NEW EXHIBIT: Image #70 of a 157 image American Society Of Artists (ASMA) Pentagon Exhibition themed The Maritime History of the Creation and Defense of Americais Howard Rosenfeld’s Scrimshaw 2.5”X 8”U.S.S. Kearsarge vs C.S.S. Alabama Off Cherbourg, France.This exhibit of images of original artworks is in consultation with the Department of Defense and the Pentagon’s Patriotic Corridor Exhibit Program is scheduled to open in 2023.
SAN JUAN COUNTYCOUNCIL
2006-2012 Two full terms of 2 (Charter adjustment) and 4 years. Represented the district that included the Town of Friday Harbor. For both my terms on the Town and County Councils there was way too much activity to include here. I was the County liaison to Washington State Ferries and Chair of the Ferry Advisory Committee, protecting our ferry service. For both Town and County I was on the County Board of Health for 10 years.
FRIDAY HARBOR TOWN COUNCIL
2000-2006 1 1/2terms when I was elected to the County Council to represent the Town in a newly designated district.
SAN JUAN COUNTY AND FRIDAY HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Chief, 1995 ~1998; Captain, 1989~1994; Lieutenant, 1985~1988; Volunteer Fire Fighter from 1981
As volunteer fire chief for the Town of Friday Harbor I was responsible for the safety of San Juan County’s only incorporated town, county seat, ferry landing, as well as a busy harbor and airport. Oversaw the recruitment, training, operations and administration of a 15-25 member volunteer, two-engine department during the busiest and biggest series of fire incidents in the history of the department to that date.
TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR
Consultant, 1995
Prepared and implemented the town’s bloodborne pathogen policy.
FRIDAY HARBOR ART STUDIO
Owner, 1994~present
Owner, operator and founder of art studio, etching studio and custom picture framing. Marine artist specializing in detailed scrimshaw and copper drypoint engraving of sailing ships and whales. Created amulet prominently featured in movie FREE WILLY II.
ATELIER GALLERIE
Owner, 1988~1994
Owner, operator and co-founder of art gallery, etching studio and custom picture framing. Sold art gallery part in 1994.
THE WHALE MUSEUM
Executive Director, 1985~1987
Took over weak organization and raised it to a sound foundation. Tripled revenues. Structurally stabilized building and set up purchased plan that included a $250,000 purchase grant. Established Orca Adoption Program, instrumental in founding Lime Kiln Whale Watch Park, published popular journal CETUS and K-6 curriculum Gentle Giants Of The Sea, started first whale watch under contract with museum employees as naturalists and accomplished donation of 30 foot research vessel and its transport from Los Angeles. Maintained active research and education programs and co-directed marine mammal rescue attempt at Hubbard Glacier.
SAN MATEO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Epidemiologist, 1969~1970
First county epidemiologist implementing experimental program based on the premise that the doctor/patient bond, which can play a valuable aid to the epidemiologist, is lost as soon as the patient leaves the doctor. To utilize this “bond” I performed most male VD examinations, establishing doctor/patient trust, which greatly facilitated the epidemiological interview. Many patients were additionally motivated to notify and bring in their sexual contacts for treatment, which was the fastest way to reduced community exposure and disease spread. Authorized to issue epi-treatment orders for sexual contacts at county hospital emergency room resulting in 24-hour treatment facility. Only county in CA to do epidemiology on private physician gonorrhea morbidity’s.Carried out very popular VD lecture series throughout Sequoia High School District and elsewhere. This extremely successful and innovative clinic program became a victim of its own success when clinic patient load grew from 5-6/day to over 50/day with no additional budget support from the County and had to be curtailed.
U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
Public Health Advisor, 1968
Assigned to Project ECHO in Michigan, assisting in the training of public health nurses and sanitarians in techniques of comprehensive health planning.
PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER
Assistant Zone Chief, 1965~1967
Assigned to Chaiyaphum Province (500,000 pop.) for Thailand National Malaria Eradication Program. Trained at WHO Malaria Eradication Training Center in Manila. Direct field supervision of residual insecticide spraying, blood sampling and patient treatment. Helped oversee 150 employees, 14 vehicles and a laboratory. By end of tour my zone was highest rated zone by independent WHO evaluation. Best PCV/coworker relationship in malaria program. Also originated and designed new program favored by Peace Corps Thailand to involve PCVs in Thailand VD Program.
U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
Epidemiologist, 1963~1965
Syphilis Eradication Program. Specialized in health education, training and physicianvisitation in San Francisco. Transferred to New Haven and successfully established new program there.
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
BA zoology, 1963
HOBBIES, TALENTS, INTERESTS
·Town of Friday Harbor Planning Commission
·Commissioner, San Juan County Fire District 3
·Artist member, American Society Of Marine Artists, 1982~present
·Awarded 3rd, 2nd, 1st and Award Of Merit, 1980, 81, 82 and 89 respectively, for scrimshaw at Mystic Seaport’s International Marine Art Exhibition.
·Artwork used in movies Kindergarten Cop, Practical Magic and Free Willy II and III.
·Featured Artist, winter 1990 Eddie Bauer catalog.
·Between 1971~1979 lived aboard and sailed west coast from Washington to Mexico and out to Hawaii aboard many traditional ships including the 130 foot replica whaler CARTHAGINIAN, 85 foot 1883 pilot schooner WANDERBIRD and my own 32 foot 1914 sloop FLIRT.
·Sailboat delivery captain. Two trips San Francisco/Los Angeles and one round trip San Francisco/Mexico.
·Published article ‘No Wrinkles’ in Wooden Boat Magazine #14. Article explained how to re-canvas a boat’s deck.
·Amateur radio ham, N7FBC, active in emergency communications
Howie is married to Carrie Lacher, Mayor (2010 to present) of Friday Harbor.
//www.facebook.com/HowieRosenfeld
PUBLISHED IN JOURNAL OF SAN JUANS:
MODERATION IN ALL THINGS....
“Moderation in all things, including moderation” is a phrase I used to hear often, but not so much lately. This has coincided with an increase in extremism, most notably in religion and politics. This extremism is affecting our daily lives more and more. There’s the war, terrorists, grid locked governments, and an inability for individuals to find common ground on so many issues of great importance. Meanwhile, the epitome of extremism, Islamic extremists, who are willing to blow themselves up (has anyone kept track of how many thousands?), might get their hands on a nuclear device.
I’ve always been attracted to the moderate middle and I’ve come to realize there might be a scientific basis favoring the middle: the balance of positive and negative energy in the Universe. There is, apparently, an equal amount of matter and anti-matter. It is now accepted as scientific fact that there is dark matter and dark energy to balance everything we see, even though the nature of these energies remains unknown. All of this infers a natural balance afforded by the middle.
Anecdotal evidence we all might have experienced is when contentious or partisan issues get settled where neither side is satisfied, yet works well. Laws and divorces fall into this category. Remember, our symbol of juris prudence is a blindfolded woman holding a balanced scale.
If we look at history, every extreme government, left or right, has usually been a dismal failure, as well as one you would not want to live under. And the more extreme, it seems, the faster it falls. While moderate governments, ones you would like to live under, endure for long periods. In religion, the more extreme forms spawn tragic results like suicide bombers, Jonestown massacres, and pedophilia. And it’s not just people with bad intentions either. Studies show do gooders are the worst cheaters. We’ve seen this with popular, high moral value, preachers and politicians getting caught with hookers and drugs.
This is not to say that extremism isn’t sometimes a good thing. Remember, the saying goes “including moderation”. It’s just that in general, extremism generates its own extreme problems. Newton’s third law of action = reaction. There are, unfortunately, way too many examples both in recent and ancient history. A commonly heard statement is “religion has killed more people than all the other wars”. I’m personally haunted by a 1948 quote by Edward R. Morrow who said “The greatest tragedy of World War II is that it could happen again tomorrow”. During that war many millions of average people were gripped by extremism to commit or condone horrendous acts. We’ve had more tragic examples since.
