Turner – the suite life of travel

My visit to Salem took me back to high school when we studied the Salem Witch Trials in American History class. I remembered the terrifying stories about how a group of young women were accused of dabbling in witchcraft and later sentenced to death. What started out as a night of fortune telling ended up in the execution of twenty innocent lives. I imagined the fear that must have spread through the community and the mounting distrust among friends and family.

The accusations and devastating deaths during these trials continue to have a large influence in the city of Salem, Massachusetts. Several locations commemorate the events that draw curious visitors to Salem each year, especially during the Halloween holiday.

A number of museums document the historical aspect of the Witch Trials of 1692. Locals agree that these events are much more down-played today than twenty to thirty years ago when the trials were more prominent here.

The city’s identity is strongly reflected in the history of the witch trials. Neighborhoods have names such as Witchcraft Heights where the school mascot is the Witch and police cruisers even display the symbol of the witch on a broom on the side of their vehicles. During the Halloween season, Salem’s influx of visitors nearly doubles when witches and warlocks gather together in celebration of Hallow’s Eve.

Despite all of the superstition and witchcraft, I found Salem to be a city with so much more to offer than its past. In addition to its beautiful harbors and parks, the city is home to some of the finest restaurants in the state and quite a few landmarks that are worth a visit.

My friend, Dave and I were visiting his uncle during our trip to Salem, Massachusetts and since he grew up in Boston, he knew the area quite well. We started out in the early morning at Salem Willows Park.

Dave had visited here with his middle school class and vividly remembered the witch displays that had been set up close to the harbor. He was surprised that the historical events of the witch trials which once took center stage in Salem, seemed to be more down-played than when he was growing up in Chelsea.

Opening in the 1880’s, Salem Willows was a popular recreational area for the locals with a pavilion, an arcade and a number of businesses that lined up along its perimeter. There were several restaurants and entertainment venues that included a pool hall, bowling alley, and a shooting gallery.

The park is named for its beautiful white willow trees that were planted here in 1801. I imagined that they would provide perfect shade in the hot summer sun and a lovely location for a picnic.

By the 1920’s the Charleshurst Ballroom sponsored big band headliners such as Count Basie and Louis Armstrong. Entertainment continued in the ballroom over the next 20 years and amusement park rides were added to amuse the children.

During our visit, we learned that the Salem Willows had its own signature sandwich, the Salem Willows Chop Suey Sandwich. Made popular in the 1930’s, it can still be found today at nearby Salem Lowe Restaurant. Chop suey is a meat, such as beef, chicken, pork or seafood combined with vegetables to include cabbage, bean sprouts, and celery. Thickened with starch, the meat and vegetables are put on a bun making this the infamous Salem Willows Chop Suey Sandwich.

We completed our visit to Salem Willows. walking along the harbor. Passing the Clam Shack, we enjoyed the smell of the Atlantic Ocean and feeling the cool breeze of the autumn air.

With the whole day ahead of us to explore, we took the five minute drive from Salem Willows Park to the House of the Seven Gables. Salem native Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote about this family home which was owned by his cousin Susannah Ingersoll, who had lived here during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.

The guided tour provided a lovely historical account of the home as it was owned by three generations of Turners and later the Ingersoll family. The guide also offered information about the 20^th century restoration and how the new features corresponded with the home in Hawthorne’s book.

We enjoyed strolling the property’s gardens and learning about the Counting House where spices from the West Indies were imported to the United States’ eastern seaboard.

Leaving Salem and driving back to Boston, I noticed the Bewitched statue out of the corner of my eye and tried to take a quick photo. Dave explained that the television show was filmed here in Salem on several occasions during one of its later seasons.

I began to think about how the time difference has changed so much to what Americans will find acceptable or even tolerate today. While 300 years ago even the mention of witchcraft was once punishable by death, it has become accepted and even celebrated in society today. Salem makes no excuses for what happened during the city’s witch hunt, but it is quite clear that it has thoughtfully paid tribute to the innocent victims and has made peace to the wrongfully accused. For a town with a name that comes from the Hebrew word shalom meaning peace, Salem has come a long way.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Salem? I would love for you to share your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below! Many thanks for reading my post about Salem and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Salem Willows Park
167 Fort Avenue
Salem, MA 01970
Telephone: 978 741 4600

Admission: Free
Hours: Memorial Day to Labor Day 10AM to 11PM

The House of the Seven Gables
115 Derby Street
Salem, MA 01970
Telephone: 978 744 0991

Admission: Adults $12.50, Students (5 – 12) $7.50, Seniors $11.50
Hours: 10AM to 5PM

Where to Stay:

The Hotel Marblehead
264 Pleasant Street
Marblehead, MA 01945
Telephone: 781 639 9999

Where to Eat:

Clam Shack
98 Restaurant Row
Salem, MA 01970
Telephone: 978 741 2526

I was dying to try a lobster roll but knew I had to have something with clams, so I ordered the clam chowder which was spectacular and you can’t beat the price of seafood in the northeast!

