I Don't Know
Happy 2022 everyone! I hope you had an enjoyable, healthy and restful holiday. The painting above, "Winter Hauling" is a watercolor I recently completed as my entry into the New England Watercolor Society's Signature show. It is a figurative painting of the lobster captain Zoe A. Zanidakis hauling is a 50lb lobster trap from the frigid Monhegan Island waters. Painting this active composition got me to think just how much faith these lobster captains actually have, even through all of their personal adversities and restrictions that they face. Each lobster generation begins their lobster season with a mix of hopes and fears of landing the "big catch" and the high market price. Zoe talks about how her ancestor's "danced with danger at the sea" as they worked through rough waters, cold winters and disappointing losses that could result from boat breakdowns, yielding to a short fishing season.
As we begin this new year there continues to be a lot of unpredictable things that we too are not going to know about, until we are walking in it. The unknown can be paralyzing to an artist in these times, when we just want our lives to return to some degree of normalcy, especially when the floor keeps threatening to be pulled out from underneath us. We can all have New Year resolutions and goals to set, but in every way, the power of "I don't Know" can be a fear that restricts us, causing us to stop moving forward and take a, "Wait and See" approach. Many of us who are creative do not want others to find out that our deepest fear is that we really have no idea of what we are doing or what comes next as artists. This could be because we equate knowing the answer with moving on, and sometimes we just don't know how to begin. Our inspiring dreams can be daughting causing us to sit and wait, allowing opportunities to drop in our lap or find us, rather than going out and seizing the resources we discover each day.
A better response to the new year and what it might bring, is to walk in faith through an unknown future by clinging to a well known Art Spirit leading. Many of us creatives have been given the promise of wonderful opportunities for us to look forward to in the new year. Whether it be a new gallery show in a prestigious location or the dreaming of a plein air festival or auction in the summer that will bring much needed sales. We are on the move by planning in anticipation as we begin to fill our new calendars.
I heard a great story yesterday from a man who hired a guide to take his fishing party deep in the Maine North woods. This place was a remote fishing pond, filled with wild fish. It was the guides favorite fishing hole but it was hard to get to. They had to cross by canoe, in the summer months, a large lake, and then portage through a large swamp to get to the pond where the great fishing was located.
When the guide got to the beginning of the swamp he gave them two choices. Either they could spend hours to portage around the swamp, or they could go on a more direct route through the swamp that would be difficult but only for a half hour. Because crossing the swamp would allow for a longer fishing day, they decided to go through the flooded low laying marsh. Then guide told them the one thing that the fishing party still remembers to this day. He said," When you do through the swamp, do not stop, just keep walking, or you will sink."
The fishing party did decide to hike through the swamp, and yes, some sank, even down to their knees in the muck, because they stopped walking. But they got through and enjoyed a great day of fishing. They helped each other through their difficulties and just keep moving. We too sometimes get stuck because we stand still for too long when all we need to do is call for help and rely on our guide to keep us moving. We many never know what the future will bring, we may never fully know what is going to happen. Maybe we are not meant to. But if we decide to do something, anything, and take steps forward, we will have an "ah ha" moment in the process that will become a clear direction as to were we should go. We will not only be given the power of encouragement but we will be met with resources necessary for our journey and purpose.
My New Years wish for you is to Keep Moving with the faith that you will get through whatever you are presently walking through, to get to a place where you will receive amazing resources and opportunities, no matter how blindsided they may come to you.
Michael E. Vermette
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