Last month I stepped WAY out of my comfort zone. In an attempt to get closer to my subject- coastal wildlife- I decided I needed to start photographing from a kayak. As a single mom to two young kids, I needed to figure out how to do this safely. Somehow I found Artist Boat, an organization in Galveston, TX dedicated to coastal conservation and using art as a means to learn from and connect with nature. Clearly these were my kind of people. So despite not being at all comfortable on and around water or in a kayak, I signed up for their three-day kayaking course.
A few days before the course started, I got an email with videos to review, homework, and an assignment to teach part of the class. (I'd only ever been on a kayak once before.) It was then I realized that I was grossly underprepared for the intensity of the program- which honestly I found pretty hilarious. The first day was incredibly and comically challenging in ways I can't possibly include in this blog. Somehow, I survived to the second day where I had to capsize my kayak to practice assisted and self rescue. I can't stress enough how uncomfortable I am in water- I don't even like pools. So despite my wearing a life jacket and being surrounded by people who could help if needed, every part of my being fought against my purposely flipping the boat and plunging into the cold water, The more I faced the idea of capsizing my kayak, the harder I laughed, feeling the fighting forces within me. Finally, I said to myself, "You gave birth during a global pandemic. You can do this!" And I did. And it was exhilarating. The memory of this experience lives in my body, and I can recall it- and often do- each time I face something I need to do but want to run away from. Amy, the Operations Director of Artist Boat, was also taking this class. During one of the breaks I asked her, "Why Artist Boat?" She told me about the founder being an artist, recognizing the power of creating art as a means to engage with and learn from nature. She told me about their conservation efforts to acquire and preserve land for wildlife and getting to share that with people- especially children- who have no other experience with anyplace that's so wild. As she spoke the tears started streaming down my face. I couldn't help it- I tried. I was so moved by the mission and success of this organization. I am in awe of this work and the women who made it a reality. To learn more and support their efforts, visit ArtistBoat.org.
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When I first started my meditative painting practice in nature, I felt guilty. I was raised with a strong work ethic- remnants of an immigrant family fulfilling the American dream. Taking the time to paint in nature, to create something that is process-based and not something that I could monetize, felt unproductive. More than that, the process was so joyful, I felt guilty as though I hadn't earned it. I was also uncertain about my subject. I was drawn to the tangles of grass and rotting cactus pads- sure no one else would be interested in the places my heart asked me to explore.
What led me to start this practice was an instinct that the wild spaces held for me a solution to something I had learned to ignore- a feeling a discontent and anxiousness that comes from spending too much time in artificially created environments, too much time being caught up in the rhythms of technology. My internal complex systems needed to connect with external ones. This practice- started almost 10 years ago- is now the foundation of my work. It helps me to understand my subject and grounds me as a person. If you would like to learn more about meditative nature painting, join me once a month during my Quinta Mazatlan Residency. One of the great things about opening this practice to others is the community that's formed. Do you already have a meditative painting practice? Please share!! Visit my Outdoor Studies page to see more meditation paintings. |
Jessica MonroeWorking to foster a deeper connection with nature by using art as a means to engage with the natural world. Archives
May 2024
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