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 Pavilion Key
Having now embarked on my new venture into "The Everglades Passage", we leave behind us my first painting "# 1 - Marco Island" and have headed east into Florida's Ten Thousand Islands having now landed at my second port of call - "# 2 - Pavilion Key". This name is derived from a temporary home (pavilion) built to house royal kidnappings - one of whom was a Dutchlady by the name of Kaaren Van Bokkelel captured by the infamous pirate Jose Gaspar in the mid-18th-century.

Stories of pirates and buried treasure are commonplace on Florida Islands - a mixture of historical fact, myth, and fabrication. Jose Gaspar - nicknamed
"The Last of The Buccaneers" - was fact - not fiction. It was Gaspar - also called Gasparilla - and his crew who prowled the West Coast of Florida seeking hiding places for their buried treasure. In fact, Gaspar sailed into Tampa Bay and invaded my home town of Tampa - and for over 100-years Tampa has "celebrated" that occasion by organizing their "Annual Gasparilla Parade" - complete with invasion by a genuine pirate ship with a motley crew of genuinely-costumed pirates - quite a sight to behold ! You may also have heard of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - our aptly-named local NFL football team !!

But I digress ... back to Pavilion Key - also referred to as "The Isle of Buried Treasure" - for obvious reasons inasmuch as this island was a favorite port of call for our Pirate Jose Gaspar and a perfect location for him to bury his stolen treasures of gold doubloons and precious stones in the soft white sands of this popular Key. Only adventurers such as myself accept the exploits attributed to José Gaspar (Gasparilla) as being true and accurate ! I have no doubt of Gaspar’s existence, but even with all this data, I do not recommend using this information for treasure hunting ! Today, Pavilion Key is a beach-camper's dream location.

This Acrylic Painting
Having now arrived at my second port of call - the leading edge of The Ten Thousand Islands - we are standing on the soft white sands of Pavilion Key, looking east, surrounded by the beautiful, clear aqua waters of the Gulf of Mexico where roughly 200 species of fish have been documented in this area - a perfect stopover for one of Florida's native birds - the Great White Heron -
silently wading through these clear shallow waters adjacent to a small cluster of Mangroves - searching for an unsuspecting fish. In the right foreground is a sand dune with two Coconut Palm Trees, sheltering the beautiful secluded lagoon with its soft white sandy beach - a perfect site for pirates to land their longboat and bury their treasures. Our observing eyes now turn to Riley's hallmark - "the inquisitive gull" - peering down in search of a fish for breakfast.

Anchored offshore in the deeper waters of The Gulf .... what do we espy here ? Could that be a galleon ?? A Spanish galleon perchance ??? Hhmmmmm - shades of yesteryear !!

Our destinatiom for my next painting as we continue our eastward journey of "The Everglades Passage" will be deep into "The Big Cypress Preserve" in the northwest portion of The Florida Everglades.

Let the journey continue ... next stop will be ... "# 3 - Big Cypress Preserve - Hardwood Hammock".

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 is more and more becoming sought after !
The online gallery located at http://www.TheArtCove.com is the official and exclusive source for the
BEAUTIFUL PAINTINGS by Florida landscape artist Riley Geddings.

How To Order This Lovely Painting:

Sorry, The Original Painting Has Been Sold ! . . .

Buyer's Comment:
" I bought this second painting for my husband's office and he loves it ! "
T.E. (Art Colletor) Williamsburg, VA

Contact The Artist

Back To 2008 Gallery

Top of Page