Unfortunately, extremists of all sorts are alive and well today. What can we do to prevent a future mass hysteria? We already know we can’t count on religion, and regular, book learning education hasn’t proved effective. One possible defense against extremism is to embrace moderation. While this means not always getting everything you want, moderation, in the long run, might be far better than the alternative.
Our American democracy is already ingeniously set-up as a moderate model with two major parties representing the Right and Left. The system is described to have “checks and balances”. Despite some serious problems we have now endured 230 years. This balance protects us if one party becomes extreme. However, it might not protect us if both became extreme or if one or the other party became too powerful. We came close with the rubber stamp Republican Congress and compliant corporate press between 2000 and 2006. We could now be in danger of tilting too far the other way depending on how much the voters turn against the failed administration in 2008?
In political science 101 they show a continuum with communism and fascism at opposite ends, except the continuum is not a straight line but a broken circle. This is because Communism and fascism are closer to each other than they are to the middle, way up at the top of the circle. Too many on the Left and the Right want nothing of the other, and each, respectively, fails to realize that too much left leads to communism and too much right leads to fascism. The middle, by default, will have elements of both. Not only nothing to worry about but something desirable. A balance.
I can’t help wondering if an extremist, possibly reading this, might consider themselves moderate? The human mind is infinitely adaptable, but I doubt it. I think they instead tend toward self-righteousness. A moderate person is prepared to question their beliefs. It was Socrates who said “the highest form of Human Excellence is to question oneself and others."
So far these are mere words which can be twisted and perverted, Even the suicide bomber thinks they’re doing the right thing. The two most important action strategies we can take toward a moderate society are:
1. An educational system that teaches critical thinking. This is not new thanks to Plato and Socrates, but teaching children how to think and question is not a part of most curricula.
2. A free and independent press. One where the reporters are not afraid to lose their jobs or access if they ask the hard questions. We currently have a media largely controlled by the same corporate interests that play a major role in the government.
It would also help if there was a religion that taught skepticism? After all, isn’t it about the mystery?
Howard Howie Rosenfeld, March 2008
HOWIE AS ARTIST:
Additional Website: www.fridayharborartstudio.com
I was born at New Haven, CT, graduated a zoology major from UConn, served in the Peace Corps doing malaria eradication in Thailand, and worked in public health in San Francisco and elsewhere for the U.S. Public Health Service. Sausalito, CA became homeport for almost 10 years of living aboard and sailing up and down the west coast from Mexico to Seattle and Hawaii. Becoming an artist was not even remotely on my career list, but while sailing on many classic wooden ships I learned the arts of the sea including marlinspike seamanship and scrimshaw. Since moving to Friday Harbor I've been director of The Whale Museum, Friday Harbor Fire Chief, 6 years on the Friday Harbor Town Council and 6 years on the San Juan County Council.
Scrimshaw, the uniquely non-native, American artform was practiced by seamen out of New England starting about 1820. It was re-popularized by President Kennedy who displayed his scrimshaw collection on the desk in the oval office. I learned Scrimshaw the old fashioned way - out at sea, sailing aboard tall ships learning the details of hull, rig and sail.
When I first started doing scrimshaw in 1969 the sperm whale teeth had little value and were even being given away. So it seemed right to decorate these magnificent teeth with engraving. Years later when ivory became controversial I discovered that I could 'scrimshaw' a copper plate and make prints. This is drypoint engraving, a non-acid etching technique dating from 1400.
My prints are sold in limited editions and the plates are 'struck' with my initials and framed with the last print in the edition. Sometimes I frame a print with a scrimshaw 'remarque' on a piano key (recycled ivory) or on larger pieces of extinct mammoth ivory. Prints are sometimes hand colored with watercolor.
Museum quality framing is also available as I am also a professional picture framer. I often frame my work with traditionally done, decorative French matting.
My studio and gallery, Friday Harbor Art Studio and Custom Picture Framing was established in 1994.
I have been an artist member of the American Society of Marine Artists since 1982. Sometimes pieces are signed with ASMA after my name. That's what it stands for.
Awards: Scrimshaw, International Marine Art Exhibition, 1980, '81, '82 and '89.
