Local artist to display ‘Salvage Ships’ and dioramas during January exhibit at the Harbour View Gallery
By MEGHAN BRADBURY
An artist, who has been experimenting with art for more than 50 years, will have his latest artworks on display during his first big gallery show this month.
Cape Coral resident Tom Higgins, who is a self-taught artist, will have his “Salvage Ships” and dioramas “Dockside” and “The Fishin’ Shack,” featured at Harbour View Gallery from Monday, Jan. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 2, with an opening reception being held from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7, at the gallery, at 5789 Cape Harbour Drive, unit 104, in Cape Coral.
Higgins was born and raised in New Jersey. He graduated from Waynesburg College, now known as Waynesburg University in Pennsylvania, before settling in the Chicago area. In 2006, he retired from working at the Chicago Tribune and moved to Cape Coral in 2012.
Approximately four years ago Higgins began creating “Salvage Ships” as part of his artistic work.
“While cruising through the Internet, I happened across a driftwood ship hanging art piece that had a branch for a smokestack and a washer for a porthole and string stretched across some other sticks as rigging,” he said. “I kind of liked the concept, but it was a little rugged, so I studied ship’s photos online to get an idea of how the profiles of freighters, trawlers and cargo ships looked because their shapes, and important history, appealed to me more. I expanded the concept using discarded 2×6 lumber from local construction projects. I added more recycled items, found objects and miscellaneous hardware as time went on.”
When Higgins begins working on his “Salvage Ship,” he starts by determining which direction the salvaged 2×6 piece of wood will face, as well as a profile, before measuring, cutting and sanding the wood. Afterwards, the placement of the various deck houses and equipment are placed, all while allowing room for placement of masts if they are being used.
“I then select various hardware that mimic antennae, radar, lights and other items. I decide if railings are being used and mark their placement for drilling. I also decide if there will be portholes on the side of the ship, or bumper tires, or nothing,” Higgins said. “After the layout is complete and the materials are chosen, I paint the bow and all deck houses and all other items that require it.”
The idea to begin creating dioramas stemmed from an exhibit he saw in Altamonte Springs more than 40 years ago of compact wall hanging maritime-themed diorama vignettes of dockside shops, taverns and fishing villages. The appreciation of detail stuck with Higgins all these years.
“I finally got around to making my own versions and it’s where I think I started coming up with the idea of using found objects and recycled materials in their construction,” he explained. “My pieces are rather large compared to his, but also contain a lot of detail, which I’ve become kind of a stickler for in a lot of my work.”
He said he cannot pinpoint one specific element of what he enjoys most about creating the ships and dioramas. Higgins said he enjoys designing them, as well as coming up with the different profiles, colors and equipment because it is a fun challenge.
“The building process is always cool, as each comes together and sometimes goes in a different direction that the original design, almost always in a new creative way,” he said.