Tin Goose over South Bass Island
Appliqué quilt with hand embroidery, machine sewing
12” x 12”
5/2012
Sold, private collection
On display July 2012-July 2013 at the AirVenture Museum as part of the Aviation Quilt Block Exhibit, Oshkosh, WI
The Ford Tri-motor is big part of the local history near the Lake Erie islands. I grew up near Port Clinton, Ohio, home of Island Airlines, which flew Ford Tri-motors as the backbone of their fleet until 1986, servicing the Lake Erie islands for 50 years. As a child, I fondly remember riding in the so-called Tin Goose, pointing out local landmarks with my sister, taking pictures of our house below, and posing for a photo with the plane after landing safely at the Port Clinton airport. By the time I was old enough for a ride, those planes were no longer servicing the islands, but we all understood the local history behind the aircraft that provided the entertainment tour.
I wanted to capture a scene that spoke to the history and importance of the Tin Goose to the Lake Erie Islands, emphasizing the everyday vital work that the plane took part in. Like the sunset—dependable, steadfast, and elegant—the Tin Goose did its essential work, functioning as the major go-between among the Lake Erie islands and the mainland, carrying cargo as well as passengers. Many people think of Lake Erie and the islands as merely venues for recreation, tourism, and vacationing, but above all of that, everyday life goes on. Maybe the Tin Goose doesn’t fly it’s old route around here anymore, but that’s what I see when I look toward the islands.
The artist with a ticket to fly the Tin Goose, 1989