Open House April 29 & 30

Experience the sensation of looking up from the ocean as Dieter Erhard brings the water to the boat at Seadrift’s Art Boat. Looking up from the Royal Blue interior, the movement of the ocean is captured by hundreds of fluorescent discs moving with the current. The interior of the boat is lit entirely by UV black lights, giving the shimmering appearance of the under-sea experience. Lurking below the surface of the water, you will see a huge Medusa, the most dangerous jellyfish-like creature in the ocean.

Also on display are the paintings of Aubrey Parker of Olivia, which are highlighted by the fluorescent paint, which is incorporated into each painting.

After the Open House, you will still be able to view the underwater scene by means of a switch outside the port hole of the boat.

Dieter Erhard, proprietor of ArtBoat Seadrift, and member of Erlangen-Schloft, Germany Rotarian Club, created his artwork “Legend” as a tribute to the aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. It has been exhibited at several venues in Germany, and now is being viewed in Guatemala.

Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) was an aviation pioneer and women’s rights activist from the USA. She was the first woman to cross the Atlantic in a non-stop flight. She was hailed as a heroine and voted “Woman of the Year”, even though she was not at the controls of the plane. This had flown the pilot Wilmer Stultz. Four years later, she was the first woman to cross the Atlantic in a solo flight. She took off on 20 May 1932 from Newfoundland towards Paris in a modified Lockheed Vega 5B. Due to technical problems and the increasingly deteriorating weather, however, she did not reach Paris, but had to make an emergency landing near Londonderry in Northern Ireland. Nevertheless, she made it and received the gold medal of the National Geographic Society from US President Herbert C. Hoover.

Erhard’s “Legend” is now display at the Guatemala City airport, where it was delivered along with a container of medical aid supplies packed by the Erlangen Rotary clubs. Josef Fischer from RC Guatemala-Norte and Dieter Erhard were already waiting at the site in Guatemala and immediately began distributing the relief supplies.

Celebrating the 1,000th anniversary of the Grossgruendlach area of Nüremburg, and his 60th birthday, Dieter Erhard of Art Center/Seadrift, is hosting an exhibition of five of his art pieces floating on two of the area’s ponds. In conjunction with the city’s cultural department, a photo contest a and children’s contest are being held with the first prize of $1,200, a large signed special print on plexiglass of Dieter’s whale, as well as other prizes.

On hand for the exhibit and contest were Kaiser Heinrich the II. (Helmut Bresler) and city mayor Prof. Dr. Julia Lehner (pictured below with Dieter).

Swans, geese and ducks swim around and make the scenery even more attractive. UV light is on in the evenings, giving a very special atmosphere.

The show is on until September 30 2021. The Instagram community loves the show and its charming surroundings. You can see the exhibit images on #dietererhard.

Dieter Erhard of Art Center Seadrift has just published a limited edition of his first art photo book. Instead of selling it, he asked for donations towards Guatemala help projects. As a result, he was able to purchase a “Jaws of Life” to be given to the fire department of La Antigua, Guatemala.

Humberto del Busta, past Rotary president who was instrumental in recovering the fire station from a 2017 takeover by dissidents, looking forward to the delivery of this life-saving equipment, said, “There are many curvy roads coming in from Guatemala City, where bad accidents occur. Fast response is essential to save lives. Crash victims will benefit from this life-saving tool.”

Dieter thanks the Lukas Company for the special price and shipping of the Jaws of Life, and his Rotary Club of Erlangen Schloss for handling the donation funds.