Drawing of Amelia Earhart sitting on her plane at Oakland, California after her solo flight from Hawaii in 1935 by KBS student Autumn Stever, aged 14

So far this season in the young artist division, only girls have signed up for art classes at KBS (Kristy Bishop Studio.) Amazing – since our first show will be at the Kingston-Ulster Airport on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 9 am – 1 pm. Our young girls may be “daring” and one day, become pilots like Amelia; but for now, they will get a free ride in an airplane over our beautiful Hudson Valley. All nine girls will have two drawings of airplanes on exhibit in the Richmor Aviation’s Pilot Lounge: Stella Kamrass (8), Cassidi Vedder (9), Sage Fanelli (10), Sydney Henson (10), Sophia Kamrass (11) Anna Sweeney (11), Etoli Steinlage (11), Kyla Misasi (12) and Autumn Stever (14). The following adults will have paintings on display: Agnes Barber, Ruth Bach-Dhondy, Donna Newkirk, Teresa Herzog and Instructor, Kristy Bishop.

During the 1920’s and 1930’s, Amelia Earhart was the most famous woman aviator. One line in her poem reads, “Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace.” I suppose we could say that about being an artist, too. I am thrilled that several girls are flocking to my studio to learn about art with courage and curiosity.

Amelia was all for women making a mark in history when she said…”…with these activities [ ex. first woman to cross the Atlantic twice by air] came opportunity to know women everywhere who shared my conviction that there is so much women can do in the modern world and should be permitted to do irrespective of their sex. Probably my greatest satisfaction was to indicate by example now and then, that women can sometimes do things themselves if given the chance.” While earning several awards, Earhart was named “Outstanding American Woman of the Year” in 1932.

I must say that she inspired me to take a flying lesson back in the year 2000 at River Aviation. In the beginning Amelia flew by sight and of course, that is what I wanted to do as an artist. As I was watching the horizon from the single engine, two-seater Cessna 152 II my instructor, Drew Marian informed me that we were descending and that I should keep my eyes on the instrument panel. At the speed of 110 m.p.h. – dials were the last thing that I wanted to watch!

I continued to hire flights for aerial photographs from which I would paint beautiful scenes of the Hudson Valley. I didn’t have the time nor money to continue with flying lessons, but I thoroughly enjoyed being a passenger with a camera.

I would like to thank EEA Young Eagles for the opportunity of free flights for children ages 8 – 17 on 10/5 and Richmor Aviation.  This is a wonderful opportunity for all children to exercise their imaginations and creativity at the altitude 3000 feet above sea level. Bring your cameras! Location- location-location: Kingston-Ulster Airport, 1161 Flatbush Road, Kingston, NY   (Phone: 845-336-8401) See you there!