure accuracy. Everyone showed much interest. Slightly to the right and near the piles of pipe in the painting is a truck driver in cowboy clothes and a Stetson hat.
To the right is a shedded wharf. Crates and drums are outside, which may or may not be stored inside. By the drums is a security guard on his three wheeled vehicle who posed for the painting.
In the foreground is a field of bluebonnets, the Texas State flower. These have been planted in many parts of the Port and are beautiful when in bloom. The artist painted three paintings of bluebonnets before putting them on this canvas. It was not only necessary to get a good painting of bluebonnets, but also to match the color of the flowers which varies with the soil. There is a bicentennial fire plug, similar to many at the Port and in Houston during the Bicentennial year, at the lower left edge of the bluebonnets.
The Bicentennial painting of the Port covers the ordinary, everyday activities. It is impossible to include such specialties as the handling of grain, oil, chemicals, etc., which each in themselves could require a complete painting. The Bicentennial year was one of great activity and progress for the Port of Houston.