Dedicated this 19th day of May, in the year 2000 to those courageous mariners who guided their ships through perilous waters, carrying cargo and people. Their contributions have been so much a part of our history. May they never be forgotten. International Shipmasters Association, Chicago Lodge No. 3. Sculptor: Michael Martino. So says the bronze plaque affixed to the base of this bronze sculpture titled Captain On The Helm, found standing along the shores of Lake Michigan at the head of Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. The International Shipmasters Association is a group of ship captains who are licensed as masters of the vessels that transport cargo and passengers throughout the world. As can be seen in the image, the sculpture portrays a ship captain who is gripping the wheel tightly in both hands as the helm is tilted in what is assumed to be rough seas. Closer inspection will reveal that the captain’s jacket is being blown to his left, and indication that a heavy gale is bringing waves in from his right. Also included on the bronze plaque is the following quote: “They mark our passage as a race of men, Earth will not see such ships as those agen.” This is not a typo, the word agen is an old and mostly obsolete spelling for the word again, but it is often found in literature and poetry before and around the turn of the century. These words were actually written as the famous final two lines in the 1917 poem titled “Ships” by John Masefield, Poet Laureate from 1930 to 1967. John Masefield spent many years as a sailor aboard various ships, including working on the HMS Conway, and many of his early poems were focused on the theme of sailing the oceans of the world. Stone steps and brickwork surrounding the sculpture are engraved with the names of many legendary ship captains, as well as various donors whose contributions made the sculpture a reality. The Chicago Marine Heritage Society is especially thanked for its support. On the right side of the photo, a pile of rocks forms a line outward. This is Dime Pier, a detached pier built to protect the south shore of Navy Pier from waves, and which at one time boat captains would charge fishermen a dime for a ride to the pier to fish. Following the rocks of Dime Pier in the background, it points to a structure just next to the left knee of the Captain On The Helm sculpture. That is the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, built on another distant rock pier that partially encloses Chicago Harbor, in which the Navy Pier is built into as seen on the left of the photo. It was from here that The Wild Images Team had originated while exploring the city by foot. Working our way around the head of Navy Pier, we came across the Captain On The Helm. We captured this image from the exact angle to allow all background objects to neatly surround the centerpiece sculpture. As with all of our photos, even the most minute of background details are taken into account. The Wild Images Team has captured many other photos throughout downtown Chicago, including the blue skyscrapers of The Grant and One Museum Park, which is available for sale in our store. Blog posts from Chicago have documented the view of the Wabash Avenue elevated train, the ornate art deco brown buildings of old town Chicago, the interesting curious foxes of the small green space, when The Wild Images Team Coordinator Christina sat at the stone desk, the hidden colorful fire escape framed by trees, the day The Wild Images Team finally found the heart of Chicago, the moment when giant headless zombies took over Grant Park, and at the head of the Navy Pier where sits the bronze sculpture Captain On The Helm. Blog posts from the nearby state of Minnesota include the moment that The Wild Images Team Coordinator Christina becomes the Jolly Green Giant, the moment that The Wild Images Team Coordinator Christina becomes the Little Green Sprout, and a scene of The Wild Images Team Coordinator Christina underneath a life size Jolly Green Giant. Blog posts from the somewhat nearby state of Texas include the art created by the line of sunken monuments at Cadillac Ranch and the textures created by thick layers of paint covering the monuments at Cadillac Ranch. A blog post from nearby state of Missouri includes the Route 66 sign of The Uranus Fudge Factory.
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