First Congregation Sons of Israel

First Congregation Sons of Israel

Saint Augustine, Florida

April 7, 2022

In the late 1800s, the congregation's first families came from Russia and Eastern Europe to settle in Saint Augustine. In 1908, the congregation was chartered with the State of Florida and religious services were held in members' homes until a Synagogue was constructed. Under the leadership of Rabbi Jacob Tarlinsky and his wife, the Synagogue was dedicated in 1923 with the completion and first service on March 30, 1924. The early Jewish congregants had the vision to provide a place for Jewish worship, learning, and activities for the members then, and to provide an enduring legacy for future generations. 

Official Website: https://www.firstcongregationsonsofisrael.com/

Artifact 1

Pictured above is a Torah Ark inside of the Synagogue. The ark is located behind the Bimah, which is where the rabbi stands while conducting religious ceremonies. In older times when Jewish communities worshiped in their houses, the arks were built on wheels and moved before and after the ceremony. The ark inside of the Congregation Sons of Israel, although, is permanently placed in the center of the Synagogue. Inside of the ark is where the Torahs are kept. The Torah is the completion of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. This ark holds original scripts which were brought down from Europe by the original founders of this Synagogue.

Artifact 2

The Lorillard Villa was located at 73 St. George Street, Jacob and Dora Tarlinsky purchased the home and its furniture in 1899. They raised their three daughters there. After Dora's death in 1937, the home was occupied by their oldest daughter Lena Tarlinsky Lichter, her husband Benjamin, and their children. In 1960, the home was demolished. The furniture shown above was located in the front parlor of the massive house. It was passed down to family members and has been donated to the Congregation Sons of Israel.

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Above is a Hindu prayer alter, which has similar features to the ark found in the Synagogue. I am vaguely familiar with the Hindu religion and this type of prayer altar because my uncle grew up in India. As a young girl, I would watch as his mother sat inside the library room at their house and would pray behind her homemade alter similar to above. The Hindu altar and the ark use similar religious symbols and features that make these places sacred. They both contain light through candles which symbolize God and the light of God or Christ. Both also use symbols of the region's core, through the Hindu shrine displaying Ganesha and the Ark displaying the Star of David.

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The photo above bears a resemblance to the First Congregation Sons of Isreal because of its beautiful stained glass. This is a picture of the Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal. Located in the historic district of Old Montreal in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the basilica is Montreal's oldest Catholic Church known for its stained glass which tells a story of the city's history. Similarly, the stained glass inside the Synagogue tells a story of the Jewish people of Saint Augustine and also of the city. The stained glass in the Synagogue was replaced representing its normal form after damage due to a hurricane. The story of the stained glass restoration shows viewers what the place has gone through and how the community worked together in order to repair it. The glass itself also tells a story because it was replicated and redesigned to show Jewish symbols and symbols of the congregation as a whole.

In Conversation Passage ENG 202

The poem "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" by Wallace Stevens, consists of thirteen short, separate sections, each of which mentions blackbirds in some way. The poem uses and focuses on the words "to be" in seven out of the thirteen different variations of the blackbird. The blackbird is pictured in a different situation and articulated in a different grammatical way in each fragment of the poem. This mere idea of taking one idea and looking at it in many different ways encapsulates the entire idea of preservation as seen in the First Congregation Sons of Israel Synagogue. The synagogue used different types of preservation to keep the importance of the space after a devastating hurricane. People of the synagogue took action in order to save the place's legacy by renewing what was there before. For example, they reupholstered the old chairs after water damage and made them new while keeping some of the historic aspects of them. This demonstrates looking at something in different ways in order to problem solve and preserve what can be kept in order to make it new. The entire building had to be looked at in different aspects and the rebuilders could not dwell on the way the old building looked. They were forced to be creative and considered all aspects of renovation, looking at the new building with multiple lenses. 

Creative Component

The infographic above was drawn with colored pencils and markers. I decided to make an informative poster of common symbols in Judaism because symbols are ways to tell stories and share information through visuals. I did not know much about the Jewish religion and after visiting the synagogue, I wanted to know more. I thought that an important first step to learning about religion is looking at the visuals that are commonly associated with it and searching for their meaning. 

