Coleen Henry’s watercolor painting which is being hung in Economic Development Manager Allan C. Lane’s office on the third floor of the North
Port City Hall, along with other NPAC artists’ artworks; Allan Lane and North Port Art Director Carol Neagles admire her painting and hear about the
story.
“I painted this picture as a gift to my husband, Jim, a few years ago. I grouped all of the commercial balloons that he has flown for various companies over the past 33 years, together in one picture and there are a couple of our own balloons and of course the North Port balloon.
Before we had kids we traveled together with many of these commercial balloons and also with the boys as they got older. He flew, we crewed; and flew with him as often as we could! Jim also flew passenger flights in North Port for many years.
The one I’m pointing at is a tourist carrying balloon we flew in the south of France. Next to that are several Disney Company Balloons, Cinderella’s Castle, Mickey, Donald and the Epcot Millennium Balloon.
Several other commercial balloons are pictured and one of my favorites is the Porter Paint ‘can’ shaped balloon. In 1979, it was the first special shaped balloon in the USA; and we got it when it was still rated Experimental.
The Children’s Miracle Network is the red and yellow one that you see the little paper fundraiser balloons, all over in stores.
There are a lot of ballooning stories and fond memories in that painting!”, stated Professional muralist & artist Coleen Henry.
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