PROPOSAL FOR THE THREE ACRES BY THE LAKE SITE

THE ROMANTIC PAINTERS' RETIREMENT HOME
AND SCHOOL OF ART AT HOPELESS POINT

NEED AND OPPORTUNITY

Romantic painters, characters who appear to be strange and fascinating, individuals who delight in what is chivalrous, heroic, adventurous, fanciful and mysterious, artists who indulge in picturesque visionary fabrications, influenced by what is sentimental rather than rational, have a tendency to become lost and forgotten, especially at the end of their lives, in the fast paced, computerized, automated society we refer to as the modern world.

The three acres by the lake site, with its close proximity to Lake Michigan, the Chicago River and Ogden Slip, would offer the ultimate setting for these "past their prime" Romantic painters to spend their final moments, pass on and be interned together amidst the surroundings they have spent their lives longing to be in. They could spend their final moments in the same manner as the great Romantic painter Joseph Mallard William Turner. Turner, in his last days, enjoyed watching the changing light from his balcony a few yards from the Thames River. He died, without a groan, at the age of 76 on December 19th, 1851 with the yellow-orange glow of the sun, his favorite subject to paint, shinning on his face. The City of Chicago has the opportunity to create a place, a sanctuary, where other Romantic painters at the end of their lives can pass on amongst the colors they so often rendered. A place where dead Romantic painters could be entombed together in the fashion all Romanticists would wish to be; burial at sea with full military regalia or in this case burial at lake with full military regalia. The City of Chicago has the opportunity to create a Romantic painter's holy of holies where these hopeless artists can experience forever the lake’s rage and glory, in their own personal Romanticist Valhala.

The dearly departed painters will be memorialized by having their names carved into the main deck of “THE U.S.S. HOPELESS” in a hallowed area at the entrance of the ship. “THE U.S.S. HOPELESS” is a full scale replica frigate that would be constructed on the site. Before they die this convergence of old Romantic painters could be of great value in an advisory and instructional capacity. They could hand down to future generations the great tradition of being Romantic and painting Romantically. So in addition to burial at lake and dying amongst the colors one loves to paint, the three acres by the lake site, offers The City of Chicago the opportunity of creating the world’s first fine art school dedicated strictly to the study of the Romantic way.

THE SETTING AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS

The home and school would be housed in "THE U.S.S. HOPELESS" a full scale replica 19th century frigate. A frigate is a sailing war vessel of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries weighing 5,000 to 7,000 tons. Surrounded by lots of dead trees and grass, having a similar appearance to Casper David Friedrich's Romantic painting "Cloister Graveyard in the Snow", the fifty five cannon fully rigged replica 19th Century frigate, "THE U.S.S. HOPELESS", (200 feet in length, 40 feet in width and 210 feet to the top of the main mast) would be built to fit the natural slope of the site with the bow of the ship above ground, pointing towards the southeast corner of the site, and the stern of the ship made fast where the site levels off in the northwest corner. The only other structure to be built on "HOPELESS POINT" would be a dock where various small water craft would be moored.

THE ROMANTIC PAINTERS RETIREMENT HOME AND SCHOOL OF ART AT HOPELESS POINT would be an eclectic arena of the arts and a lakefront attraction. Besides housing the retirement home and school the awesome size of the replica 19th century frigate "THE U.S.S. HOPELESS", fully rigged with fifty five cannon, would permit the inclusion of several art galleries ( student and professional ), a U.S. Navy and Great Lakes Maritime Museum, an intimate theater, a poop deck area that could be converted for outdoor concerts, and a gift shop. These additions to the home and school, open to the public on a limited basis as not to disturb the sanctity of the sight, would produce a truly cross disciplinary institution that would rely heavily on the cooperation of Chicago's many talented visual and performing artists, historians, curators, and writers.

As a lakefront attraction THE ROMANTIC PAINTERS RETIREMENT HOME AND SCHOOL OF ART AT HOPELESS POINT could add another component to all of Chicago's lakefront events. Offering historical tours of "THE U.S.S. HOPELESS",with her U.S. Navy and Great Lakes Maritime Museum, the site would become the annual starting point of Chicago's Tall Ships Festival. Authentic 19th century sailor grub, a plate of salt pork and hardtack with a flagon of rum, could be purchased while touring the replica frigate during The Taste of Chicago. The fifty five cannon of the replica navy war vessel could be shot off during all fireworks displays held at the lake front. The sound of fifty five cannon salvo would produce a formidable awe-inspiring blast that would rival any fireworks display and make Chicago's 4th of July fireworks truly world famous. The crack of the frigate's guns would be so loud it would be an element of Gary, Indiana's 4th of July celebration! They could also be discharged to start the annual Mackinac Island Yacht Race.