The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

 The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Saint Augustine, Florida

March 31, 2022

Built by the Spanish in Saint Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the Continental United States and interprets more than 450 years of cultural intersections. 

Official Website: https://www.nps.gov/casa/index.htm

Artifact 1

Pictured above is a Coquina wall of which the Castillo Monument is made out of. Coquina is formed from the tiny coquina clam donax variabilis which live in the shallow waters of coastal Florida.  As the clams died, the shells accumulated in layers over many years. During the last ice age, sea levels dropped, exposing the layers of shells to the air and rain. Eventually, the shell became covered with soil and other vegetation, which mixed with carbon dioxide, turned into acid. As this acid-soaked downward into the layers of the shell, it dissolved some of the calcium in the shells, producing calcium carbonate which solidified in the lower layers. This acted as a glue, compressing the shells together into a type of limestone called Coquina. Saint Augustine had an abundant amount of this stone because it had remained untouched for many decades. When a new building material was needed to replace wood (which could be easily burnt), the people of Saint Augustine decided to utilize this stone in order to rebuild the city which would be more protected from attack. 

Artifact 2

Originating in Italy in the 15th century, the particular star-shaped design of the Castillo is a result of architecture adapting to technology. The change in warfare brought about by black powder weapons created new types of defensive structures adapted both to withstand and avoid the impact of cannon projectiles. This structure was also used to effectively mount cannons to repel any possible attackers. One of the major architectural components, pictured above, is the "bastion system". This was named for the diamond or pointed angle formations added onto the fort walls. This system was more effective than previously popular curved walls because these new pointed edges allowed direct fire from other positions of defense. By having angled walls, the attackers had no place to hide and were channeled into carefully constructed "kill zones". 

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Shown above is Fort Carré in France. Fort Carré is a 16th-century fort on the outskirts of Antibes, France.  The fort played a vital role in the defenses of the town is 1860, the year when the county of Nice was annexed to France. During the French Revolution, people were even briefly imprisoned here. This fort in France has the same purpose and architectural style as The Castillo. Both forts were built with the purpose of protecting their towns and the people occupying them. Both housed soldiers during wars and revolutions, and even held prisoners. The most prominent similarity is the architectural style used in both forts. The star-shaped style of the forts symbolized emerging technology and advancements. The Bastion System refers to the pointed angle formations added to the walls. These provided a unique and more effective type of protection from intruders. The two forts are also both situated along a body of water which is vital for trade at the time. Saint Augustine and Antibes alike had invaders coming through trade routes that the forts protected from.

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Pictured above is the First Thanksgiving, where Native Americans and early settlers gave thanks together with this now historic feast. Long before the settlers came to the East Coast of the United States, the area was inhabited by many Native American tribes. This area had been home to the Wampanoag people for decades before the settlers came on the Mayflower. The settlers were a group of English Protestants called Puritans, and they came to get away from the Church of England. Similarly, Saint Augustine was home to indigenous people long before Europeans sought to settle here. Multiple groups of native peoples lived in Florida before European settlement, such as the Calusa, Tequesta, Apalachee, Aix, and Timucua. In both stories, outside conquistadors from Europe took over the land that the native people had lived on and shaped for decades, the only difference being the way they went about it. In the story of the First Thanksgiving, the indigenous people and settlers came together and gave thanks as a community. However, in Saint Augustine, the settlers met the Native Americans with violence, and many were even killed off due to diseases brought by the Europeans. 

In Conversation Passage ENG 202

Wallace Stevens's poem "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird", a blackbird takes on many different meanings as the writing unfolds. The poem overall suggests that people look at the world in different ways and have different perceptions of reality. The blackbird is a specific point of focus, and each section has a different meaning depending on who is reading it and what has shaped it. The poem creates a circle of events, starting with the blackbird in the tree and ending with the blackbird again in a natural setting. The blackbird is at rest in the tree after a somewhat wild journey of perceptions and feelings. The simplicity of this image allows the reader to take into consideration what came before and the journey that led up to that moment. Similarly, the Castillo de San Marcos is a symbol of a journey of historic conquest. The history that has led up to the present-day monument tells many stories of the people and events that have shaped the place and the city as a whole. The Castillo is similar to the blackbird by acting as a symbol of everything the monument has overcome. In its naturally preserved form, the simple image of the Castillo gives the people who encounter it space to consider the stories that are behind the city's most prominent monument. 

