A reflection by artist Thierry Lamare:
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| Thierry Lamare "Mr. Louis Taylor" Egg tempura on wood panel 48" by 24" |
During one of my many adventures in search of
subjects, I was walking down the street in Seymours, Long Island, when my
attention drifted toward a little blue cottage, typically Bahamian, and also,
as often is in the Out Islands, very run down.
This was a witness of the past and living proof
of the many decades of rough Out Island life. Brutal sun, hurricane force
winds, and salt air were the culprits that led to the condition of this lovely
cottage. This was enough to trigger my interest in this place and so I ventured
onto the property.
Suddenly, Mr. Louis Taylor appeared. He was
wearing a blue striped shirt and on his head a little white hat, which seemed
to have been through the same rough weather as the cottage. My interest
suddenly switched from that run down home to the man before me.
He was easy to talk to with a big generous
smile. Humility and pride were pouring out of his eyes and face. While he was
talking, I couldn’t help being distracted by his shirt that matched the blue
horizontal stripes of the cottage siding. His strong hands told no lies about
the hard working life that the Out Islands provide.
We spoke for a while and
before we parted I took photos of him to help me remember that moment. I
promised that I would be back to visit.
The following year I returned to Seymours. To
my disappointment, the cottage was boarded up. No one was in sight.
I never saw Mr. Taylor
again and even today I still wonder what became of him.
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