Written by Jayne Ormerod
Ahhh, mermaids. Those half-women/half-fish sirens of the sea. They have a bad reputation in mythology, where these sea maidens “would sing to men on ships or shores nearby, practically hypnotizing them with their beauty and song. Those affected would rush out to sea only to be either drowned, eaten, or otherwise sent to their doom.” So goes the legend, according to the Gods and Monsters website. Then along came Ariel in the Disney version of The Little Mermaid, and suddenly the sea nymph’s image became all innocence and whimsy, with a healthy splash of romance.
So what does a mermaid have to do with the city of Norfolk? More specifically, our East Beach Peninsula? Would you believe it if I told you it all started with cows? In 1999 local attorney Peter G. Decker Jr. and his wife Bess visited “Cows on Parade” in Chicago. It turned out to be an effective marketing campaign that brought money to the Windy City.
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| Ameritini in East Beach |
Norfolk was in need of an image lift, and Bess suggested they bring the idea to Norfolk. Not cows, per se, but something more fitting of a city with a seafaring history, like…a mermaid! Peter embraced the idea and in short order brought in more than 100 life-sized statues. Designed by local artist Chris Alexander, each one was decorated in a unique theme expressing their distinctive personalities. The mermaids were placed at various locations around the city, and people would map out a mermaid trail in hopes of viewing them all. Unlike the brief visit of Cows to Chicago, the mermaid icon with long flowing tresses and one arm stretched forward and one trailing behind became the symbol of Norfolk.
Many of the original mermaids are still hanging around, and many more have been added over the years. It’s always fun to spot one in front of a building or along the road. It seems particularly fitting to find one here on the East Beach Peninsula, so close to the bay. It gets one to wondering the story behind each statue. Here’s some information on a few:
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| By The Sea in East Beach |
Lisa is the artist of the mermaid in front of her house. She and her friend Leslie designed and made it more than thirteen years ago as a fundraiser for d’Arts. While the mermaid does not have a name, she does have a distinct feature in that her bustier is made of pennies. Five thousand of them. The rest of her is constructed of paper, and then the entire mermaid was painted with a fiberglass coating to protect it from the elements. Lisa has since spray painted her mermaid silver, giving her a blank canvas with which to work as she decorates for special events like Valentine’s Day, or Christmas, or a family member’s birthday.
“Ameritini” resides in Bay Point. The top of her represents Argentina while her tail is 100% American. Designed by Chris Alexander herself, this mermaid embodies the owner, who is a native of Argentina but became an American citizen. He and his wife are proud of their mermaid and her unique story.
And tucked away in another garden is a beautiful “By the Sea” mermaid named, appropriately, Virginia. She was designed by Henry Heck with her plaster work done by Mary Sharon. The owner acquired her in May of 2006. Her artwork is exquisite. Be sure to slow down when you stroll past her while out walking the neighborhood.
There are other mermaids on display in East Beach, some prominently displayed in gardens while others are tucked away in dark corners or sequestered behind garden gates. Each is unique in her own way, but I’m sure you’ll agree, all bring an innocent, whimsical and romantic element to our bayside neighborhood.
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