Creative Component 

This infographic made with the online graphic design website Canva displays the people who shaped the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. I have made infographics and posters with Canva before, so I was familiar with the software. It is important to note the people that have made a mark on locations because they shape them and add new dimensions to the stories. 

The Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center

 The Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center

Saint Augustine, Florida

March 24, 2022

The Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center is an African American history museum located in the Lincolnville neighborhood of Saint Augustine. The museum is housed in the historic Excelsior School Building, which served as the first public black high school in Saint Johns County in 1925. After desegregation, the school was closed and the building housed government offices until the mid-1980s. After the offices became less and less used, former Excelsior students and community members rallied to save the building from being demolished. 

Mission Statement: "The LMCC's mission is to preserve, promote, and perpetuate over 450 years of the African American story through the arts, educational programs, lectures, live performances, and exhibits."

Official Website: https://www.lincolnvillemuseum.org/ 

Artifact 1

Pictured above is a famous illustration by Thomas Nast titled "Emancipation". The image first appeared in Harpers Weekly, on Jan. 24, 1863. The original caption in the weekly read: "The Emancipation of the Negroes, January 1863 -- The Past and The Future --Drawn by Mr. Thomas Nast." Two years later, the image was published as a print. The illustration reveals that Nast envisions a somewhat optimistic picture of the future of free blacks in the United States. The central scene of the photo shows the interior of a freedman's home with the family gathered around a wood stove. Below this is an oval portrait of Lincoln, and above it is Thomas Crawford's statue of "Freedom". On either side of the picture are scenes contrasting black life in the South under the Confederacy (left) with visions of the freedman's life after the war (right).

Artifact 2

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., spent one night in the St. Johns Country jail on an unlawful assembly and civil disobedience change on June 11, 1964, after he and other demonstrators picketed downtown St. Augustine. The fingerprint card that was produced when Dr. King was processed at the county jail is the only arrest record of this kind known for him. During the processing, a fingerprint card was borrowed from the Putnam Country Sheriff's Office because St. Johns County deputies ran out of their own after arresting so many Civil Rights demonstrators. 

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The image above is in conversation with the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center because of its roots in black history. The above image depicts the idea of Emancipation that was highlighted in the exhibits at the museum. In the Emancipation image that is Artifact 1, Emancipation is described as something hopeful and to be optimistic about. Similarly, this artwork shows a dove of hope flying over the black man who is becoming free. Freedom is depicted through the man breaking out of his shackles as the dove is flying overhead. The vertical line as the woman is holding up the child in the image also shows an optimistic future, as the implied vertical line represents strength, power, and growth. 

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Above is a political cartoon describing Civil Rights in America. The cartoon depicts America as not changing or growing and staying stagnant even after Emancipation. Martin Luther King Jr. is pictured with a confused look on his face as he thinks about how America has not completely changed since 1963. In the 1960s, a time of Civil Rights movements, King hopes for a world where the color of one's skin does not define one. The same picture, but displayed in 2022, has the same issue of unequal treatment for black Americans. This refers to the Black Lives Matter movements that have been prominent in the past year because of police brutality and unfair government treatment. This is in conversation with the Lincolnville Museum because the museum is dedicated to African American culture in Saint Augustine and the story of Lincolnville and the historic Excelsior School. The different exhibits inside the museum share the same message of black oppression and even share MLKs journey of protesting in Florida and how he impacted the city. 

