"Atlantic-Eve" by Julia Pickard
Sponsored by Voisey's Bay Nickel
 Her
name is Atlantic Eve. For centuries she
has dwelled beneath the waves of the
cold, unforgiving North Atlantic. Legend
surrounds this crimson haired, green
eyed temptress who has baited and
seduced many an unsuspecting seafarer.
She loves to gather those long forgotten
and often forbidden treasures that lie
in the depths of the great seas and it
is said that the sparkle of the water
late in the day is really the jewels and
charms of Atlantic Eve catching the
day's last rays of sunshine.
Atlantic Eve was auctioned on line
through E-Bay, and sold for $3,000.
"Nemah the Mermaid" by Ken Power
Sponsored by Mile One Stadium
 Nemah
literally means 'heart of a child' in
ancient mermaidian. She was so named for
her innocent and trusting nature and for
her love of all children. Nemah once
saved a young child who had been swept
overboard during a fierce North Atlantic
storm. She has swam the seven seas
exploring the wonder of the world
beneath the waves. She loves all things
colourful and can sometimes be spotted
sitting on the rocks off Cape St.
Francis gazing out at the sunset.
Nemah was sold at auction for $2,400.
"The Mariners' Enchantress" by
Michele Stamp
Sponsored by Fishery Products
International
 Who knows but that these 19th century
Newfound- land shipwrecks were sometimes
blamed on mermaids, by men in their
cups, whispering dark sea tales about a
figure, half woman, as the cause of
their doom? Man's connection with the
ocean, that beloved yet terrifying
mother, nurturer and destroyer, resulted
in the mermaid, an emblem of love, fear
and wonder.
Michele Stamp is the
artist who sculpted the exquisite
mermaid form.
Mariners' Enchantress was purchased at
auction for $2,000.
"Shalaya - Goddess of the Deep" by
Susan Parsons
Sponsored by G.J. Cahill
 Her
mermadian name is Shalaya, literally,
"one who helps", to others she is the
Goddess of the deep. Born and raised on
the Alegria Lophelia Coral Reef, the
"rainforest of the sea" off
Newfoundland's south east coast, Shalaya
was filled with a love and compassion
for all living creatures. Gazing into
her mystical orb, she seeks out those in
trouble and swims to their aid, often
traveling disguised within a family of
dolphins. Many a shipwrecked sailor has
awakened on a strange beach, alone but
safe, wondering how he got there. He
finds himself drawn back to the sea,
searching for something, or someone, he
can't quite explain. Sometimes he thinks
he catches a glimpse of a beautiful face
beneath the waves ... but no, it is only
the dolphins.
Shalaya sold for $2,000 at auction.
"Nahla" by Anita Singh
Sponsored by Aliant
 The playful mermaid Nahla, hailing from
a magical underwater kingdom, is truly a
child at heart and is known for her
overwhelming love of all children. She's
been swimming the oceans for centuries,
surfacing whenever she hears the
cheerful laughter of children at play to
invite them to join her for exciting
underwater adventures. In appreciation
of Nahla's friendship and kindness, the
children of Easter Seals presented her
with beautiful gifts of cloth, which she
wears proudly as a reminder of the
wonderful time they spent together.
The children of Easter
Seals, under the direction of art
therapist Bev King, painted the hearts
that comprise the scales on Nahla's
tail, as well as the hands that
represent seaweed on the rock on which
she sits. You can also see the faces of
the children in bubbles from the sea
foam that has washed upon the rock.
Nahla was purchased for $6,200 on
auction by Aliant and has been donated
back to Easter Seals. She will
adorn the property of Easter Seals House
for the children of Easter Seals to
enjoy for years to come.
"The Siren Atargatis" by Mannie
Buchheit
Sponsored by The Idea Factory
 Atargatis
is a mermaid goddess and siren,
descended from Ishtar and Venus and is
well known in Syrian legend. Atargatis
came to dwell beneath the sea in a bid
to end her suffering from unrequited
love. Her reincarnation as a mermaid
came with a powerful ability to turn
sailors into stone with her longing
gaze. During her time above the waves,
she wears sea urchins over her eyes to
protect passers by from her mystical
power. Strikingly beautiful, she holds
Newfoundland coral, a symbol of the
waters she now calls home.
Atargatis fetched $5,200 at auction.
"The Heritage Maiden" by Gerald
Squires
Sponsored by Johnson Inc.
 She
has swum the clear waters of
Newfoundland since before John Cabot
ever set eyes on her rocky shores. The Beothuk named her Imathia, from "Imamus"
for woman and "Ebauthoo" for water. From
her unique vantage point from the crest
of the waves, she has watched the Isle
of Newfoundland evolve as a mother would
watch her child grow. From the island's
Native roots to her European discovery,
from her Colonial rule to Confederation
and dreams of Independence - Imathia has
watched and guarded and loved and
nurtured. Imathia is a celebration of
the wisdom of our heritage.
The Heritage Maiden sold for $3,400 at
auction.
"Chance" by April Norman
Sponsored by Petro-Canada
 The
year was 1725 and the ship had just set
sail from Bristol for the new world. The
ship was full of families making their
way to a new life and new hope in
New-found lande. As she made her way to
open water with children lining her deck
rails, the Mermaid Chance swam past and
as she peered up through the depths and
met the astonished gazes of the
children, she smiled and winked and let
them know they had nothing to fear.