For band and orchestra concerts the frigate's poop deck, an area of deck at the stern of the ship raised slightly higher than the main deck of the ship, could be used as a stage. The audience could be seated in folding chairs on the main deck of the ship shaping the entire frigate into a 2000 person capacity outdoor amphitheater. Now for the first time in The City of Chicago’s rich history the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, performing on the poop deck of “THE U.S.S. HOPELESS”, would have real cannon blasts while traditionally performing The 1812 Overture during the 4th of July concert !

The primary purpose of the school’s small theater and art galleries would be to inspire the school’s students. However the public would be invited into these intimate settings to behold a variety of painting and drawing exhibitions and attend various readings of prose and poetry in addition to dramatic productions by the great painters and writers of the Romantic tradition.

THE SCHOOL

The primary mission of The School of Art at Hopeless Point would be to teach Romantic painting and the school would rely ( as before mentioned ) heavily upon the participation of Chicago’s historians, curators, writers and members of the performing arts community to create a true cross disciplinary arena becoming another component in Chicago’s higher educational network. The School of Art at Hopeless Point would not discriminate against race, color, gender, class, creed, or sexual orientation. The only requirement to become a student or live in the retirement home is to have no hope.

The size of the replica frigate would allow ample room for vast studio spaces and the three acres by the lake site because of its proximity to the water would be of vital importance to the school and its mission.

Using the small water craft moored at "HOPELESS POINT" various drawing and painting excursions could be taken, day or night, on Lake Michigan (and its many harbors), the Chicago River and Ogden Slip, giving students the opportunity to Romantically create picturesque works of art on site. To paint, draw and sketch on site, in a truly Romantic fashion, with the wind in their hair and the spray of the lake on their faces. To witness and record first hand the splendor of the oceanlike lake’s authentic romantic atmosphere. Be it sunlight or moonlight, calm or storm the ever changing allure of Lake Michigan could only inspire pure romance.

The replica 19th Century frigate "THE U.S.S. HOPELESS" herself would be of great value to the schooling of students who want to carry on the tradition of being Romantic and painting Romantically. Besides the obvious drawing and painting of the replica 19th century frigate "THE U.S.S. HOPELESS" and her authentically reproduced 19th century rigging, hardware and fifty five cannon the theater arts would take on major a role in the school's mission to teach the Romantic way.

Local players would be invited to perform and pose, in authentically reproduce 19th century costumes, on and amongst the the rigging of the replica 19th century frigate "THE U.S.S. HOPELESS" recreating such scenarios as the death of Admiral Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar or Admiral David Farragut's great historical moment when he shouted lashed to the rigging of his ship, "Damn the torpedoes full steam ahead." A full Romantic painting curriculum and degree as well as a non-degree program would be offered at "HOPELESS POINT."

SCHOOL OF ART CURRICULUM

Semester I
Anatomy of a Wave, 100
Cloud Identification, Classification and Drawing I, 101
(Cirrus, Cirro-stratus and Cirro-cumulus)
Thinking and Behaving Chivalrously, 103
Basic Mathematics for Romantics, 104

Semester II
Dead Admiral Drawing ,110
Cloud Identification, Classification and Drawing II, 111
(Alto-cumulus, Alto-stratus and
Strato-cumulus)
Atmospheric Color Theory, 112 (Sunrise)
Thinking and Behaving Heroically, 113

Semester III
Cloud Identification, Classification and Drawing III, 201 (Nimbus, Cumulus, Cumulo-nimbus and
Stratus)
Atmospheric Color Theory, 202 (Sunset)
Thinking and Behaving Adventurously, 203
Basic Science for Romantics, 204

Semester IV
Atmospheric Painting, 210 (Turbulent and Tempestuous)
Deep Dark Forest Identification, Classification and Painting, 211
Thinking and Behaving Sentimentally, 212
The History of Romantic Painting I, 213 (1800 to 1850)

Semester V
Atmospheric Painting, 300 (Tranquil and Placid)
Boat Identification, Classification and Painting, 301
The History of Romantic Painting II, 302 (1825 to 1850)
Basic English for Romantics, 303

Semester VI
Ship Identification, Classification and Painting, 310
Painting Indistinctly I , 311
Italian I, 312
Thinking and Behaving Mysteriously, 313

Semester VII
Trying to Paint like Romantic Masters I, 400
The History of Romantic Painting II, 401 (1850 to 1900)
The Study of Military Regalia, 402
Senior Project I, 403 (Independent Study of Romantic Painting)

Semester VIII
Senior Project II, 410 ( Independent Study of Romantic Thinking and Behaving)
Trying to Paint Like Romantic Masters II, 411
The Study of Romantic Poetry and Literature,412
Italian II, 413

Tom McDonald
Berwyn, IL

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