In Conversation Passage ENG 202

In the excerpt from "[lukao]", by Craig Santos Perez, lines of the writing are crossed out. This is similar to the way in which the African American history of Saint Augustine would be forgotten without monuments such as The Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center. Attempts have been made to diminish the history of black Americans in Saint Augustine through the Trolly routes and the almost instant demolition of the historic school building. Without preservation, pieces of history would be forgotten such as the information in the poem being viewed as less important or disregarded due to the slashes through the text. The inequality of black people in America poses a threat to the history of these people, which is similar to the crossed-out text in the poem. Although trying to erase or cross out these important moments, it makes them stronger and more important. The lines of the poem were crossed out intentionally to show that stories are important because of every detail, and removing these details poses a threat to the story as a whole. The same is true for black history, as all aspects are important in truly telling the entire story. 

Creative Component

The shirt above was designed with an online graphic design website called CustomInk which I have never used before. I decided to design a shirt supporting the BLM movement because it shows how Civil Rights are still being fought for in the present day. The Lincolnville Museum was founded to preserve the history of Civil Rights Movements and important figures, and this shirt demonstrates how our society is still fighting for the same equality. History is preserved through visual culture, which is why I decided to design a shirt. 

Lightner Museum

 Lightner Museum 

Saint Augustine, Florida 

March 10, 2022

The Lightner Museum was founded in 1948 by Chicago publisher, collector, and professional hobbyist Otto C. Lightner. The museum occupies what was formerly the Alcazar Hotel, a Gilded Age resort hotel commissioned by Henry Flagler which attracts many people by itself. The museum offers an immersive experience of art, architecture, history, and design. The heart of the museum's offerings are the compelling collections that vary from lamps, shells, musical instruments, porcelain pieces, and geological specimens. 

Mission Statement: "To inspire curiosity, excite minds, and enrich lives through our unique collection, historic building, and dynamic exhibitions and programs."

Official Website: https://lightnermuseum.org/ 

Artifact 1

Pictured above is an Indian Maid holding a U.S. Flag. The photo is a lithograph printed on parchment, and the artist is unknown. The border surrounding the photo is glass pieced together from a large panel with a cupid and floral theme, along with red flashed glass cut to the clear. During the 1930s in the Chicago area, many large mansions were demolished and the architectural features were sold. This piece was a door that most likely came from a Victorian-style home.

Artifact 2

Pictured above is a painted plaster statue from 1876 by John Rogers. The year 1876 marked a high point in Rogers' career, as he presented 29 of his sculptures at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. This gained popularity allowed him to open a new showroom on Broadway. The sculpture, Weighing The Baby, above, features a young mother who has taken her newborn to the local general store to have it weighed. The shop owner looks on in disbelief at the weight of the baby, though to the shop owner's surprise, a young boy had grabbed the baby blanket and was pulling down on it, therefore pulling down on the scale and producing an unbelievable weight. Displayed during the holiday season, this sculpture became one of the artist's most well-known pieces. This sculpture was popularly given as a gift during the holiday season for its artistic merits. 

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Liberty Leading the People is an 1830 oil painting by French artist Eugene Delacroix, commemorating the July Revolution in Paris that removed the King, Charles X from the throne. A half-nude female figure dominates the painting as she charges forward with a crowd of revolutionists behind her. She is the personification of liberty and freedom, as she powerfully holds the Fench flag. This is similar to Artifact 1 which depicts an Indian maid holding the United States flag, with symbols of her heritage around her. Both of these images paint women in a strong and dominating light, as they are at the center of the art pieces, holding their hands vertically above their heads, symbolizing strength. Both artworks also show the women with their breasts exposed, drawing to the femininity and grace that they proceed with.

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Above is a miniature statue depicting a family looking with loving gazes at their newborn baby. The little girl below glances up at her parents who are holding their newborn. This statue is made by the company Demdaco, in the Willow Tree collection. These figurines are normally given as gifts to family members or loved ones, which reminded me of the painted plaster statue Weighing the Baby, by John Rogers. Both statues depict a family scene surrounding the newborn. Further, both of these statues are popularly given as gifts during holidays due to their artistic merit and meaning. 

