About The New Series - "The Everglades Passage"
600 years ago - in the late 15th century - mankind envisioned a sea route giving access from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean opening up a possible shorter trade route between Europe and Asia. Several explorers became obsessed in their quest to discover that passage through one of the last frontiers on Planet Earth - the pristine wilderness of The Arctic.

In June , 1903, a young Norwegian by the name of Roald Amundsen set sail from Oslo in his 47-ton, 75-foot sloop, the "Gjoa" and with his crew of six other brave seafaring men, headed west. For the next three years their quest took them from the Atlantic Ocean, through the Arctic Ocean, along the coast of North America via the waterways amidst the Canadian Arctic Archipelago Islands to Alaska. On August 17, 1905 they finally arrived in Cambridge Bay. Young Amundsen found his way to the nearest telegram office in the City of Eagle, Alaska and news of his feat was transmitted to the world ...
"The Northwest Passage" had become a reality - shaving off 4,000-miles
(2-weeks modern-day travel) from the previous route via the Panama Canal.

In June, 2008 - over a century later - a youngish (hhmmmm ??) American artist by the name of Riley Geddings set forth from the Gulf of Mexico on the Southwest Coast of Florida, with his trusty paint brush in hand, and headed east. For the next several months, Riley's quest will take him through one of the last frontiers on Planet Earth - the pristine wilderness of The Florida Everglades. Riley will paint his way via the Ten Thousand Islands to The Big Cypress National Preserve; The Everglades National Park; and eventually Key Largo at the entrance to The Florida Keys in Southeast Florida.

Riley's "The Everglades Passage" will become a reality - in the same way that
"The Northwest Passage" became a reality for Amundsen, a century ago.

Background About Big Cypress Preserve
As we continue our journey on my new venture into "The Everglades Passage", having left behind us "# 1 - Marco Island" and "# 2 - Pavilion Key", we now arrive in the 729,000-acre "Big Cypress Preserve" located in the northwest region of "The Everglades National Park". "Big Cypress" was designated by Congress in 1974 as a national preserve to ensure the preservation, conservation, and protection of the natural scenic flora and fauna of the
Big Cypress Watershed. This particular area of Florida is frequented by the critically endangered Florida Panther - a species which at the last count numbered 50 ... yes ... just 50 left on this entire planet !!! Inasmuch as most of this "Big Cypress" region remains remote wilderness, it serves as a buffer zone against encroaching development with its associated devastating pollution.

The topography of "Big Cypress" is comprised of varied landscapes including vast primitive swamps, shallow wetlands, unending plains of sawgrass - originally called "sedge", one of the oldest green plants on Planet Earth - as well as somewhat higher elevations (the maximum is a mere 8-feet above
sea-level) called "hammocks" which are island areas of dry land containing concentrations of various hardwood trees such as Slash Pines and Scrub Oaks, and the ever-present Saw Palmetto.

This Original Painting
As the title of this painting implies, we find ourselves observing a typical varied landscape of "Big Cypress" which includes a combination of sawgrass plain on the right and a typical hardwood hammock on the left. Holding center-stage is the pride and joy of the majority of Florida's residents ... the Florida Panther ... just awakened from his (or her) siesta after having savoured the spoils of his (or her) nocturnal quest for a meal. What a beautiful sight to behold - a Florida Panther resting on a fallen hardwood tree taking advantage of the cover provided by a nearby flowering bush and the palmettos. Providing a regal backdrop for this scene are several Slash Pines and Scrub Oaks.

In the far distance we espy a "snag" (dead pine tree) typically chosen for a nesting site by one of Florida's birds of prey - the Osprey - just arriving at its nest. On the right can be seen a beautiful, graceful Great White Heron in flight and heading off towards a nearby pond area in search of a tasty mid-morning snack.

The seemingly never-ending sawgrass plain includes subtle patches of Florida's native flora - colorful wildflowers that are abundant at times, and in early summer the sedge is interspersed with literally hundreds of eye-catching blossoms of Bartram’s rosegentian (Sabatia bartramii), named to honor the intrepid explorer William Bartram. As my readers are probably aware, the name "Florida" actually means "Land of Flowers".

As we continue our journey of "The Everglades Passage", the destination for my fourth painting will be deeper into the "Big Cypress Preserve" ... next stop will be ... "# 4 - Sawgrass Plain, Big Cypress Preserve".

Let the journey continue ...

This original Florida art - framed canvas-on-board was completed in July, 2008, and was signed by this artist, R.Geddings. This painting has a double application of professional-grade Acrylic Polymer Varnish to protect and to bring out the deep sheen of the colors as well ! It actually appears as if it were an oil painting !

About The Artist
Riley Geddings is a self-taught, noted Florida landscape artist who is keeping the old 'traditional Florida art' alive with his unique painting style, influenced in part by the now-famous "Florida Highwaymen" of the 1950's !

He is listed on many well-known art and international internet web sites. He is known internationally and more and more collectors are buying his art ! The Art Cove is the official and exclusive source for the BEAUTIFUL PAINTINGS by Florida landscape artist Riley Geddings.

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