Chance guided the ship across the
Atlantic through one of the worst storms
of the century and as the ship docked
finally in Olde St. John's harbour with
all souls safe and accounted for, her
captain could only nod solemnly when
asked if it were true that their ship
and their lives had been saved ... by
chance. Her name is Chance and she is
dedicated to the rich, incredible,
inspiring imaginations of children.
Chance was purchased for $2,000.
Terra Nova" by Cara Kansala
Sponsored by Central Dairies
 She is of the Kesma or Windweaver
mermaids and she has searched the seas
for centuries longing to find a land to
call her own. One day the wind carried a
song across the waves and she followed
it ... swimming north and west into ever
cooler and ever fresher waters. She drew
closer and closer and hearing the words
... Terra Nova ... Terra Nova ... she
came to this isle of Newfoundland. The
farmland rolling down to her rocky
shores, a freshness and purity she had
never known and a ruggedness and
unspoiled beauty that she has longed to
find. She now calls this place her home
and if you listen closely to the wind
against her shores, you may hear her
name carried across the lands - Terra
Nova ... Terra Nova.
Terra Nova went at auction for $2,000.
"Jazz Maid" by Peter Soucy
Sponsored by Scotia McLeod
 Mermaids love music, art, stories and
laughter. It is said that the waters
around Newfoundland are particularly
rich with Mermaids because for centuries
they have been drawn to the lively
strains of fiddles and flutes, the
storytelling, the laughter and the dance
that as anyone knows, fills any ship
sailing for Newfoundland. Her name is
Jazz Maid and her colourful energy
reflects the vibrant music, theatre,
visual and literary arts scene for which
St. John's is so renowned. The next time
you're on a ship, sing a little tune to
the sea and you just might hear an
enchanting voice humming alongside you.
Jazz Maid fetched $2,300 at auction.
"Alexandra" by Dave and Danielle
Hoddinott
Sponsored by Alexander Keith's
 Alexandra, the daughter of a fine
Selkirkian brew master, was thought to
be lost at sea when she disappeared from
the ship during the family's voyage from
Scotland to Nova Scotia in the early
1800's. Alexandra is in fact a type of
mermaid known as a landwalker - equally
at ease exploring the depths of the
oceans or walking amongst us.
Landwalkers are known to be social and
festive creatures, always in high
spirits and it is said, only
distinguishable by the eyes. If you meet
a lovely lass on George Street with eyes
as deep as the ocean, just smile and
wink and let her know her secret is safe
with you. Alexandra ... bringing her
warm Scottish welcome and good cheer to
our lovely City of Legends.
Alexandra was sold on auction for
$2,100.
"Orla" by Derek Holmes
Sponsored by O'Brien's Whale and Bird
Tours
 Ancient mariners spoke of a kind of
mermaid called the Tidewatchers whose
gentle, shallow breathing causes the
oceans to rise and fall in their daily
tidal rhythm. Tidewatchers dwell close
to the surface and are often seen
swimming with pods of whales and
dolphins, literally thousands of which
owe their lives to these kind-hearted
mermaids. Orla, literally "friend of the
seas" in old Mermaidian, has freed many
dolphins and young whales from long
forgotten driftnets and has come to the
aid of many a storm-damaged ship. One
story tells of a ship, returning to
harbour with a badly damaged rudder, on
an unavoidable collision course with a
large iceberg. The ship suddenly turned
itself to avoid the huge berg. When the
first mate ran to stern to check the
rudder he found himself eye to eye with
a beautiful mermaid. He paused to rub
his eyes in disbelief and when he opened
them, she was gone, with no more than a
gentle ripple on the water's surface.
Her name is Orla ... tidewatcher and
friend of the seas.
Orla was purchased at auction for
$2,500.
"Sailor's Delight" by Undrea Norris
Sponsored by Scotiabank
 For centuries sailors have cast their
eyes purposefully towards the evening
sky - a majestic sunset with crimsons,
golds and reds cascading across the
water was not only a treat to weary
eyes, but a pleasant foreshadowing of a
fine tomorrow. Mermaids, as creatures
known for their enchanting and magical
powers, led some seafarers to refer to a
beautiful evening sunset as the
"Mermaid's Palette", for the brighter
and broader the strokes of her brush,
the more gentle and forgiving would be
the sea at dawn. She is known as
"Sailor's Delight" and she smiles on all
brave seafarers who journey to this
isle.
Sailor's Delight fetched $2,200 at
auction.
The mermaid auction, combined with
proceeds from gala ticket sales, silent
auction and corporate sponsorship,
raised approximately $75,000 for Easter
Seals programs for children with
physical disabilities. Easter
Seals is grateful to everyone who
supported this very worthwhile project.
Copyright © 2006
Easter Seals Newfoundland and Labrador |
She
is known as the Harbour Guardian. For
centuries she has kept watch over our
City of Legends, holding us high and
keeping us safe. She has been known to
guide ships safely through the narrows
during stormy nights and her enchanting
song has been a sweet sound to many a
sailor, welcoming them home.
The
mermaid Princess OZ is from a magical
cove at Starfish Beach. She glides
through the aquamarine water looking for
starfish, precious pearls, and sparkling
seashells. Her mission is to spread love
and happiness to all the creatures of
the sea. Her favourite game is to play
hide and seek with the dolphins. She
loves her starfish earrings, as the
starfish continuously whisper
compliments in her ears.