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"When she was pushing, she was so strong and powerful." (Lukao)

The excerpts from Lukao describe natural childbirth and the pain that the mother endures during this event. The text represents the journey of motherhood, as the mother has to take birthing classes to prepare herself for the pain of birth, and the experience she feels during the act. Lukao depicts the mother in a light where she uses her womanly strength and resilience to overcome the pain caused by the birth. The above quote describes the mother as being strong and powerful as she pushes her final times, revealing the baby's head. Motherhood is symbolic of power, femininity, and strength, which we see in Artifact 1 from the Lightner Museum. This artifact, depicting an indigenous woman above everything and holding a flag high in the air, is also symbolic of female power. Both Lukao and this artifact suggest the strength and power that women hold, painting them as main characters.

Creative Component

The collage above was designed on the social media platform Instagram which is familiar to me. I compiled many important artifacts that I viewed during the visit to the Lightner Museum. I believe that it is important to use social media as a tool to engage and excite others about learning. By using Instagram to make this collage, it is able to reach a wide variety of people and make them interested in what the museum has to offer. I also thought it would be important to take note of other important artifacts that are part of the museum's composition and history. 

Tolomato Cemetery

 Tolomato Cemetery

Saint Augustine, Florida

February 24, 2022

The Tolomato Cemetery was an active cemetery from the 18th century until 1884. This space is the last resting place of some 1,000 St. Augustinians and other important people in the history of Florida and the United States. Burials include those of people from Spain, Cuba, Ireland, Minorca, Italy, Greece, Africa, Haiti, France, and the American South and Northeast, as well as the graves of soldiers from both sides of the Civil War. In less than one acre it is a distillation of Saint Augustine's history, starting with the First Spanish Period when Tolomato was a Franciscan mission, and going through its use as a cemetery during the British Period and the Second Spanish Period and then on through Florida's Territorial and early Statehood periods. The Cemetery holds many legends and tales, while also revealing stories of real people.

Official Website: http://www.tolomatocemetery.com/

Artifact 1

Pictured above is the oldest marked grave in the state of Florida. Elizabeth Forester was buried in 1798 in Saint Augustine. Days after being buried, grave robbers broke in and stole the clothing off of her body. Robbers at the time often stole clothing off of dead bodies because the clothing was valuable at the time, especially Ms. Foresters who came from a wealthy family. Later on, it was found that it was two soldiers from the Castillo who stole the clothing. This prompted guards and fences to be placed at cemeteries. The exterior of the gravestone displays style and wealth. The above-ground aspect was popular with Spanish-style gravestones, and the marble material represents wealth at the time. 

Artifact 2

Pictured above is a statue head of Venerable Fr. Felix Varela who was a priest, philosopher, and patriot. Father Felix Varela was born in Cuba and reared in St. Augustine, Florida. He was ordained in Cuba but worked among the Irish immigrants in NYC for nearly 30 years, returning to St. Augustine where he died in 1853. Throughout his life, he worked for Cuban independence and the thankful Cuban people built him a mortuary chapel where this headstone resides. 

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Above is the Lincoln Memorial located in Washington, DC. The memorial was built to honor the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. The statue symbolizes Lincoln's belief in the freedom and dignity of the people, as he saved the Union while also preserving America's high ideals. This memorial is similar to the memorial in the Tolomato Cemetary that recognizes Father Felix Varela and his achievements. Both monuments have the similar objective of preserving history and recognizing those who were prominent in shaping the world today. Statues, monuments, and gravestones both have the purpose of preserving something, making them important and connected through their similar meaning.

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The Arlington National Cemetery is a Military Cemetary in Arlington, Virginia. The cemetery was built with the purpose of recognizing those who have fought for America's freedom, risking their lives in the process. Similarly, the Tolomato Cemetary has a section dedicated to soldiers who were important to Saint Augustine's history. These soldiers were stationed at the Castillo de San Marcos and have a legacy in the city through their service and how they shaped history. These places are important for preserving the people's legacies and telling a story about history through those that lived within the place.

