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Mermaids Everywhere!
So let's check out the mermaids in Norfolk...
I got my first taste of the mermaids at the Norfolk Visitor Center, which I stopped at to get directions to my various destinations within Norfolk, since I so foolishly forgot the directions at home.
The mermaid at the Visitor Center, as you can see, is decorated not in mermaid-like features, but has more of a nautical theme, with waves, sailboats, and such. This being the first mermaid I saw, I thought it was some strange duck-like sculpture.
At Nauticus, we experienced the classic mermaid, done up in flowers.
Even in the gift shop at Nauticus, you can't get away from those mermaids!
Here, near the World Trade Center, is the most elaborate mermaid of them all. Isn't it just gorgeous?
Here we are at the World Trade Center in Norfolk... it's kind of like a "Where's Waldo" kind of thing. Find the mermaid in this picture!
There she is! (And no, I'm not telling you where on the building this is - find it yourself!) As you can see, this mermaid has the theme of justice, with the scales all over her "bikini top", and on her blue tail. Additionally, the mermaid is blindfolded, because justice is blind, as the old saying goes.
Across the street from the World Trade Center, at a quiet waterside park, there are more mermaids, in the midst of the Spirit of Norfolk...
...and ships being dry-docked in the distance.
In this waterside park, we first come across this mermaid painted in traditional mermaid colors, with American flag ribbons draped around her. It seems, however, that she has unfortunately lost some of her ribbon. I sent the photo off to my friend Sarah Vandenberg, who did the mermaid up in what we believe was the original configuration. Thanks, Sarah!
Down a little bit from the last mermaid is this one, painted white, with pink hair, and a continuation of the pole that holds her up coming up through the top of the mermaid.
Down from the last mermaid, this one is just a masterpiece in color, with the tasteful blending of purple, blue, and gold.
And finally, on the way back to the parking garage, we find this mermaid, with a multitude of colors, and a disco ball in her hand. |
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In Norfolk, at the time that I went, on March 5, 2002, the city was being invaded... by mermaids. All around the city, you could find colorfully decorated mermaids in all kinds of different styles all around, from abstract to concrete, in every kind of place, from Nauticus, to a waterside park, and even at the World Trade Center. This was perhaps the most unexpected thing to come about during the entire Photo Essay Blitz, even more so than the "Snapshot of Metropolitan Advertising" photo set, which itself was borne out of bad weather. The mermaids, on the other hand, were just everywhere, and not expected in the least.
