The Landings Eagle Insert- April 2024

Eagle Extra

Getting to know the artists in The Landings:

Joe Smith and Charissa Baker

StorybyMarie-LouiseMcHugh,PhotosbyRobertManteiga

I first met Joe Smith at one of our Landings Artists Collaborative sessions at the Racquet Club. I wondered why someone would be working on something that looked like a very large black- and-white negative! (I hope some of you remember the black-and-white negative films of cameras before the digital age!)

Joe was working on a black scratchboard. (A scratchboard has a thin layer of black or colored ink. By scratching at the ink layer, one reveals dots and lines of the lighter-colored layer below to create images). Joe creates the most intricate and mesmerizing surreal images by using sharp tools and wearing loupe glasses for extra magnification.

Recently, I had the opportunity to talk in greater detail with Joe and I discovered what an accomplished artist, illustrator, author, sculptor, and painter he is.

After teaching at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, for 55 years, he retired following a stroke that affected his

ability to work for a couple of years. While working at Pratt, he also pursued a very busy artist’s career, showing his work in galleries and museums around the country.

His political illustrations appeared weekly in Newsweek and Time Magazine for many years.

Some of his work is held at the US National Portrait Gallery and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Interestingly, he even worked as a courtroom illustrator for the Watergate trials! Joe Smith is also the author and illustrator of “The Circus Train” a delightful children’s book, among many others. For further information about his extensive career and work, visit his website www.Josasmith.com.

Joe Smith met his wife, Charissa Baker, an artist in her own right, at Pratt Institute. After Joe retired, they moved to The Landings to be closer to friends. Charissa grew up on Siesta Key and always wanted to return to Florida to escape the cold. They still have a summer home in Easton, PA.

Charissa Baker had a career in graphic design. As a freelance artist, she worked as a computer illustrator and in computer animation. Her work brought her to Pratt Institute, where she met Joe and continued learning about computer and interactive multimedia graphics.

While freelancing for the Fort Penn Entomology Laboratory, she specialized in drawing crabs and other sea creatures. This led to her working for the Smithsonian Scientific Journals, where she continued her sea creature illustrations.

She also worked extensively in medical illustrations for large publishers. One of the books she illustrated is “The Bioluminescence Coloring Book.”

Over the years, publishers started downsizing, and Charissa decided to pursue another career in massage therapy and art. Just before 9/11/2001, Charissa and Joe left New York City for Easton, PA, where she started printmaking.

During the last few years, Charissa focused on watercolor painting under the guidance of an online mentor. She dreams of creating a body of watercolor paintings and continuing traveling.

She has fond memories of two trips to Antarctica, where she worked as a photographer for the Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Her watercolor paintings are very fluid and delicate. She told me that she now feels emotionally connected with her work.

JoeSmithatthe2023OpenStudioShow

CharissaBakeratthe2023OpenStudioShow

ScratchBoardworkinprogress,byJoeSmith

ShellSculpturebyCharissaBaker.Sheisanavid collector of seashells from local beaches. ScientificIllustrationfortheSmithsonian,Decapod Crustaceans of the Indian River

Birds of The Landings

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservatory, there are 539 species of birds in Florida and 196 different species are confirmed to breed in Florida. Several of these birds were on the brink of extinction, like the Great Egret, whose feathers were harvested in the 1920s and 30s for lady’s hats; the Wood Stork; the

941.312.0665

Florida Red Sparrow; and the Snail Kite, driven away by over-development. Thankfully, these birds are making a comeback.

The Eagle editorial committee asked residents to submit photographs of birds taken in The Landings. Here is a sampling of those photographs.

AnhingatakenbyBettyGreenspan.

BaldEagletakenbyTeresaManteiga.

BlackVulturestakenbyNormOlshansky.

Black-hoodedParakeettakenbyRobertManteiga.

FeltsOwltakenbyRickWaller.

GlossyIbistakenbyRickWaller.

GreatBlueHerontakenbyBettyGreenspan.

GreatEgrettakenbyMichaelCohen.

GreenHerontakenbyRobertManteiga.

HoodedMergansertakenbyNormOlshansky.

ImmatureBaldEagletakenbyMichaelCohen. ImmatureLittleBlueHerontakenbyRickWaller.

KildeertakenbyRobertManteiga. LittleBlueHerontakenbyNancyIsseks. MaleandFemaleWoodstorkstakenbyBettyGreenspan.

MockingbirdtakenbyRobertManteiga.

MottledDucktakenbyRobertManteiga. OspreytakenbyJeffSmith.

PileatedWoodpeckertakenbyRobertManteiga. Red-shoulderedHawktakenbyDanBella. Red-shoulderedHawktakenbyMichaelCohen.

RedwingBlackbirdtakenbyRobertManteiga. RoseateSpoonbilltakenbyBeverlyAustgen. RoseateSpoonbilltakenbyMichaelCohen.

RoseateSpoonbilltakenbyNancyIsseks. ThrashertakenbyRobertManteiga. TurkeyVulturestakenbyMichaelCohen.

WhiteIbistakenbyRickWaller.

WoodDucktakenbyRickWaller.

Yellow-CrownedNightHerontakenbyNormOlshansky.

Dogs have their day (parade)

ByCarolynFriday,DogParadeCommitteeMember

It was a sparkling February day when Hyacinth, an English Bulldog, who loves to chase geckos, stepped onto Eagles Point Circle with her folks in tow and greeted both four-legged and two- legged parade onlookers. More than 60 dogs, many in costume, joined Hyacinth for The Landings Third Annual Dog Parade.

The first stop was to pose prettily for photographers Rick Waller and Nancy Isseks. Then, time for coffee and cookies for their humans, generously provided by Judy Greene and Tara Lamb. As the dogs made their way past a toy drawing and free treats, they were presented to

the spectators by the highly entertaining emcees Gayle Maraval and Paul Weiner.

There was Bilbo, the Jack Russell who barks loudly because he’s Italian. Chloe, a Havanese who twirls in circles on her hind-legs like a circus dog. Percy, the boxer, who opens doors with his paws, And Loze, a Bernedoodle, who taps his humans on the shoulder if they aren’t prompt with his dinner. And Murphy, the Shi-Tsu who fetches all her toys by name. Sunny the hound- mix was rescued by the Grellers after wandering into a FEMA tent following an earthquake in Haiti.

Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped

to make the day a truly fun, neighborhood event.

Special shout-outs go to Gary and Angie Eason for the set-up, Helen Bella for the balloon, Renata and Larry Hackman, for the publicity and set-up, Nancy Friedberg for organization and registration, and Eddie Goldstein for the registration forms on The Landings website, and roving photographers

Bob Manteiga and Larry Hackman. And finally, to Skyler’s mom, Fern Vaughan, who spearheaded this community event. To view the photos, check out thelandingsofsarasota.com website under Social Committee.