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"Helen: It was then I saw a light, like a tunnel. I felt outside my body. I was looking at myself thinking, I'm gonna die. And then the doctor was screaming at your dad to get out of the room. I remember that white light." (Lukao)

This excerpt from Lukao reminds me of the Tolomato Cemetery because of the present theme of death. The cemetery exists to remember those who have passed, and Helen in Lukao is describing her experience of childbirth and what she expects death to be like. She explains that she sees a white light and that she will always remember this moment because it had an impact on her. It is also interesting to note the contrast between childbirth and death, as she thinks she is going to die as she is bringing a life into the world. This connects to the theme of preserving those who were lost in the Tolomato Cemetery. In a different way, the cemetery houses stones to commemorate the lives of soldiers, mothers, political figures, and children. On the other hand, Helen is describing death in the form of bringing a new life into the world.

Creative Component

(Below is a eulogy I wrote for my own funeral. Although somber of a topic, I thought that a eulogy would be an important component to add given that the Tolomato Cemetery has the purpose of commemorating those who have passed. I have never written a eulogy before, but researched the writing of one and added components about myself that I would wish to be remembered.)

"Spread love everywhere you go." -Mother Theresa 

This is a quote that Madison lived by, as she always took her kind and loving soul everywhere she went. She spread love to those around her and helped to lift people up in times of despair and hardship. Madison had a bubbly and lighthearted personality that would always light up the room. Her kind heart always saw the good in people and she wanted the best for those around her. 

Madison was a hard worker, determined, and a little bit of a perfectionist. Throughout school, work, and her life in general, she always strived to do her best work and make the things she did meaningful and impactful to the community. 

Madison also had a passion for adventure, and traveling, and loved to learn about and immerse herself in different cultures. She found interest in learning about how different upbringings and backgrounds shaped people, and how learning about these different cultures could shape her own person and allow her to grow. When going about her daily life, Madison always looked at how her experiences, interactions, successes, and failures allowed her to grow into a more well-rounded, mindful, and educated person.

One of the many fond memories I had with Madison displays her loving and giving personality. When she was about six years old, walking through New York City with her family, she encountered a homeless man sitting on a bench in Central Park. He was wearing tattered clothing, smoking a cigarette, and holding up a sign reading, "Anything helps". Six-year-old Madison looked at this man and immediately wanted to help him, realizing that he was less fortunate than her. Being six and having no source of income to help the man out, Madison pulled out of her bag the one thing she did have: a swirly lollipop that she had picked out at the candy store. She approached the man with an innocent smile and handed him her one New York City souvenir. This story displays the kind and loving person that Madison has always been.

We grieve for the loss of Madison and are sending her love and holding her in our prayers. Madison's warm spirit and positive attitude were some of the many reasons we love her dearly. Madison would want us to live our lives to the fullest, and not halt them due to this loss. That is how Madison was. She cared more about others than she did herself. Madison would want us to look at this experience as a way that strengthens us and brings us together, as we mourn this loss together. So please, be there for each other during this time of sorrow and remember Madison for her tender, passionate, and gracious heart.

Oldest House Museum Complex

 Oldest House Museum Complex 

Saint Augustine, Florida

February 17, 2022

The Oldest House is Florida’s oldest surviving Spanish Colonial dwelling and a National Historic Landmark. Owned and operated by the St. Augustine Historical Society, the complex includes Florida’s Oldest House, two museums, a changing exhibition gallery, an attractive garden, and a museum store. Built on a site occupied since the early 1600s, the present structure has coquina walls and hand-hewn cedar beams, dating back to the early 1700s.  The house is known locally as the González-Alvarez House after its owners during the first and second Spanish occupations. A number of alterations brought the house into its current shape and size which reflects both Spanish and British architectural styles. The house is furnished to represent these different periods.

Official Website: https://staughs.com/oldest-house-museum-complex/

Artifact 1

The photographs above were rescued in late 1988 in the attic of a house on St. Augustine's King Ferry Way. The house was about to be torn down due to damage it had endured, but the demolition crew discovered the glass plate negatives and sold them to a local camera store. Later on, photography curator Ken Barrett Jr. from the Saint Augustine Historical Society learned about the images and purchased them instantly. After the first examination of the dusty box of glass negatives, Barrett discovered that the work belonged to Richard Aloysius Twine from about 60 years prior. In order to rescue the photographs, each glass plate was washed in a mixture of ammonia and water in order to remove the grime and dust. Damage could not be completed undone due to fire damage, but 103 plates responded to the careful cleaning process. Barrett then proceeded to print the plates which took hours of trial and error in the darkroom. Some plates needed to be printed three to four times in order to see valuable results. 

