News
GULF COAST ARTIST HONORED
BY WRIGHT BROTHERS FAMILY
September 15th, 2017, by Bill Riales | WKRG.com
Fairhope artist Dean Mosher is now one of the few people in the country who can claim ownership of an important piece of history. A tiny swatch of cloth that was used to cover the wing of the very first flying machine.
The muslin fabric is encased in a glass frame with a certificate dedicated to Mosher. Mosher spent quite a lot of time researching the Wright Brothers for two paintings. One was commissioned by the state of Ohio for their bicentennial. Another to commemorate 100 years since the Wright Brothers first flew their airplane at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
The first painting depicts the one and only time the Wright Brothers flew together. The second, which hangs in the Smithsonian Institute's Air and Space Museum in Washington, depicts the flight Wilbur Wright made around the Statue of Liberty. Mosher may be the only living artist to have a painting in the Smithsonian.
The Wright Brothers chose the particular fabric to cover the wings of their plane because it was light-weight and did not let air through. Very few people in the U.S. have been given a piece of the historic fabric. Along with Mosher, Astronaut Neil Armstrong was given a piece of the cloth and took it to the moon with him in 1969.
MOSHER PAINTING ON PERMANENT DISPLAY AT SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL AIR & SPACE MUSEUM
August 1st, 2013
The artist's 8' x 10' "Wilbur Wright Greets Lady Liberty" canvas was placed on permanent display in the Early Flight Gallery of the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum on the mall in Washington, DC. The artist was there with his wife Pagan and children Megrez and Cleveland. Present were Senior Curator Doctor Tom Crouch and Chief Curator Doctor Peter Jakabs.
Click here to read more about this painting, view photos, and watch videos.
WILBUR WRIGHT AND THE STATUE OF LIBERTY:
TEN YEARS OF RESEARCH LEADS TO A PAINTING
January 2014, by Dean Mosher | Air & Space Magazine
In 2002, when I first learned of Wilbur Wright's 1909 flight around the Statue of Liberty, I knew I wanted to paint the scene. It would take 10 years of research, and I would end up building two models of the Flyer and its controls before I felt able to capture the moment on canvas. By the time I started my painting, which was recently accepted into the National Air and Space Museum's collection, I'd learned the full story behind that historic flight.
A PEEK AT USA'S PAST: RENOWNED FAIRHOPE ARTIST
UNVEILS PAINTING AT GORGAS LIBRARY
Tuscaloosa News | by Sarah Rumfelt | November 8th, 2015
The University of Alabama on Sunday took a look back to at its origin.
Dean Mosher, a renowned artist from Fairhope, unveiled his painting of the University of Alabama near the center of the present day Quad as it appeared in 1831.
A ceremony to mark the unveiling of The Birth of Alabama's First Great University was held Sunday in the Pearce Grand Foyer of the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library.
Mosher, was asked to create the 6-foot by 14-foot, 9-inch canvas by Judy Bonner, UA's president from November 2012 to July 2015.Mosher had little in the way of photographs for reference when creating the painting of the campus. In fact, he only had one photo.
There is only one known photograph taken of the early campus that was taken in 1859 by a student in the center of the roof of the President s Mansion looking at the campus Mosher said.
Mosher began his journey to uncover the past with Craig T. Sheldon, professor emeritus of archaeology Auburn University at Montgomery and Paul Kapp, director of the historic preservation program and associated professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign s School of Architecture.
Together, they researched what materials were used in the construction of the campus and where exactly the original buildings were in proximity to one another.
Also involved in re-creating UA s original campus were David Hale, a global positioning expert and Creighton Peco Forsman, a model maker.
We knew we would have to rely upon the previous archeological excavations, Sheldon said. Fortunately, the records and of all previous excavations were curated at the museum at Moundville.
The only way to nail down the exact location and look of the buildings was to rely on the materials found in the excavations. However, the group ran into an issue with a few of the buildings.
One building we had no surface indications or previous excavations for was the faculty housing building, Sheldon said.
To overcome, this, the museum used ground-penetrating radar to find the location of the former faculty building. They then used details from the one photograph they had to put together the outside appearance of the building.
The next step, Mosher said, was to create models. To do this, he enlisted the help of his friend Forsman.
Forsman put together scaled down models of the original buildings the Rotunda, the Lyceum, faculty residences, Franklin Hall, Washington Hall, Jefferson Hall, Madison Hall and the Gorgas House as well as the President's Mansion. After Union troops set fire to the campus in 1865, the Gorgas House and President's Mansion were the only buildings to survive, meaning the Gorgas House is the only original structure still standing today at UA.
After the models were constructed, photographs were taken of the scaled models, overlaid them on the one known photograph and merged them together.
The absolutely, perfectly matched, Mosher said. And that is the way of coming back to saying you've got it nailed.
The painting, eight models and artifacts from the original campus will remain on display in the Pearce Grand Foyer of the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library.
