Sometimes words, and images too, just fail... the catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico is appalling beyond description, but, on the day after World Environment Day, a small contribution to Suzanne McDermott's Spirit of the Gulf Challenge. I've only had a brief glimpse of this coastline on a visit to New Orleans some 17 years ago but have spent much of my childhood happily near the sea, which is all one precious, irreplaceable body of water, as Suzanne points out. Not having my own sea photos to work from, but looking at pictures on the internet and Flickr, and this one in particular I thought of those perfect white wings encircling the gulf and all it's creatures, healing, comforting and restoring. It will take many years and much more physical labour than such a wishful thought could conjure, but... may it be so.
THE SPIRIT OF THE GULF CHALLENGE:
Find a photo or other resource depicting some living aspect of the Gulf of Mexico before the oil disaster or
Tap into your spirit and use your imagination
Make a drawing, painting or other piece of creative work with love and gratitude for the beautiful life of whatever you're depicting.
Post what you make on your website, include a link to this post: Spirit of the Gulf Challenge (or the facebook group — (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=127832103901693) and put the icon below in your sidebar with a link to this post (or the facebook group). Send me a link to your post and I'll add the link to bottom of this post.
Now a facebook group at Spirit of the Gulf facebook group. You can link to your work there! (If you're not on facebook, just email Suzanne your link and she'll post it.)
Invite 5 of your friends or favorite artists to accept this challenge, include a link to this post, the facebook page, copy this description of the challenge and the icon below for their sidebar.
I'm so bad at choosing and passing on, and it takes me forever, so please if you read this, join in!
"Hope" is the thing with feathers -
that perches in the soul -and sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.
Emily Dickinson
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12 comments:
I love your concept of the white wings encircling the tainted waters. This is a wonderful post, and I hope that more and more people reach out to do what they can to help with the tragedy happening in the gulf. Thanks for sharing this...
I love the Emily Dickinson poem...
Beautiful, Cathy! I am so grateful for your perfect contribution.
I've added a link to this page at bottom or the challenge post. You are welcome to post this image and/or a link here to http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=127832103901693
Thanks so much!
What a beautiful image, Cathy--it's touching and inspiring!
Not to be crass, but I think this painting'd look great on T-shirts!
This is such a good idea -- as artists we are more aware than anyone of the magnificence and fragile changes in nature. I agree with Laura that Cathy's seagull would be ideal for a t-shirt - the gull seems to be surprised, hesitating to land in newly-polluted waters. But Laura's is equally strong,direct and complete. Are there some silkscreen artists out there who could do this??
Beautiful painting and such a strong statement, too :) Thanks for sharing this...and one of my favorite poems.
Cathy, this is absolutely stunning -- the painting and the message.
Thank you Katherine, Suzanne, Laura (you couldn't be crass if you tried!)... and Shelby, the artwork would need some refining, its a bit rough!
Thanks Rhonda - I was inspired by your involvement too - and Charlene
You're such a caring, thoughtful person, Cathy. We're appalled by the disaster too... and waiting anxiously to see if it wends its way to our state. I can hardly imagine the awful effect it's having on both the wildlife and people in the places it's already hit.
Really beautiful, Cath. It speaks volumes. And the photo that inspired your artwork, ah those white wings - magnificent! It is just heart breaking listening to the news and seeing the oil soaked birds. Tragic too for the men who lost their lives on the oil rig. Their families' loss so very permanent.
A very touching post! I think we're all so saddened by what's going on in the gulf right this minute. So sad... Emily Dickinson is perfect here accompanying this.
This is beautiful. I accepted the challenge both from yourself and Dan (Dan's Canvas) but did only one painting. It's not as good as yours, but as I've had 3 people accept the challenge it's successful that way.
Teresa, Gillian, Suzanne and Sue - thanks for your comments - let's hope all our hopes may, if not move mountains, plug oilwells...
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