Artifact 2

Above is a chart showing the Intracoastal Waterway from Nassau Sound to Matanzas Inlet. The Waterway project gained momentum in the early 1800s in an effort to connect Florida's countless creeks, rivers, lakes, and sounds along with the Atlantic Coast. This finally allowed for a continuous waterway. The Waterway was completed in 1935, and today, the entirety of the waterway extends 1400 miles from Trenton, New Jersey to Miami. Approximately 300,000 vessels pass through it each year. 

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This historic image bears a resemblance to the images taken by Richard Aloysius Twine.  Twine photographed the black community of early Saint Augustine in order to give these underrepresented people a voice in history. This image similarly shows how blacks were underrepresented through the composition of the photo. The black soldier is placed lower in the frame than his white counterpart, symbolizing that he was of lower status than the other soldier. The positioning of the African American soldier is also more slouched and casual, depicting him as less sophisticated, while the soldier to his left sits up straight. This vertical line displayed by the white soldier symbolizes power and strength, suggesting that he is more powerful than the slouched black soldier. The photographs taken by Twine shed the black community in a more realistic light that recognized them for their strength and equality while holding a similar portrait photography style. Although the meaning behind the two images is vastly different, the composition and subjects of the two are similar. 

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Pictured above is the Roman Colosseum in Italy. This oval amphitheater was constructed sometime between 70 and 72 AD, opening in 80 AD. As with other amphitheaters, the Colosseum was intended to be an entertainment venue, hosting gladiator fights, animal hunts, and mock naval battles. The structure was built with the arches as pictured above for structure as well as appearance. Both the Colosseum and the Oldest House Museum Complex have arches present, which made me visually draw a connection between the two structures. Arches are shown at the Oldest House Complex in Artifact 2. In history and throughout many cultures alike, arches have symbolized victory, new beginnings, and access to holy places. In both locations, these arches have intention and meaning, dating back to their original architecture. 

In Conversation Passage ENG 202

The poem "Love in a Time of Climate Change", is Craig Santos Perez's recycling of Pablo Neruda's "Love Sonnet: XVII". The poem tackles the idea of preservation in a compelling and conservatory way, as the author explains that he loves in a vulnerable way. The poem discusses the contemporary issue of climate change and how humans interact with natural elements that are seen as valuable or invaluable. Perez uses natural diction and imagery to describe that preservation does not mean saving every aspect of a thing, but rather it is saving what is important to continue the legacy. By conserving the core and roots of our earth, love, and history, we as humans are able to assign new meanings to the element in order to make it useful in an ever-changing society. This poem connects to the idea of preservation which is seen at the Oldest House Museum Complex. The complex takes the historic elements of the oldest house in Saint Augustine while adding new elements to tell a greater story that can have a legacy today. One way the complex shows this type of preservation is with the addition of the Surf Culture Museum. By adding this exhibit, we are able to view Saint Augustine in a more nuanced and contemporary manner and see how the newer act of surfing has shaped the town. Similarly, the Historical Society has made changes to the Oldest House in order to reflect both the Spanish and British architectural styles that the structure encountered over the years. By changing the structure and shape of the house, society is able to follow the story of the building and see how its legacy affects different people and cultures.

Creative Component

This map of the Oldest House Museum Complex was drawn with colored pencils and pens. I thought that it would be appropriate to draw a map given that a prominent exhibit in the complex was dedicated to historic maps of Saint Augustine. I have never drawn a map before, so it was a trial and error process and also a learning experience about the layout of the streets of the city. 

