Like so many others, Jackie Parks first became captivated by ocean liners after learning about the RMS Titanic as a child. She became enthralled and began scouring YouTube for videos of other historic liners, before being blown away when she discovered the SS United States.
After seeing the Big U on video and watching the ceremony when the Conservancy took ownership of the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic, Jackie was hooked and quickly wanted to learn more. Speaking recently with the Conservancy, Jackie recalled feeling that “She [the SS United States] has such a presence, like the world’s most beautiful gargoyle. She often looks like she is alive in her own unique way.”
Along with watching videos online, drawing ships, especially the United States, was one of Jackie’s favorite pastimes.
A self-proclaimed artist, when the Conservancy announced its “Maiden Voyage 70th Anniversary T-Shirt Contest” Jackie knew it was the perfect opportunity to share her passion for art and the SS United States with others.
Jackie told the Conservancy she wanted to start her design with “Unity,” a character she had created out of her love for the ship.
Jackie explained, “Unity is wearing a captain’s uniform because of how SS United States can empower women. There are so many connections between the ship and great women, women like Elaine Kaplan, and Dorothy Marckwald. These figures helped build such an amazing vessel, it makes sense how SS United States makes an amazing role model for me and other women!”
She also wanted her design to look like it was an advertisement created for the ship in the 1950s. Most of all, she wanted to make sure the famed Blue Riband holder was the central focus of the design, thus minimizing the use of lines.
Asked what she hopes people would take from her design, Jackie said, “the joy the ship brings. The Big U just makes my day better. It makes me smile and I want it to make others smile.” Jackie said she believes America’s Flagship “represents the best of humanity. Americans coming together to build a ship of peace. The SS United States was about peace and prosperity, and American power through trade. Most of all, she has a style you just can’t hate.”
As she’s followed America’s Flagship over the past decade, Jackie said in its own way, the SS United States “has inspired me to become the woman I am today. It’s made me the person I’ve become. It has helped me through so many things and I’m proud to help celebrate this great ship.”
As for her hopes for the future of the SS United States, Jackie says, “the future SS United States that I see, is one where ‘Unity’ does what she does best, helping people. I see the SS United States acting as a cultural arts center, in her mighty engines rooms there can be a museum dedicated to her history and engineering triumph, and from D Deck to the A Deck, I can see wonderful spaces, hopefully some restored with her mid-century flair.”
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Limited-edition t-shirts featuring the contest winning design can be ordered by visiting: https://www.customink.com/fundraising/maiden-voyage-70th-anniversary-t-shirt.