THE SALVATION ARMY 100th AMERICAN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
The Norton Museum Gardens, West Palm Beach, FL.
The Florida Flamingo, as recorded in 1832
When John Audubon first saw a flamingo in 1832, he described it as “the most glorious effulgence that could be conceived.” The Audubon society emphasized the Florida flamingo, as recorded in 1832, as pink, although their more recent descendants are orange.
Recent image of a Florida Flamingo
J. Steven Manolis reflects the desire to bring awareness to how climate change has severely affected the flamingo. Early Audubon paintings of the flamingo show a much more vibrant pink bird. As pollution and climate change have affected the shrimp the flamingo eats, the color of the birds has changed to a more orange-pink color.
Portrait of Audubon by John Syme, 1826
J. Steven Manolis, FLAMINGO, 48.48.02, 2020
Acrylic and Latex Enamel on canvas
48 x 48 inches
"There's undoubtedly a lesson here for all of us in this visual observational story: what you put in your body has great subsequent impact! We must understand, appreciate, and work to keep our planet healthy, pristine, and thriving.
In my remarkably popular Flamingo Series, I color transition paintings from Coral Pink (on top) to Salmon Orange (on bottom).
It's perchance, but how lucky am I as a colorist artist to have two such beautiful colors to pair while also illustrating the story?"
J. Steven Manolis, Flamingo, 2023
Acrylic on Canvas
84 x 144 inches