Delaware County Times
May 3, 2013
 
These days a map tends to be viewed as a dry, dusty piece of parchment.  With a GPS at our fingertips, a map might simply be looked at as ancient navigational tool.

In actuality, maps of early America were conversation pieces, works of art and crucial tools in identifying lifestyles of the times in which they were drawn. They became the social glue that bound a young nation into a community and shaped its identity.

Winterthur Museum’s new major exhibition “Common Destinations: Maps in the American Experience” offers a fascinating voyage through two centuries that included colonial wars, nation building and industrialization. The exhibition runs through January 5, 2014.

While other map exhibitions have focused largely on great mapmakers or on decorative aspects of maps, curator Dr. Martin Bruckner took aim at the “social life of maps.” He collaborated with Linda Eaton, Winterthur’s director of collections.

Then, as today, America took pride in building unity out of diversity, and maps helped a fledgling nation forge common bonds and foster good citizenship,” noted Bru¨ckner, an associate professor of English at the University of Delaware who conceived “Common Destinations.”

“Visitors will see how men used maps at home and abroad. How women and children engaged with maps to nurture family ties. Maps would bind a people of strangers into a community during times of change and development."

The Hunt Website
May 2013

When hurricane Sandy slammed into the Jersey coast in late October, three factors -- astronomical high tide, direct hurricane impact, and fully developed seas -- set the stage for historic flooding. It was a worst-case scenario that came true.

In the wake of devastation rendered by the super-storm the lesson learned should be: start building those living, mini-mountains of sand.

In north Jersey entire beaches and towns are gone. A sea of debris remains. Further south it is a different story. Summer destinations such as Long Beach Island, Ship Bottoms, Surf City, Avalon and Stone Harbor had instituted beach replenishment for years and sand dunes were built high and wide. Those communities were spared the worst damage.

Humans cannot control the sea, but they can adjust to it.

America’s Best Racing
The Jockey Club Website
www.followhorseracing.com
May 2013

The path Sir Alfred Munnings travelled to artistic greatness commenced with a simple carriage ride with his father.  In his memoir the young lad described the thrill:  

“I can see the mare’s pricked up ears in front of us, and the short, silky, silver mane in the breeze.  I can hear the hooves on the road, the jingle of the silver-mounted harness and the sound of the wheels as we bowled along.”

The leading light of English sporting art in the 20th century, Munnings captured the sensation of light and bright colors as stunningly as he captured the spirit of horses. Among his stable of discerning patrons were George V and Elizabeth II of England and American royalty Paul Mellon and John Hay Whitney.

In his autobiography, ''An Artist's Life,'' Munnings wrote: “The horse is one of the greater miracles of nature. Although horses have given me much trouble and many sleepless nights, they have been my supporters and friends. They have been my destiny.''