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS TURNS 70
Montgomery Advertiser | October 1st, 2015, by Rebecca Burylo
Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs celebrated 70 years of serving the state's brave men and women who have answered the call and worn the nation s cloth.
The ceremony was held at the state Capitol Thursday and included the unveiling of Alabama artist, Dean Mosher's work titled, A Grateful Nation Remembers, which was donated to the Alabama Historical Commission.
A smaller version of the original oil on canvas, which currently hangs in Pell City's Veteran Home, the donated piece can be seen on the first floor of the Capitol building.
The art work depicts a timeline of military members of all the services wearing period uniforms from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mosher's family has a long history of defending the nation beginning in the American Revolution when his great-grandfather fought with the patriots. His grandfather fought in World War I, his father flew 38 missions in WWII and his brother served in the Navy for 26 years.
It is a very deep and rich history that goes back a long way and I love what our military has done, what they stand for and what they continue to stand for, Mosher said.
About 100 veterans, active military and staff from the ADVA were present for the ceremony and the unveiling and Commissioner Admiral Clyde Marsh, event's keynote speaker, honored each one by having them stand.
Marsh said he was especially grateful to serve alongside his staff who are dedicated to veterans, he said.
These members always think of the veteran first and are in consent pursuit of making things better for our veterans, Marsh said.
Retired Army Lt. Col. David Hartline, member of the American Legion, was honored to help sponsor the 70th celebration.
This event is our way of saying thank you for what they do. They're [VA] there for the veterans, Hartline said.
Hartline was drafted in 1968 to fight in the Vietnam War and continued to serve in the Army for 23 years including Reserve and National Guard components.
There are 420,000 veterans living in Alabama and Air Force veteran Dolores Hardin, vice chairwoman of the Alabama Board of Veteran Affairs assured the audience that they are committed to each one and their families.
Those veterans who serve on the State Board of Veteran Affairs has every single one of those veterans in this state interests at heart. That s our job, Hardin said.
The ADVA was founded in 1945 to serve the large number of veterans from WWII returning home.
Click here to view this article on montgomeryadvertiser.com.
Mosher Castle Featured on "Absolutely Alabama"
March 2nd, 2015
In January, Fred Hunter came by to interview us for a segment of his wonderful Absolutely Alabama series. Thank you again for featuring us on your show.
"SAGES, SAINTS, AND SEERS: A BREVIARY OF SPIRITUAL MASTERS BY RICHARD H. SCHMIDT
March 10th, 2015
Sages, Saints, and Seers offers lively one-page biographies of 163 masters of the world s great spiritual traditions, beginning with Vyasa, Abraham, and Akhenaten, and ending with Aung San Suu Kyi, Mata Amritanandamayi, and Tariq Ramadan. Each biography contains a few paragraphs on the subject s life, indicating why the subject is important, and usually concluding with a short quotation from the subject s writings and a reflection question. Accompanying each biography is an engaging pen-and-ink portrait of the subject by artist Dean Mosher.
THE SPIRIT OF FAIRHOPE BOOK IS HERE
October 1st, 2013
For the first time, a book has been published that captures the Spirit of Fairhope. Many of Fairhope's most notable authors, Fannie Flagg, Winston Groom, Rick Bragg, Frank Turner Hollen, Sonny Brewer and Andy Andrews contributed to define their impressions of who we are as Fairhopians.
Authored by the father-daughter team of Dean and Megrez Mosher, it blends Dean's deep understanding of Fairhope's history with Megrez's knowledge of growing up surrounded by the authors, characters and the rich lineage she shares through her grandparents Craig and Butch Sheldon. This volume is filled with stories and anecdotes of the great historical figures, characters and events that make Fairhope one of the most unique small cities in the world. Published by Page and Palette, one of the country's most unique bookstores.
GAUTIER WINS MML AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR 'NATURE'S PLAYGROUND' PROJECT
July 17th, 2013, by Warren Kulo | GulfLive.com
BILOXI, Mississippi -- Gautier was among seven Mississippi cities which were honored with Awards of Excellence by the Mississippi Municipal League during the MML's annual awards banquet Wednesday at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center.Gautier was one of two cities, along with Decatur, to receive the "City Spirit" Award of Excellence, presented for the city's "Nature's Playground Streetscape Project." Mayor Gordon Gollott accepted the award on the city's behalf.
"I think it shows the great opportunity we have in Gautier," Gollott said. "We're certainly honored to win a state-wide award."
The Nature's Playground project involved the reworking of a "town center" along Dolphin Drive behind Singing River Mall.
The centerpiece of the project is a 42-foot "Nature's Playground" sculpture by artist Dean Mosher which was unveiled in March.
The streetscape was just the first phase in an the creation of a "town green" which will include walking/hiking trails, an amphitheater and festival grounds. The city will purchase 19 acres for the town green, with another 12 donated.
