Bless the Fleet

Bless the Fleet is a tribute to the faith, labor, and traditions that have shaped Morgan City and South Louisiana for generations.

A working shrimp boat rises from the water at the center of the composition, its nets heavy with the harvest of the Gulf. In the distance, oil derricks stand along the horizon—bringing together the two industries celebrated by Morgan City’s historic Shrimp & Petroleum Festival.

Above the vessel, the Sacred Heart of Jesus radiates across the Louisiana sky. Crowned with thorns, surmounted by the Cross, and burning with divine love, the Sacred Heart transforms the scene from a portrait of industry into one of faith. It represents protection, sacrifice, gratitude, and a prayer for the men and women whose livelihoods depend upon the water.

The title, Bless the Fleet, recalls the longstanding tradition of asking God’s blessing over the boats, their crews, their families, and the waters that sustain them.

Rendered in Candice Alexander’s signature old-world, engraved style, the piece intertwines faith, heritage, shrimping, petroleum, and the enduring spirit of Morgan City—honoring not simply what the community does, but the generations of people who built their lives upon it.

Bless the fleet. Bless those who work the waters. Bless the families waiting on shore.