Artwork used in movies: Free Willy 2 & 3, Practical Magic and Kindergarten Cop.
Featured Artist: Eddie Bauer Catalog, Winter 1990.
Article: No Wrinkles, Wooden Boat #14
In 2003: 2nd Place cash award, San Juan Gallery Annual Competition; 2nd Place cash award, Commencement Bay Marine Fest; Merit Award: Port Townsend Woodenboat Festival Art Exhibition; Participation: Lessedra Art Exhibition, Sofia, Bulgaria and the 5th British International Miniature Print Exhibition; and artwork Lady Washington included in Bound for Blue Water, Contemporary American Marine Art by J. Russell Jinishian, Greenwich Workshop
In 2004 I was included in the 13th Annual Exhibition of the American Society of Marine Artists at the Vero Beach Museum of Art.
2006: pages 168-171, Contemprary Scrimshaw by Eva Halet.
Many other awards, exhibitions and private commissions.
Unpublished article on Intelligent Design:
When I first heard the concept of intelligent design I thought “OK, I agree”. I mean, are there really very many of us who don’t think something as fantastic as our universe doesn’t exhibit some cosmic intelligence? The more we probe and learn about our world the more fantastic it gets. Then I heard that intelligent design (ID) is being touted as a substitute or alternative to the theory of evolution. This doesn’t make any sense. ID doesn’t come with any science. It doesn’t add anything to the knowledge base. Without any science ID is just a warm, fuzzy belief. But believing in ID doesn’t necessarily make evolution any less valid. I see no conflict here and have no problem believing in both ID and evolution.
ID is a truly uplifting, inspirational concept. It’s probably an integral part of who we are. The history of man is laden with a plethora of religious, spiritual and animist beliefs ID has probably inspired. There are hundreds of cultural myths on our origins ranging from interesting to quaint. Unfortunately, many of these believers perverted this possibly universal concept into narrow, proprietary dogma resulting in human ignorance, misery and death. What is it about human nature that makes us want to belong to some group, religion or cult that makes us think we’re better than those ‘not in the fold”? Often, after outsiders are persecuted, what usually happens is infighting occurs within the group to gain some additional superiority. All the major religions have split into factions, mostly over minute, inconsequential details, resulting in deep riffs.
We think we’re so smart yet we keep getting surprised by the unintended consequences of our actions, like: our pollution causing diseases; diseases becoming resistant to our drugs; important species going extinct; and now, global weather changes. We are involved in something incredibly complex, something ID cites as a proof. It is said that nature is too complex for evolution to explain. What is not considered is whether our understanding of evolution itself is complete? Anyway, a negative, that evolution can’t explain something so complex, offers no proof for ID except for some gaps in the fossil record, possible genetic anomalies and a leap of faith.
Evolution is going on whether or not someone or something had a hand in our beginnings. If that intervention happened then we need science to give us some understanding of what took place. It’s the only way we’ll ever learn. Denying science is giving in to intentional ignorance. Faith is fine, but faith is not provable. It’s belief, trust, loyalty; not knowledge. And knowledge doesn’t have to threaten or lessen our faith. I believe it will strengthen it because it will bring us closer to the truth.
The main problem is we don’t know the true nature of God, despite what the religious fundamentalists believe, and there are many competing fundamentalist beliefs. Some are willing to kill each other and the rest of us over something that cannot be proven. This seems idiotic and unGodly, but it tragically goes on and on. The only way we will ever discover God outside of faith is through scientific investigation. That is, unless some revelation takes place, which I don’t think we can count on. So, scientific investigation is our only hope, and evolution is our best bet so far. ID can, at least, give us some greater sense of common belief that we are a part of something greater than we can imagine. After all, we are subjective observers of our reality.
There’s one other reason why ID as a substitute for evolution might not be a good road, particularly for Americans, to go down. We are engaged in a worldwide conflict with a virulent form of fundamentalist belief whose adherents seem to have no problem blowing up themselves and the innocent. Their belief system is anti scientific and they want to impose strict rules from the dark ages. We add to their credibility by trying to confuse faith with science.
