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Here is a tribute to some brave messengers of ALOHA... the crews and squadrons of the CH-53D Sea Stallion Helicopters... from Hawaii just before this historical Helicopter was retired. I was commissioned by the U.S Marines, many that also collect my work in Hawaii, to consider doing a creative interpretation focused on these "Marines in the sky" from the Islands, enduring the heated sands of the Middle East. They needed something to dream of, and inspire them to recall their home and base in Kaneohe, Hawaii.
The basic Fantasy story I created behind this image is that we are in the Middle East... the middle of nowhere, between Iraq and Afghanistan, perhaps. Its dusk. The Marines, by using these work horse "helicopters" native to Hawaii (its home station) are "bringing a taste of Hawaii and Aloha" to this desolate place. They are like "transporters of Aloha"... special tropical messengers of the Island Ohana.
You can see the sky slightly suggesting the American flag in the striations of clouds and approaching night... some faint stars in the upper left. Lei's are being dropped from the upper right, beautifying and transforming the attitude and sweet fragrance of the warm air and sand. One Sea Stallion is dropping water... and has, after a few trips, created a lagoon/oasis... a beach with sands that are foreign, but reminiscent of home.
A small military trench tractor has helped to carve a scaled down sand dune version Diamond head crater... much needed backdrop! There is a great little place with a Lanai hanging over the Marine-made "sea" to refresh and sip a cool drink. It's a little Tiki Hut called "Da Semper Fi Lanai", built by Marines using local palm logs and sand bags!
Shipments of Hawaii comfort foods are shown like Kona coffee, Spam and pineapples, with fun "Marine" brand names, like "G and H" Sugar (short for "Gung Ho") or "Hoo Rah" brand Pineapples and "Sea Stallion" brand Kona Coffee. May Aloha bless this place with a truly magical Marine Oasis!
Check out Tom Thordarson's other military and Hawaii inspired art.
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Limited Edition Giclee by Military Artist Tom Thordarson.
The edition is limited to only 100 canvas giclees, which are printed on certified poly-cotton canvas, using archival pigmented inks.
10 Artist Proof canvases are offered in addition to the limited edition run, where the artist adds paint to the front of the reproduction. Thor takes hand-highlighting very seriously; adding paint to truly enhance the luminosity of the print using translucent glazes an opaque paints to the shadows and highlights in the piece. The artists personal touch to each Limited Edition Artist Proof make these paintings highly collectible.
»Special edition numbers are available for serious art collectors, please contact us for edition information
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All canvas prints are print-to-order and are shipped within 3-4 weeks. Paper prints and other in-stock products ship within 2-3 business days. Tracking information is provided on all orders once the package is shipped.