Inspiration and creation

Ships Alongside in the Port of Providence

Ships Alongside in the Port of Providence 01Ships and tugs alongside piers in the Port of Providence, Providence, Rhode Island

I present this series of photos of ships alongside the piers of the Port of Providence on the eve of the anniversary of the birth of the Swiss American artist who taught me about art and photography, Rhode Island artist Adolph Wahl (August 22,1889-April 1,1987), my grandfather. I learned maritime things as the son of a marine surveyor and captain. Later, I earned my own captain's license along with physics and engineering degrees. 

The combined experiences exposed me to a maritime artist, Carl G. Evers. Carl G. Evers (1907-2000) was a German American artist who was active in the USA and is recognized as one of the leading marine artists. He was known for his contemporary paintings of maritime subjects, mostly in watercolor, of tugs, freighters, liners, naval ships and ships in coastal waters. His works often depicted ships in coastal waters and harbors, with a focus on the details of the ships and their surroundings. He was skilled in capturing the movement of water and the reflections of light on its surface.

I accomplish this reality with the eyes given to me in my ancestry and experience. Ships should not look like yachts, by and large. Ships have rub marks. Ships have rust streaks. The plate of a ship's hull shows ripple in the plate. There may even be a dishing or two where hard contact has been made. And this is what I try to capture in these photos. They represent hard work and the reality of waterfront life. And like an urban canyon in a city, the light is affected by the presence of large vessels in port. This is a beautiful if gritty reality. 

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© Keith R Wahl, Made From RI/Made From RI Gallery, 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Keith R Wahl and Made From RI/Made From RI Gallery with appropriate and specific direction to the original.