The Whales Painting on Convention Hall Main Banner Photo Story: How often do we miss simple beauty in our lives merely because familiarity and routine filter out our inclination to take notice?

Case in point. I've walked by The Whales by David Dunleavy, painted on the back of Convention Hall, a thousand times. I'm not even sure if that's the correct name, but I couldn't find a painting title so for now The Whales will have to do. Now I've seen this painting every time I've walked by, but I've never really noticed it. At least not in the way that you see a truth (or part of it) that I'm sure was in the mind and heart of the artist when he created the artwork...

... Last night I was making my rounds at the end of a spectacular Cape May beach day (best of summer '06). The beach was glistening with happy beach goers. A perfect off shore breeze skipped off the blue, clear ocean surface. And the sun was cranking out the kind of magic hour light that can elevate even an amateur photographer like myself to the level of people noticing. You know, that wow what a great shot light. (There's great tip. Always shoot during the magic hour and you're half way to a great shot. You just have to decide which half and which hour.)


Perspective is everything. Get up close! So last night was the first time I had tracked up close and tight to the painting, alongside the fence, on my way to some other sun-setting-cliche-beach-photo rattling in my head. I looked up and the big whale's eye was looking back, right at me. What struck me was how the lack of perspective changed my perspective. Seeing only a part of the total, there was a life I had not noticed before when all I saw was a painting on the wall. Up close there was a concurrent happiness and sadness in that little eye — ground zero, maybe, for the painter's artistic truth? Now believe me, I'm not trying to make more out of this than was there. And I'm as hardened a skeptic as anyone when people sell their version of art interpretation. Most times it sounds they're trying to sell themselves on their own B.S. But I truly believe if anyone were to quietly stand up close to The Whales at the end of a beautiful day, and actively take notice, they would get a good sense of what I'm talking about. All you need is to breathe and pay attention.


Note how the building decay helps tell the Turtle story click I decided to stay close and snap a few shots. The more I snapped the more I noticed that each little creature on the cinder block canvas; the tortoise, the dolphins, the other whale, the Cape May Point Beach, they each had their own story. Their own life and energy. So that's it really. I'm simply acknowledging that this is a piece of art worth noticing. It is my hope that through this post others might also take notice. So try it sometime with your kids. Tell them about the Whales and the Dolphins and the Ocean and why you think the artist created this particular painting. What was his truth? You may just light a spark of imagination that can carry your child for a lifetime. Or even yourself.