"When the entire project is finished, it will be a wonderful addition to the quality of life in Gautier," Gollott said. "It's not going to happen overnight, but it's part of an overall plan to improve the quality of life in Gautier."
Other award winners at the banquet were Walnut Grove and Grenada for Planning & Economic Development, Batesville and Tupleo for Public Safety, Morton and Tupelo for Public Works and Corinth for Best Overall -- an award won by Ocean Springs last year for its Public Safety Complex.
Click here to view this article on gulflive.com.
MOSHER PAINTING BOUND FOR THE SMITHSONIAN
May 7th, 2013 by Mike Odom | Fairhope Courier
Six years after the Wright Brothers defied gravity with their self-propelled flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., Wilbur Wright circled the Statue of Liberty in another of their inventions.
Fairhope artist Dean Mosher has captured that remarkable flight in an 8-by-10-foot painting that will go on permanent display this July in the main hall of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum located on the mall in Washington, D.C.
"I cannot imagine a better museum in the world to have this painting," Mosher stated to The Courier by email yesterday. "This is the only accurate depiction of this event and took years to research and reconstruct every aspect of the flight."
This past weekend, Amanda Wright-Lane, the great-grandniece of Orville and Wilbur Wright, visited Fairhope to spend time with Mosher and his family. She is a trustee of the Wright Family Foundation of the Dayton Foundation, which works to preserve the story of her family's contribution to aviation history."Your house itself is a museum," she said, as she walked through Mosher's living room Friday night, which houses a number of his large historical paintings and other artworks.The two became friends during his work on the painting, which will soon move from its location in Dayton, Ohio, to its permanent display at the Air and Space Museum."The Library of Congress, Smithsonian Archives, Wright State Archives, the Wright Family and the Statue of Liberty Archives all gave me personal access to dig and shift through until the full story emerged," Mosher said. "And I am grateful to them all for this."
"A GRATEFUL NATION REMEMBERS"
ON PERMANENT DISPLAY
April 2014
The artist's "A Grateful Nation Remembers" was installed on permanent display at the new state-of-the-art Colonel Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home in Pell City, Alabama. Admiral Clyde Marsh, State Veterans Commissioner, served as master of ceremonies at the event.
"Nature's Playground" Dedication Ceremony
March 24th, 2013
On Friday, March 22nd 2013, over 300 people came to witness the dedication of "Nature's Playground", the 42' sculpture in the new town center of Gautier, Mississippi. The sculpture was created by the world-renowned artist Dean Mosher. With a unique vision firmly in his mind, Mosher took to assemble a top-notch team of artists, craftsmen, machinists, welders, masons, engineers, and technicians who labored over a year in the construction.
"The news media can go out and proclaim it, they can declare it the prettiest piece of art on the coast, period," said Mayor Fortenberry, who acted as the master of ceremonies at the dedication. Other speakers included members of Gautier Pride, the MDA, and the artist.
Mosher gives much of the credit for the vision to create the sculptures to City Manager Samantha Abell, "It wouldn't be here without her."
This project is a result of a grant in order to revive Gautier's economy post-Katrina and provide it with a one-of-its-kind work of art that will help create pride and a feeling of ownership within the community.
"A Grateful Nation Remembers" Unveiled
December 7th, 2012
On December 7, 2012, a crowd of over 800 people gathered for the dedication of the new Alabama Veterans Cemetery in Spanish Fort. Present were veterans and their families from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as well as national, state, and local officials. When the speakers concluded, Admiral Clyde Marsh, Congressman Jo Bonner, Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs Steve Muro, and artist Dean Mosher unveiled Dean s painting A Grateful Nation Remembers to an enthusiastic crowd.
"Nature's Playground" Revealed
August 13th, 2012
The wraps have finally been pulled off a wonderful package which is very soon to be delivered to the Mississippi Gulf Coast!
The full story behind "Nature s Playground" a delightful outdoor sculpture project, was published by Thomas Harrison, of the Press Register yesterday. Mr. Harrison s interviews with officials of the city of Gauthier, MS, as well as Dean Mosher, and the talented project team members, was presented in both the Sunday, August 12, 2012 print edition of the Mobile, AL daily newspaper as well as online in the Fine Arts section at al.com.
"Nature's Playground" is a stunning 42-foot-high steel structure which will feature wildlife native to the Gulf Coast region: an alligator, turtles, a great blue heron, fish and a crab. The sculpture was commissioned by the City of Gauthier, MS to be installed at the entrance to the city's Town Center revitalization.
"I think this will be the identity of the town," Dean says. "I honestly think it will become a destination piece."
Click here to read the article on al.com.
Wilbur Wright Memorial Events
May 31st, 2012
On 29 September 1909, Wilbur Wright made a famous flight on the Wright Model A Flyer around the Statue of Liberty. Dean Mosher's epic painting of this historic event was the topic of discussion at the Wilbur Wright Memorial Events in June, 2012.