ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — The Friends of the Arts Inc. and the Orange Beach Art Center will host Flight Paths: A Fighter Pilot and Artist Meet Outside of Time as part of the 2010 Visiting Artist and Special Exhibits Series.

Artist Cynthia Rush and Navy fighter pilot Lt. John O. Rush Jr. connect at the intersection of art and flight, nearly a century after John, the uncle Cynthia never knew, was killed testing a plane on June 17, 1941.

America was on the brink of WWII and it was John’s 27th birthday.

In March 2009, Cynthia opened an unmarked cardboard box, decaying in a musty storage unit in Fairhope — halfway between Pensacola, where John’s brief life ended and Mobile, where he was born and grew up to become part of the golden age of flight.

Lt. John Rush’s flight training photographs and drawings that were waiting in that box have since been featured in “MHQ:  The Quarterly Journal of Military History” with the editor’s letter dedicated to the “extraordinary” album of photographs that “capture tantalizing glimpses of the military and family history that so many of us have been denied”.

The Mobile Press-Register featured Cynthia’s discovery on the front page of Aug. 5, 2009 edition.

Eric Reynolds of Fox 10 News in Mobile featured the Rush story on his show “Speak Up.”

The story was also published in the November edition of Mobile Bay Monthly, and will appear in the January edition of Pensacola magazine.

More than just an interesting tale, the artistic legacy passed from uncle to niece is on exhibit.

Cynthia invites us to join her journey of discovery as we meet Lt. John Rush through his photographs and drawings and see the result of an artist’s eye capturing precious moments in personal and national history.

Simultaneously on display are Cynthia’s contemplations on the concept of flight.

Over 20 years, without conscious effort, Cynthia explored aspects and ideas of flight in her artwork. From her MFA thesis, a lithographic reproduction of the Detroit Free Press titled “Moon Paper,” to paintings and short films, her attention returned to flight.

Uncovering her uncle’s photographs and drawings after her mother’s death, Cynthia found a connection to a family member she never knew at a time when she needed it most.

The opening reception Friday, Jan. 8, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., will include a discussion by the artist. 

On Saturday Jan. 9,, a “Fallen Pilot” biplane flyover will take place at noon to honor Lt. John Rush.

Bird of Paradise’s 1928 Travel Air biplane will fly the four points of the compass. As the biplane flies off to the west participants will toast the fallen pilot 68 years after his untimely death.

To be a part of this special event, meet at the Orange Beach Art Center at 11:30.

Bar and Dannie Eisenhauer of Bird of Paradise are generously donating the flyover as a way of saluting Lt. Rush. Included in their donation was a complimentary flight for Cynthia Rush and Friends of the Arts Chairperson Juli Jordan, so they could experience flight in a similar plane to those that Lt. Rush flew.

Other generous contributors to Flight Paths include Jesse’s Restaurant in Magnolia Springs, Southern Alabama Insurance in Gulf Shores, ReMax of Gulf Shores and Friends of the Arts Inc.

For more information, contact the Orange Beach Arts Center at (251) 981-2787, or visit www.orangebeachartcenter.com.

The Orange Beach Art Center is located at 26389 Canal Road, just east of the library.