“Where witches fly and clams fry”

Salem Lowe Restaurant
197 Fort Avenue
Salem, MA 01970

Order the locally famous Salem Willows Chop Suey Sandwich

What to Eat:

Boston Baked Beans
Cape Cod Potato Chips
Chop Suey Sandwich at Salem Lowe Restaurant
Clam Chowder
Fluffernutters – sandwiches made of peanut butter and marshmallow fluff
Fried Clams
Griddled Blueberry Muffins
Hoodsie Cups – cups of vanilla ice cream with a paper lid
Lobster Rolls
Necco Wafers
Roast Beef Sandwiches at Kelly’s Roast Beef

What to Read:

Death of an Empire, by Robert Booth
A Patriot Lad of Old Salem, by Russell Gordon Carter
Suzanneh Morrow, by Megan Chance
I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem, by Maryse Conde
The House of the Seven Gables, Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Crucible, by Arthur Miller

Photo Guide for Salem, Massachusetts:

The Samantha Statue/Bewitched Statue
The House of the Seven Gables
The Witch House on Essex Street
Historic Salem Homes in the McIntire District
The Ropes Mansion (used in the movie Hocus Pocus)
The Salem Harbor
The Salem Willows

Interviewing Jimi Jones was, for me, the opportunity of a lifetime. I admired his latest collection at The Springfield Museum of Art in Ohio where he was the headline exhibitor at this Smithsonian-affiliated institution.

Arriving at Jimi’s studio in downtown Cincinnati, I was a bit jittery with excitement as this was not only my first interview, but a chance meeting with an artist I admired. Having recently written my amateur, artistic review of his work, I was more than elated when he contacted me through my website and suggested I meet him in person to weigh in on my thoughts. I had so many questions to ask him and looked forward to this opportunity.

Jimi Jones has mastered the ability to tell a story through his paintings. His artistry evokes thought-provoking debates and cleverly captivates the mind of his audience. The masterpieces that have been majestically displayed at numerous museums represent all aspects of human culture to include history, politics, philosophy and religion.

Providing his audience with a glimpse of history, Jones’ first painting on display at his Faces & Places exhibit was the “SS Turner”. Artist JMW Turner, with the ambition of making a political statement, painted his macabre work of art based on the horrific fate of the slave ship, Zong. It was his hope that it would encourage Britain to change its current pro-slavery beliefs. Taking inspiration from Turner’s historical art work titled “The Slave Ship”, Jones has also shown his passion for modern day public opinion, political issues and ethical concerns.

Jimi Jones’ ethereal “SS Turner” is also an anti-slavery piece, yet centered around the Civil War Era. Jones admired Turner’s powerful approach in exhibiting his view on the current politics of the day. It is through his paintings that Jones has found his calling in displaying his position in a subtle way that invokes both contemplation and conversation. It is his hope that he can create a masterpiece that “will make a difference [in one’s life] or even change a country’s thoughts.”

I felt privileged that Jimi would grant me the insight into the thought process of his artistic prowess. His art is thoroughly planned and deliberate long before he takes his first stroke upon the canvas. Studying “The Slave Ship”, he explained how selecting the color red for the soldier’s jacket represented bloodshed and that the ghostly blue was perfect for symbolizing death. I felt the intensity of pain through the graphic, diagonal lines as the slave ship lingered in the distance, while the innocence of the slave woman in the background tugged at my heartstrings. It was because of this painting, I wanted to learn more.

One of the most fascinating pieces of Jimi Jones’ exhibit was titled “Why These Cultures”. At first glance, I desperately wanted to understand the connection between the young African girl to the left of the painting and the Geisha girl towards the right. “Why These Cultures” perfectly exemplifies the societal differences between the Eastern and Western cultures, but how can they relate to one another?

As I studied the layers of complexity to this painting, I found myself more and more drawn to the intricate detail that only establishes Jones as one of the greatest artists of our time. His defined use of sepia and pression blue are hypnotizing, but the colorful elements of the costumed horses and the facial expressions of their riders are astonishing. I am afraid that if I stare too long or too closely, the characters will convince me to make their acquaintance. A quick jump into the painting and my life would be forever changed as my destiny would be decided between the cultures of the East or the traditions of the West.

Jimi Jones is a self-proclaimed Renaissance man and one of his favorite, artistic legends is Rembrandt. While many artists included their likenesses in their paintings or commission their own portraits, I found it interesting that Jones would paint a collection of friends and acquaintances to establish his own portraiture. It is a fascinating thought as he explains that “We are a reflection of the people we knew and the people that supported us.” We take on their habits, are influenced or challenged by their beliefs and model their behavior to make us who we are today.

One of Jones’ supporters and fellow artist is Thom Phelps. They came together to collaborate on an ideal that led them to the philosophy of “Neo Ancestralism”. Other influencers in his life include Carl Solway, Owen Findson, Aiden Sims, Catherine Marie Klenke, Courtney Hellebuyck who were honored in his 2016 Faces & Stories Exhibit. What a beautiful homage to the people that Jimi holds in high regard and credits for making the artist, storyteller, political influencer, historian and man he is today.

There are so many layers to Jimi Jones and the depth of his thoughts and processes make him bottomless, profound and all the more interesting. While his artwork is the result of years and years of painting, it is also a manifestation of his life experiences. A successful career in graphic design that provided him the ability to travel the world and an early passion for art, have laid the groundwork for Jones’ success and the foundation for continued greatness in the future. I anxiously await his next collection and anticipate the opportunity to be inspired, moved and encouraged to discover more.

Have you had the opportunity to see the artwork of Jimi Jones? Check out this link for samples of his exhibition pieces: http://jimijonesart.com/exhibitions/martyrs.html. I would love to hear about your thoughts and artistic opinions if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below! Many thanks for reading about my experience learning more about Jimi Jones and his fabulous artwork,

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Jimi Jones for sitting down with me to discuss his amazing artwork!

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Tag Archives: Turner

Salem, Massachusetts: A City Bewitched

My Interview with Artist Jimi Jones, Leader of the NeoAncestral Movement