TIDES OF TOMORROW
With every breath, we inhale the existence of our ancestors and exhale the future.
This body of work is a meditation on the sacred, symbiotic relationship between humans and the oceans. Our world as we know it cannot exist without these bodies of water. They provide the necessary balance for all life forms to live, die and to be reborn. Our actions shape their futures.
Every droplet of water on Earth at this present moment existed during the creation of our planet. Water carries the history and memories of humankind. It remembers every prayer spoken, each ship to sail its seas, and tears shed from pain, sorrow, joy and love. This collective source of life flows through each root, stem, leaf and petal. It has quenched the thirst of almost every living creature to walk, swim or fly. Waterways have carried countless humans on voyages fleeing homelands seeking better tomorrows as well as explorers with an extraordinary thirst for adventure and discovery.
Planet Earth cannot exist without its oceans, which make up 71 percent of the surface. The oceans hold about 96.5 percent of all Earth's water. What is not held in our oceans exists in other lakes and rivers, ground water, water vapor, the clouds, and within living creatures. Our oceans provide food to the billions of people on our beautiful planet. They provide jobs to seafarers and longshoremen, fishermen, and naval militaries around the world. However, our seas are overfished and polluted by oil spills, drilling, and other industrial endeavors. Our sea life and their habitats are filled with plastic, a result of overconsumption and careless disposal.
The white line in each painting represents the wabi sabi (meaning “flawed beauty” in Japanese) relationship we have with the oceans. We take pleasure in their rejuvenating qualities and grounding nature, yet we exhibit a collective apathy in the health and future of their existence. It is my hope that my work moves you to consider how you are inextricably connected to and dependent upon these vast bodies of water. How can you be a better steward of our oceans for future generations?
A portion of my profits will be donated to The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a nonprofit organization focused on oceanic conservation.