New Bedford, with its large population of Quakers (very anti-slavery) and an industry that was hiring men of all races (whaling), made it a major stop on the Underground Railroad. It was here, in New Bedford, that Douglass changed his name, found work, and bought his first home as a free man. Done in the style of my Hollywood series, Douglass fits right in. His story is inspiring, horrible, and powerful. New Bedford at its peak—progressive with work to be had for all—offered Douglass a new beginning.
I found lots of quahogs when I was painting on Palmer’s Island and brought several back to the studio. Quahogs remind me that there are people who were here before us who understood the value of things. That purple! Wampum. Quahog shells were used to make the trading beads of the Wampanoag people.
While researching New Bedford’s history, I came across some old postcards for sale online. I ordered several. One I bought features an old photo from 1907 that shows New Bedford on a moonlit night. Palmer Island Lighthouse is prominent in the scene. Buildings are lit up out on the piers. The photo had been altered by artists. Later, I found several versions of the same photo. The moon is shown differently. The windows on the buildings are drawn differently. Here is my version.