The Saint Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine

 The Saint Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine

St. Augustine, Florida

February 10th, 2022

Description:

St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine is an institution of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Dedicated to the first colony of Greek's to come to America in 1768, the shrine displays exhibits demonstrating the life of early Greek people in America and the development of the Greek Orthodox Church, along with the St. Photios Chapel. The National Shrines' official website pays tribute to St. Photios the Great for his success as a theologian, supporter of missionary activity, and as a defender of the faith. The Chapel is filled with Byzantine-style frescoes and the special exhibits tell stories of the First Greek Colony in the New World through artifacts, photographs, and historical documents.

Official Website: https://stphotios.org/about/

Artifact 1

Pictured above are vestments gifted to the Shrine by Archbishop Iakovos of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America. The stole, maniples, genual, imperial robe, and small omophorion were part of his first vestments as a bishop, given to him by his spiritual mentor. Fully vested, a Greek Orthodox Bishop is an imposing figure, and there is symbolism attached to each piece of clothing relating back to the Old Testament. The style of vestments was developed during the Byzantine Empire (321 A.D.-1453 A.D.), and was pattered based on garments worn by the emperor. The bishop is considered an image of Jesus Christ, therefore, when leading worship services, the church has deemed that he resembles the King of Glory in all His Majesty. As the bishop vests himself in the clothing, all "worldly cares" are put aside as he recites verses from the Bible that disclose the meaning of each article. 

Artifact 2

Pictured above are the articles used for Holy Communion. Holy Communion commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. The wooden bread seal is used on leavened bread and the central section becomes the Host. The lance then pierces the host as the priest reads the New Testament account of the soldier piercing Christ's right side to verify that he was dead. When the words "and at once blood and water poured out" (John 19:34) are spoken, wine and water are poured into the chalice. The Host is then placed on the paten, under the asterisk, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem. 

Exterior Image 1

Exterior Image 2

In Conversation Image 1:

 Image Link  

The image above displays thousands of citizens gathered together at the Women's March on Washington, D.C. to protest for women's rights. They all came together and wore pink hats, which became a symbol of feminism called the "pink pussyhat". This was a unifying act and displays how visual influences can appear in fashion and clothing. This draws a connection to the bishop's vestments which are shown in Artifact 1. Each element of the bishop's uniform has symbolism that dates back to the Old Testament, which is similar to the symbolism of the pink hats at the women's march. Clothing has meaning and can be used to further movements and ideas. Both the pink hats and bishop vestments have a correlation to their motives and intentions which visually tell stories. 

In Conversation Image 2 

Image Link

Above is an image of the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche in St. Augustine, FL. The image shows the inside of the shrine where mass is held. The location is a Catholic, Marian shrine and is the first shrine in the United States dedicated to Our Blessed Mother. The devotion to Our Lady of La Leche dates back to a 4th Century cave in Jerusalem. This site image draws a connection to The Saint Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine because they both hold the mission of preserving a culture and sharing it with others. Both shrines are dedicated to a belief system in the hopes of teaching others through exhibits, artifacts, and historical stories. 

In Conversation Passage ENG 202 

In the poem One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII by Pablo Neruda, the author describes that the way he loves this woman is different from the typical symbols of love. In stanza one, Neruda states: "I don’t love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz, / or arrow of carnations that propagate fire: / I love you as one loves certain obscure things, / secretly, between the shadow and the soul." The author is describing symbols of love to which humans have assigned meaning and explaining that his love goes further and is more deep-rooted. The use of symbols connects to Saint Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine because symbols are present in the shrine to show meaning and tell stories. Inside the shrine, many candles were present which symbolize the Light of God or the Light of Christ. Candles in the Greek Orthodox religion also have symbolic connotations of purity and cleansing due to the burning. All of these symbols, both in the poem and in the Shrine, have important connotations that help to tell stories and explain ideologies. 

Creative Component

Using the graphic design website Canva, I created a poster of the Greek Constantinopolitan Creed that was written on the wall of The Saint Photios Shrine. This creed is important to the religion of the Greek Orthodox Church, and I believe it is important to share aspects such as these with the community in order for people to have a wider understanding and appreciation for different religions. By making this poster, it displays the creed's predominant role in the religion.